Dorothea's Life

Poetry and Writing

Dorothea Mackellar

Her Life

Isobel Marion Dorothea Mackellar was born on 1 July 1885, at her family's home ‘Dunara’ that stands on Point Piper, overlooking Rose Bay on Sydney Harbour.

The third of four children, Dorothea was the only daughter born to renowned physician and Parliamentarian, Sir Charles Kinnaird Mackellar and his wife, Marion (nee Buckland). The young Dorothea received private tutoring in painting, fencing and languages and later attended lectures at the Sydney University although never formally enrolled as a student. Speaking  French, German, Italian and Spanish fluently, Dorothea acted as interpreter when the family travelled overseas. Having a very privileged and sheltered life Dorothea first experience of painful reality was the death of her brother Keith in the Boer War.

The Mackellar family owned several properties in the Gunnedah area, including "Kurrumbede" and "The Rampadells" approximately 25 km north west of the town bordering the Namoi River.

Kurrumbede Homestead, 1917

Totalling more than 2400 ha (6000 acres) they were purchased by Sir Charles in 1905, the family already owning "Torryburn" a farm near East Gresford in the Hunter Valley where Dorothea spent time as a young girl. Sir Charles handed these properties over to his two remaining sons Eric and Malcolm who became well respected and generous members of the Gunnedah regional  community. Over the years Dorothea often visited the area, staying with her brothers and maintaining her skills as an ardent horsewoman.

She became responsible for her ageing parents and wrote little after her father's death in 1926. She had acquired "Tarrangaua" a splendidly located retreat at Lovett Bay  on Sydney's Pittwater where she swam and read. Her mother died in 1933 and Dorothea divided her time mostly between "Cintra" a house in Darling Point and "Tarrangaua."

Her brother Malcolm sold "Kurrumbede" in 1939, there being no direct Mackellar descendents. The last 10 years of her life were spent in a Randwick nursing home in increasing ill health. She outlived her younger brothers, dying in her sleep on 14th January 1968. The funeral service was held at the historic St Mark's Church, Darling Point where her poem "Colour" was reportedly read. According to her nurse Adrienne Howley (link to book), Dorothea regarded this poem as her finest work. Her ashes  were placed in the family vault at Waverley Cemetery in Sydney.

SOURCES:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorothea_Mackellar
http://www.dorotheamackellar.com.au/
http://adbonline.anu.edu.au/biogs/A100291b.htm
http://visit.heritage.nsw.gov.au/