Pioneer Women of Fraser Coast.

Fraser Coast Libraries has a seminal text The history of Maryborough and Wide Bay and Burnett Districts from the year 1850 to 1895/  George E. Loyau  in its vertical files. Four  pioneer women are highlighted in this text.

Source: The History of Maryborough and Wide Bay and Burnett Districts from the year 1850 to 1895/  George E. Loyau

Three pioneer women listed are sisters. The first sister is Mrs Margaret Irwin who died on the 24th December, 1895. Loyau claims "Mrs Irwin was closely associated with the history of the town for the past forty-four years". Her and her sister Mrs Goodwin arrived in Maryborough in 1851. On the voyage from Sydney to Maryborough her and her sister were the only female passengers. According to Loyau, the crew mutineered and sent the officers off in a small boat and stole the vessel with the two girl passengers. They ended up landing on the New Zealand Coast and lived with the Maori's for a while. The sisters are from the Gregory family who were the first settlers in the township and Mrs Irwin was one of the first shop keepers and residents in Maryborough. She ran Didcot Hotel in Gayndah and after her husband's death built the Australian Hotel. Loyau says "she tackled difficulties with the decision and courage of a hero and whilst at all times showing a valiant nature, her unostentatious hospitality, kindness and innumerable charitable acts displayed gentleness of heart which won a sympathetic fame throughout the district" Loyau (1897).

Mrs Sarah Blue
Source: The History of Maryborough and Wide Bay and Burnett Districts from the year 1850 to 1895/  George E. Loyau

The second sister Mrs Sarah Blue born in Sydney in 1843 was a well known owner of the Melbourne Hotel in Wharf Street. The final sister Mrs Elizabeth Goodwin was considered a shrewd business woman and a good ballroom dancer. Loyau quotes the Chronicle as saying "There are few here who remember the calamitous destruction of life and limb by sawmill explosion in Maryborough some years ago, who do not also remember the noble devotion which Mrs Goodwin displayed in attending the sufferers night and day during their long period of recovery".

Source: The History of Maryborough and Wide Bay and Burnett Districts from the year 1850 to 1895/  George E. Loyau

Loyau claims Mrs Harwood, was considered one of the first lady pioneers of the Wide Bay District.  Loyau says that Mrs Harwood died in her 68th year and that her husband erected a handsome monument as a tribute to her memory in the cemetery. Mr Harwood told Loyau (1987)  that she accompanied him on many adventures "fraught with dangers and perils of which the present generation have no conception"

Source: The History of Maryborough and Wide Bay and Burnett Districts from the year 1850 to 1895/  George E. Loyau

His entire History of Maryborough and Wide Bay and Burnett districts from the Year 1850 to 1895 can be downloaded from here

Mina Rawson is another Local Pioneer. Her story can be found here 

Do you know any stories about Pioneer Women of the Fraser Coast?

Tags #pioneers #Widebay #frasercoast #women #Loyau