Friday 27 August 2021

A New Life in Strathfield

The Donovan family shopping in Strathfield South. Courtesy National Archives of Australia

In 1953, British widow Thora Donovan and her five children arrived to settle in Strathfield South from Buxton, Derbyshire. Sponsored by local couple, Olive and Gilbert James Cameron (Peter) Dawson of Caloola Liverpool Road, their journey had been sparked by a stray black cat that had followed one of the children home. Attempting to locate the owner, Mrs Donovan rang a lady, Mrs Wilks, who lived nearby. She did not own the cat but a brief remark about the weather led her to wish she was back in Australia. Thora had always wanted to visit Australia and so Mrs Wilks put her in contact with her sister in Strathfield.

Thora soon wrote to the Dawsons in Strathfield seeking information about settling in Australia. She also contacted the Australian Immigration authorities who advised that she would require nomination by someone in Australia to be eligible to emigrate. Dejected, she decided to move closer to London instead, when on Christmas Eve 1952 she received a letter from the Dawsons who offered to nominate the family and provide a home for them for as long as it was needed.

Thora Donovan arriving at Caloola, the home of Olive and Peter Dawson.

Courtesy National Archives of Australia

The Donovan family lost no time in making their applications and arrived in Sydney during August 1953. Their arrival in Strathfield was featured in the Good Neighbour newspaper, a publication designed to assist new immigrants to Australia. Thora was enthusiastic about her new life in Australia declaring that ‘Energy and enterprise make opportunities.’

Thora gained work as a secretary. Eldest daughter, Patricia joined the Women’s Royal Australian Army Corps. Gail and Gillian found employment together as children’s nurse and mother’s help in Collaroy and the two youngest children, Brigid and Robert were enrolled nearby at school (possibly Strathfield South Public School). In 1956 Thora remarried John Fallon and settled in Cootamundra.

The Dawson home Caloola was a ‘comfortable red brick villa’ that once stood at 419 (formerly 73) Liverpool Road Strathfield South. Townhouses now occupy the sites of 417-419. Mr Dawson died in 1968 and Olive Dawson died in 1976.