The Suttons of Fairlawn
The Sutton family built Fairlawn in 1897. Samuel Sutton was mayor of Launceston at the time, and responsible for the International Exhibition at the Albert Hall, and the Duck Reach Power Station. Elsie, his daughter, was born in 1888 and died in 1904. Her diary of 1903 gives an interesting insight into a child’s life of a well-to-do family.
Childhood
By the early twentieth century when Elsie Sutton was a teenager, the greater part of the day was spent at school. Elsie, or Todge as she was more commonly known, had a few chores and they were only completed as she felt inclined. This is very different from the children of the families of the early settlers, whose labour was essential for the survival of the family’s property.
School was a regulated part of life. Elsie attended Methodist Ladies’ College in Elphin Road, and she was in fifth form with 28 other girls. A typical school day consisted of rising between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. to learn her lessons before breakfast. After walking to school with friends, morning lessons would continue until lunch at about 1 p.m. The girls would then walk home for dinner, unless it was very wet. Afternoon classes would sometimes finish with a trip into town for music lessons. Elsie played the piano, and had theory lessons. After, she would occasionally meet with her mother in town to shop, or return home in time for tea and study.
The girls studied a wide range of subjects: arithmetic and algebra, French, English, geography, Latin, history, science, Scripture, German and Euclid, for all of which they had to sit exams. There were other subjects in which they participated such as drilling‘compulsory on Monday and Wednesday for half an hour’ (20/4/1903).
Elsie enjoyed friendships with several of the girls who lived near by, and getting herself into a little trouble, mainly by talking too much in class ‘I was kept in with all of the 5th form for laughing in German.’ (19/2/1903)
The school also provided a place for much of their social life, having dances and the school fair, for which the girls busied themselves for weeks.
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The Sutton family in the garden at Fairlawn.
Cecil, Samuel, Irene,
Emma, Elsie at rear, Reginald and Leslie (lying)
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Holidays
An increase in leisure time and wealth in the early twentieth century allowed more social time not only at weekends but also holidays. On one trip to Low Head, the Suttons stayed with friends. Socialising was the order of the day for the children especially. One day a friend named Gwynne caught 35 fish, while Reg, Elsie’s brother got only one. Another expedition was in a boat to West Arm where they used old chaff bags for sails. They played games such as ping-pong, ludo, draughts and charades; shared in music or in quieter times, read books.
A treat would be a trip on the Tamar River on the ‘Centennial” to Kelso or on the ‘Wybia’ to Gravelly beach for a picnic, walk and games. Tea on the verandah in the afternoon was followed with an evening of visiting. Sometimes they played and sang hymns, one evening ‘After dinner we had a spelling Exam. After tea Oswald made a speech and Gwynne gave out the prizes. Hilda was first and got 3, I was second and got 1½, Reggie third and Irene fourth.' (6/01/1903).
Elsie’s family was fortunate enjoying the leisure that today we not only take for granted but demand; a luxury of which the colonial families only dreamed.
Elsie’s diary and possessions were made available thanks to the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery.
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