Charlotte Hawkes at Northbury

Charlotte Hawkes came to Van Diemen’s Land to live with her brother William Keeler Hawkes in 1844. Whilst he purchased Franklin House, Charlotte was forced to gain employment. This she found at the Archer family house of Northbury near Longford. In her later years she moved to Franklin House to live with her sister-in-law Martha. Interestingly, her brother made no allowances for her during his life.

Work as a spinster

Charlotte never married. Comments made in her letters to her nephew John William Hawkes reveal that this was not her choice, and several of her friends tried to match her in society to eligible men.

’Mr. Campion the lawyer in Launceston married Diana Gleadow same week. They were engaged just a month and one day. Mrs. Archer says I should have been much better looking wife for him-’ (12/4/1875).

A spinster in the nineteenth century, there were very few respectable choices of employment. The occupations acceptable to a woman such as Charlotte Hawkes would have included a governess, a companion or a housekeeper. Her job seemed to be a combination of all three.

Charlotte Hawkes Photo courtesy of Terry Childs

Initially a governess for the young Alice Archer, once Alice married, Charlotte continued in Mrs. Archer’s employment to run the household, organising servants, children and visitors; Mrs. Archer brings such a load of work in the House to do. What with a large family and their little ones – visitors. Men servants coming to and fro, jam making and other things’. (24/1/1874).

Despite having worked at Northbury for 41 years, the latter years appeared relatively insecure. I am saving all I can this year…as I do not know how I will be situated next year’. (14/5/1871). Charlotte also became dissatisfied. She felt trapped financially, and gradually the position became too demanding for her. ‘I think I want to change for I feel so very tired of work. I should like now not to do more than I care about’ (31/12/1871). She regretted not having her own home, and instead, feeling obliged to live amongst others.

Surprisingly enough, she never took up her nephew’s offer for a home in New Zealand with his family whom Charlotte dutifully supported throughout her life. Instead she chose to board at Franklin House with her sister-in-law, a not entirely congenial arrangement.

‘What do you think she told me on Sunday, she considered I cost her ₤50 per annum, to live here – I pay for my Washing. The servants are the same, only about 2 hours a day, do they bestow on me. Just a bit of meat bread & Butter & Egg…’ (23/2/1886).

Upon Martha’s death Charlotte rented Franklin House from her brother’s executives at ₤50 per annum.

Financial independence

To Charlotte, financial security was paramount. As such she lived frugally, to save enough to invest in her future. ‘I had only ₤2 when I landed here and I have worked like a slave at the Archers at ₤20 per annum for many years – it took me ten years to save ₤40’. (1887). These investments came in the form of shares in the gold mines at the Piper River, and also in tin at Mt. Bischoff. She worried that her investments were wise, saying, ‘I hope my Tin Shares will turn out well but they will take some years…Now I must live in hope that I have made a lucky speculation’. (1874). As other mines began to reap rewards, Mt. Bischoff’s massive infrastructure meant that the shares took time to reach fruition.

Charlotte was an astute business woman. Towards the end of her life, the Mt. Bischoff shares enabled her to live independently and give considerable support to her nephew. ’I hope Tin will keep up for I want the dividends. ₤4 each share has been paid this year. The Tasmanian reef still continues good. ₤1 per share paid this week with 300 shares it’s good pay.’ (15/12/1879).

Northbury, Longford, in Lucas, C. (1987) Australian Country Houses: Homesteads, farmsteads and rural retreats. Lansdowne Press: N.S.W.

Support of her family

Even before the share dividends, Charlotte’s meager savings went to supporting her nephew John in New Zealand. Initially for her it seemed as much an investment as anything else:

'…say I find the funds to purchase 100 breeding ewes in lamb at a suitable season for the climate~ You to feed, attend, shear~ and all other necessaries ~ and just place the wool money for anything wanted for their comfort and convenience just at first ~ so let them increase and for us to go halves at the end of seven years.’ (29/7/1873).

Yet Charlotte never demands her return.

Unfortunately, despite her wishes, and at John’s requests, Charlotte never visited her nephew in New Zealand to see what his work and her money had done. She died at Franklin House on 16 March 1888; Mrs. Archer by her side.

Thank you to the Franklin House Committee and Dawn Dyson for making Charlotte’s letters available