‘THE PARSON’S WIFE”: IN SEARCH OF HARRIET BEAN, DAUGHTER OF EMPIRE

Speaker : Loreen Chambers, Vice-President of the C J La Trobe Society

Harriet Battley was born to a military family in Jamaica which moved to the Cape Colony where she was orphaned at 6 years of age. She later shared the changing fortunes of her husband Willoughby Bean, first as a settler’s wife in New South Wales and then as a clergyman’s wife in Goldrush Victoria. Harriet did not leave diaries or letters, but by exploring other forms of evidence through newspapers, genealogical records, letters to her husband and archaeological evidence in south Gippsland , we are able to claim her as a pioneer in her own right. Includes afternoon tea. All welcome. Bookings essential