harlaxton

Lady Lamington with a cockatoo , Toowoomba, ca. 1899

from State Library of Queensland

• Vesna Verencevic said:

  The wives of Queensland governors have filled important roles as official hostesses, patrons of the arts and of charitable and educational institutions, particularly those serving women and children. Their work, however, has been overshadowed by that of their husbands and these women may seem colourless and remote figures. A typescript of material taken from the 'diary' of Lady Lamington, wife of Lord Lamington, Governor of Queensland between 1896 and 1901, was presented to the John Oxley Library, Brisbane, in 1999 by her granddaughters. These reminiscences provide insights into the role of Lady Lamington as consort of Queensland's last colonial governor. The Lamingtons' years of office were significant, with the entry of Queensland into the Commonwealth and the preoccupations of war, drought and outbreaks of bubonic plague. In 1901, the Federation celebrations were followed by the death of the British monarch and later, a royal visit, for which the Lamingtons acted as hosts. Lady Lamington was young, observant and interested in people and her view of the events of this time, set against the more public accounts, helps to shed light on the woman, her position and the events she witnessed. Source: search.informit.org/doi/10.3316/INFORMIT.889142050428271