Mary Braidwood Mowle

Mary Braidwood Mowle (1827 – 1857) is probably best known for having kept diaries describing mid-nineteenth century life in rural NSW. Her first set of diaries, kept from 1850 to 1852, relate to her time living on properties around what is now Canberra. Then, from 1853 to 1855, she kept diaries whilst living in Eden where her husband was the sub-collector of customs.

Her Eden diaries have been described as ‘providing the most intimate glimpse that has survived of life in the mid-nineteenth century in a small but important seaport (Eden). She detailed ships' movements, the arrival and departure of south coast and Monaro families, and whaling operations at Twofold Bay, as well as the day-to-day work involved in raising and educating a young family, the hazards of childbirth and childhood illnesses, and the social interchanges in a small community.’

Mary was born in Durham, England. Her father was a naval surgeon who was working as a surgeon superintendent on ships that were transporting convicts to New South Wales. The family joined him on his ninth voyage to Australia, in 1836, emigrating to New South Wales.

Soon after arriving in Australia, Mary’s mother gave birth to a son, but he died in infancy. Five months later, Mary’s mother also died. Mary was then just 10 years old.

Her father settled on land near Braidwood, was appointed a magistrate, and became a prominent land holder in the area. It seems that, at this time, Mary received a rudimentary education. However, the family lost their home in 1840, apparently due to the ‘supposed incaution of servant’. And then they were severely impacted by a prolonged drought. In November 1843, her father committed suicide.

Penniless, an orphan, and just aged 16, Mary moved to Tasmania to live with her uncle. There she met and, in 1845, married Stewart Marjoribanks Mowle.

Stewart Mowle worked for and was mentored by Sir Terrence Murray who had a property called Yarrowlumla (Yarralumla) near Lake George and another in the area called Woden. He was later was to become a successful NSW politician. During this time Mary compiled her first diaries.

In 1852, Stewart Mowle (perhaps with influence from Terrence Murray) was then given a government job with a regular salary – as the sub collector of customs at Eden, so Stewart and Mary moved there, and Mary started writing her Eden diary (now held in the National Library of Australia in Canberra).

The Mowles left Eden in 1855 when Stewart was transferred to the Customs House in Sydney.

Mary had six children – a daughter born in 1846 in Queanbeyan, a son born in 1848 in Queanbeyan, a daughter born in 1849 in Queanbeyan, a daughter born in 1851 in Queanbeyan, a daughter born in Eden in 1854 (who died at age 2), and a son born in Balmain, Sydney in 1857.

Mary died sixteen days after that last birth from childbirth complications. She was then aged 30.

Her story and excerpts from her diaries are included in the book in ‘A Colonial Woman: The Life and Times of Mary Braidwood Mowle’ by Patricia Clarke, which was published in 1986. There are many references to visiting, or being visited by, ‘neighbours’ – including those in Merimbula, Pambula, Kameruka and those around Twofold Bay – who are now remembered for being the prominent pioneers from the area. And her notes record details of the arrivals to and departures from Twofold Bay of many ships and steamers – these, of course, being the family’s only link with the outside world, which is reflected in Mary’s frequent expressions of joy when mail arrives and of disappointment when it does not.

Occasional personal views about her visitors and neighbours remind us that her diaries were just that – personal diaries: ‘Tuesday 29th. Started about eleven o’clock and reached Kamooruka (Kameruka) at four. We had a delightful drive the road being very good & the country through which we passed excessively pretty. We stopped about half way for an hour & had some lunch – liked Mrs Walker’s appearance exceedingly – she is a pretty looking English woman, with bright sparkling eyes & has lady like unaffected manners…’; ‘Wednesday 27th. Very much annoyed in the afternoon by Stewart’s having to pay £1 to a medical man belonging to the ‘Tory’ for extracting one of Florence’s teeth - I never heard of such a shameful imposition.’ (Eden did not have a doctor or dentist at that time, so residents relied on visiting ships’ doctors providing medical assistance when required.); 'Sunday 9th. Mr Price having come down we all went to the Court House to attend Divine Service – found a great many people assembled & two gay wedding parties – arrived just in time to witness the ceremony & see poor Elsie Davidson’s (from the famous Davidson whaling family of Kiah) fate in life settled by her marriage with (William) Prescott, a confirmed and hopeless drunkard – she has, I fear, laid up for herself a bitter portion & rendered her future lot miserable & dreary, but the old Mother has been I believe, the principal cause of the Match & is consequently much to blame…’.

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