Who was
Dorothea Mackellar?
In the New Year’s Day Honours of 1968, Dorothea Mackellar was Appointed an Officer of the “Order of the British Empire” for her contribution to Australian Literature.
She was a third generation Australian. Her Grandparents arrived in Sydney, from Scotland, on the 21st. May 1839. She was born on July 1st. 1885, at her parent’s home, Dunara, on Point Piper in Sydney. Her father Charles Kinnaird Mackellar was an MD registered with the NSW government medical board, politician and businessman.
Baptised Isobel Marion Dorothea Mackellar on August 8th. 1885, at All Saints, Woollahra. Dorothea was the third of four children born to Doctor Charles Mackellar and his wife Marion, formerly Marion Buckland. Three brothers completed the family. Keith and Eric were older and Malcolm was younger than Dorothea.
Dorothea Mackellar became a national figure after she wrote My Country
The exposure to various cultures
Her education consisted of private tuition at home until she attended lectures at the university. It was very informal with respect to subject matter. Dorothea was given special tuition in painting, fencing, and languages. Travelling overseas to countries such as England, Europe, America and the East, with her family was also considered part of her education. Due to this exposure to different cultures, she became fluent in many languages. Visiting theatres, galleries and museums added to her knowledge of the Arts. Later when she travelled overseas with her father she assisted him as interpreter.
Family Life
Family, country properties in the Hunter Valley, and near Gunnedah, were places she loved to visit. The rural communities respected, and always considered the Mackellar family to be generous to local needs. Dorothea was a proficient horsewoman, and was proud of her ability to ride side- saddle, even in the rough country terrain. A story is told of how, after a drought was broken, Dorothea danced barefoot in the rain, and was impressed at the sight of a mist of green grass that began to appear across the paddocks.
Dorothea never married. Maybe she never found that special someone.
There were many domestic responsibilities for her to consider. She helped her mother in the home, and often accompanied her father to various charity functions.
Interests
Dorothea loved acting. With her friend Ruth Bedford, together, they would act out the stories and characters that they developed. They would drive to a quiet bush setting around Sydney, where they could play act out their many imagined characters.
Politics became a long- term interest. After 1902, women could vote in the New South Wales state elections on equal terms with men. Her diaries record her interest and concerns of that period, in particular, the discussion on the need for conscription in the lead up to World War I.
During the 1920’s Dorothea helped Ruth to establish a Zonta Club in Sydney. Later, in 1931 she assisted with the establishment of the Sydney Publishers, Editors and Novelist Club.
Finally
Through out her life, even though an active interest in the community, politics and the arts was maintained, there was always a deep concern for her family’s needs as well.
Miss Isobel Marion Dorothea Mackellar died at the age of eighty-two after suffering an extended period of ill health. She spent her final years at St. Helenie Hospital at Paddington. The funeral service was held at St. Mark’s Church, Darling Point.”Colour”, one of her favourite poems, was read at the service. She was laid to rest in the family vault at Waverly Cemetery, in Sydney.
