Matron Lucy Applewhaite Hicks

 

Mrs Hicks c.1870-1875. Courtesy State Library of NSW

March is Women’s History Month.

The indomitable Lucy Hicks, who died in Strathfield in 1909, had quite a life. One of Sydney’s first professional, working mothers, she was born in The Rocks in 1833. In 1849, aged just 16, she married John Applewhaite, the 30-year-old captain of the William Hyde. Lucy accompanied him on his voyages, giving birth to two of their children at sea. Later, back on shore and the mother of four children, she accepted the position of matron of the Female Immigration Depot at Hyde Park Barracks in 1861, at an annual salary of £70.[1] John Applewhaite, was initially employed there as a clerk. He was frequently insolvent and Lucy’s appointment as matron would have relieved financial stress for the family. It would also have been one of the few respectable positions available for a middle-class, married woman to earn a living. No doubt Lucy’s years of sailing the seas with her husband had helped equip her for cramped quarters, among the other challenges that awaited her.

Courtesy State Library of NSW

As matron, Lucy was responsible for the welfare of the shiploads of young, single women who arrived in the colony seeking work as domestic servants. The demand for female cooks and servants far outstripped the supply, as many girls were already committed on arrival to positions obtained for them by family or friends. Lucy was responsible for arranging the public hiring days when each new ship arrived, managing the demands and expectations of both prospective employers and the young women in her charge. When the Nineveh arrived in July 1879, a journalist recorded the hiring day at the depot, complete with an illustration of Lucy at the counter.

‘In less than a quarter of an hour from the opening of the doors the last girl had been engaged, and those who had been so happy as to attain the end for which they visited the depot, sat beside their prizes…’[2]

Lucy can be seen in the bottom illustration at the counter, dealing with Sydney ladies seeking servants.

Australian Town and Country Journal 19 July 1879 p.24 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/70971236

When the top floor of the barracks became the Government Asylum for Infirm and Destitute Women in February 1862, Lucy, then pregnant, also took on the care of the 150 female inmates transferred there, becoming matron of both establishments. Her husband, John became master of the asylum. Lucy gave birth to her seventh child, John Jr there in August that year. He died, aged 13 months in September the following year.[3] By 1863 Lucy and John each earned £100 per year for running the asylum, while Lucy earned another £100 per annum as matron of the immigrant depot.[4]

Matron Applewhaite became one of the most senior female public servants in NSW. As such she oversaw all the day-to-day running of both establishments as well as raising her own growing family. She was also expected to set standards of ‘respectability, sobriety, industry, cleanliness, thrift and piety for the inmates to follow.’ [5] Not to mention trying to raise her own children.

Hyde Park Barracks by Samuel Elyard, 1866. Courtesy State Library of NSW

There was considerable poverty in the colony at this time and although Sydney had deliberately avoided instituting workhouses based on the British model, benevolent asylums for the poor were common during the 19th Century. Basic needs were met through public funding and private philanthropy. Admission to the asylum was dependent on infirmity and the inability to support oneself – not on destitution alone.[6] Many of these early inmates had been former convicts.
Largely self-supporting, selected inmates of the asylum did most of the work, assisting with cooking and laundry and earning small gratuities for their labour. At times there could be 300 sick, elderly, destitute or frail women in residence there. Lucy had the responsibility of maintaining cleanliness, laundry, and providing meals, although much of this work was delegated to the inmates themselves. Most residents spent their days sewing and patching clothes and bedlinen.
Matron Applewhaite was known for her thrift, efficiency and cleanliness, but also for her genuine care. But she was not a nurse and a doctor visited inmates when required.

Nine children were born during her marriage to Applewhaite, although several died young. After his death in 1869, the position of master was abolished and Lucy took on the sole responsibility of the asylum with a suitable increase to her wages. However, as the arrival of female immigrants had declined, so too was her salary reduced in this role.

The following year Lucy married William Henry Hicks, editor of Punch,[7] at St James’ Church, just opposite the barracks,[8] and gave birth to another five children at the asylum. She was 46 when her last – and 14th – child, Francis was born there in 1879.

Panoramic view of the Royal Mint and Hyde Park Barracks taken from the steeple of St James’ Church, 1871. Courtesy State Library of NSW

Ladies from the various churches often visited the asylum, bringing comfort to the patients there. Government representatives also came regularly to inspect the premises. At an annual celebration in 1873, the Governor’s wife, Lady Robinson and several politicians attended the feast.

‘The thanks of the venerable patients were conveyed to the visitors by two of the inmates, who expressed, in very suitable terms, their appreciation of the kindness manifested and the sense of attention to their wants shown on all occasions by the matron, Mrs Hicks… The difficult task undertaken and faithfully performed by Mrs Hicks can hardly be understood, much less appreciated, by those who are not in the habit of visiting this admirably-conducted institution’[9]

In that year, 1873, the oldest inmate, Betsy Bowker, claimed to be aged 106.[10] NSW Births, Deaths and Marriages record her death the following year, aged 105.

For ten years Lucy’s daughter, Mary Applewhaite was employed as sub-matron until her death in 1885. A memorial was installed by the inmates of the asylum at St James’s Church opposite the barracks ‘in loving remembrance of their late sub-matron and sympathising friend.’[11] Lucy must have missed her daughter, known as Mamie, terribly as she posted In Memoriam notices in the Sydney Morning Herald on the anniversary of her death for some years.[12]

St James Church, opposite Hyde Park Barracks c.1870s. Courtesy State Library of NSW

There were critics of Matron Hicks, however. On 7 July 1874 an anonymous letter to the editor was published in the Sydney Morning Herald, complaining about a lack of fires in the dormitories of the asylum during winter.[13] Matron Hicks responded with a letter published the following day stating that, as the dormitories were unoccupied during the day, fires were not then required. She went on to say:

‘I too feel “keenly for the aged and infirm” inmates under my charge, and for fourteen years have endeavoured, by every means in my power, and I think not unsuccessfully, to render their lives as cheery and comfortable as possible. I think I am justified in asserting that there is no institution of the kind in which the inmates are more thoroughly happy and contented than are those of the Hyde Park Asylum.’[14]

The Applewhaite/Hicks family occupied two rooms on the second floor of Hyde Park Barracks, between the immigrant depot on the ground floor and the asylum on the top floor. Extensive archaeological investigations during 1980 and 1981 revealed much about the family as well as the occupants of both the depot and the asylum. More than 61,000 items were discovered, including 500 metal sewing pins, beads and buttons from level two, showing that Lucy’s daughters were frequently busy with sewing and dressmaking.[15] Slate pencils, marbles and dominoes were also found.

In 1882 Matron Hicks and her family moved into accommodation nearby in Phillip Street. This provided extra space on level two at the Barracks, into which another 40 asylum inmates were moved.[16]

In 1886 the asylum was relocated to Newington. Lucy and her family moved there too, along with the 306 inmates. But at an enquiry later that year by the Government Asylums Inquiry Board it became clear that the standards of welfare had dropped, with complaints about food, medical care and neglect. Matron Hicks was criticised by bureaucrats about improper conduct and indifference, although the inmates themselves had few complaints about her personally.[17] No doubt she was missing the assistance of her daughter, Mary, who had died just the year earlier. And at Newington, unlike Hyde Park Barracks, the matron’s quarters were far removed from the dormitories, which made supervision more difficult.

‘The original regulations drawn up for the management of the Asylum were long ignored by Matron Hicks. Instead, she exercised her own discretion, establishing routines that were sufficiently flexible and humane to accommodate the needs of the inmates.’[18]

The role of benevolent institutions had changed over the years since Lucy’s initial appointment. By the 1880s medical conditions required greater nursing than she had been expected to supply. Now these institutions were expected to fulfil the role of convalescent hospitals. After 25 years of work, Lucy was probably worn out. After years of childbirth, child rearing, grief and stress, she was forced to retire on a pension in 1888. She seems to have done her best with limited resources.

Leaving Newington, the Hicks family settled firstly at Wentworthville on a property named Woodrising where, in January 1892, William and Lucy’s eldest daughter, also named Lucy, was killed, aged 20, after a fall from a horse.[19] The two-acre property was offered for auction the following month [20] and again during May 1892.[21]

Woodrising, now named Northfleet, at 13 Vernon Street, Strathfield, 15 March 2023. Courtesy Strathfield Local Studies

The family moved to Strathfield, bringing with them the name of their new property being built in Vernon Street. This house was built c.1893, probably by Thomas Whittle who also built Deep Dene next door (now number 15) at this time. William Hicks did not spend long in Strathfield as he died in his new home on 5 December 1894.[22] Yet another family tragedy followed two years later when the youngest of Lucy’s 14 children, Frank Hicks also died, aged 17, at Woodrising.[23] Now named Northfleet, Woodrising has also been known as Syene and Leilala. The house has had numerous owners and tenants over the years.

Lucy had moved by 1900, settling in Brooklyn Street Strathfield South where she died in July 1909. Both William and Lucy are buried at Balmain Cemetery. Lucy was survived by just five of her 14 children.[24]

By J.J. MacRitchie

Local Studies Advisor

 

References

[1] Davies, Peter ‘Mistress of her domain: Matron Hicks and the Hyde Park Destitute Asylum, Sydney, Australia’ in International Journal of Historical Archaeology Vol.19 2015 pp.552-567. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10761-015-0298-1

 

[2] Australian Town and Country Journal 19 July 1879 p.24 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article70971236

 

[3] Bell’s Life in Sydney and Sporting Chronicle 19 September 1863 p.3 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/59793762

 

[4] Davies, Peter ‘Mistress of her domain: Matron Hicks and the Hyde Park Destitute Asylum, Sydney, Australia’ in International Journal of Historical Archaeology Vol.19 2015 pp.552-567. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10761-015-0298-1

 

[5] Davies, Peter ‘Mistress of her domain: Matron Hicks and the Hyde Park Destitute Asylum, Sydney, Australia’ in International Journal of Historical Archaeology Vol.19 2015 pp.552-567. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10761-015-0298-1

 

[6] Davies, Peter; Crook, Penny and Murray, Tim ‘An Archaeology of Institutional Confinement: The Hyde Park Barracks, 1848-1886 p.44 An Archaeology of Institutional Confinement: The Hyde Park Barracks, 1848–1886 (sydneyuniversitypress.com.au)

 

[7] Evening News 23 June 1881 p.2 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/107220548

 

[8] Empire 7 June 1870 p.1 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/63107898

 

[9] Empire 23 September 1873 p.3 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/63235270

 

[10] Empire 23 September 1873 p.3 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/63235270

 

[11] Davies, Peter; Crook, Penny and Murray, Tim ‘An Archaeology of Institutional Confinement: The Hyde Park Barracks, 1848-1886 p.177 An Archaeology of Institutional Confinement: The Hyde Park Barracks, 1848–1886 (sydneyuniversitypress.com.au)

 

[12] Sydney Morning Herald 20 September 1889 p.1 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/13741969

 

[13] Sydney Morning Herald 7 July 1874 p.5 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/13348198

 

[14] Sydney Morning Herald 8 July 1874 p.3 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/13344795

 

[15] Davies, Peter; Crook, Penny and Murray, Tim ‘An Archaeology of Institutional Confinement: The Hyde Park Barracks, 1848-1886 p.179 An Archaeology of Institutional Confinement: The Hyde Park Barracks, 1848–1886 (sydneyuniversitypress.com.au)

 

[16] Davies, Peter; Crook, Penny and Murray, Tim ‘An Archaeology of Institutional Confinement: The Hyde Park Barracks, 1848-1886 p.40 An Archaeology of Institutional Confinement: The Hyde Park Barracks, 1848–1886 (sydneyuniversitypress.com.au)

 

[17] Davies, Peter; Crook, Penny and Murray, Tim ‘An Archaeology of Institutional Confinement: The Hyde Park Barracks, 1848-1886 pp.55-56 An Archaeology of Institutional Confinement: The Hyde Park Barracks, 1848–1886 (sydneyuniversitypress.com.au)

 

[18] Davies, Peter; Crook, Penny and Murray, Tim ‘An Archaeology of Institutional Confinement: The Hyde Park Barracks, 1848-1886 pp.202 An Archaeology of Institutional Confinement: The Hyde Park Barracks, 1848–1886 (sydneyuniversitypress.com.au)

 

[19] Evening News 18 January 1892 p.3 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/113752928

 

[20] Sydney Morning Herald 13 February 1892 p.14 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/13871010

 

[21] Sydney Morning Herald 24 May 1892 p.8 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/13860827

 

[22] Sydney Morning Herald 6 December 1894 p.8 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/14002183

 

[23] Evening News 23 November 1896 p.5 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/108211077

 

[24] Davies, Peter ‘Hicks, Lucy Hannah (1833-1909)’ People Australia https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/hicks-lucy-hannah-29653

 

Further Reading

Hyde Park Barracks https://mhnsw.au/visit-us/hyde-park-barracks/

 

Sydney Morning Herald 24 October 2003 https://www.smh.com.au/national/bedlam-asylum-and-grog-20031024-gdhn9o.html

 

Davies, Peter (2010) Dictionary of Sydney ‘Hyde Park Barracks Archaeology’ https://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/hyde_park_barracks_archaeology

 

Murray, Tim and Crook, Penny (2006) ‘An Archaeology of Institutional Refuge: The Material Culture of the Hyde Park Barracks, Sydney 1848-1886’ https://www.academia.edu/3294321/An_Archaeology_of_Institutional_Refuge_The_Material_Culture_of_the_Hyde_Park_Barracks_Sydney_1848_1886?email_work_card=view-paper