McAllister of Ireland
Estelle Ellen McAllister, the eldest child of Joseph McAllister and Ethel Margaret Mason, was born in East Street, Brompton, South Australia on 15 September 1903. Estelle was named for her mother's sister Estelle Brown (nee Mason).
In 1905, when Estelle was about 2 years old, her family, which also now included her brother Joseph Edward who was born on 1 April 1905, moved back to the McAllister family home at 68 Chief Street, Brompton. Some of Joseph’s sister’s still lived in the family home at this time also and Estelle had a fond memory of sitting with her mother and her aunts, who were all dressed in their long frocks and pinnies, shelling peas. There was no bathroom in the house and Estelle also remembered having to take a bath in a shed across the way from their house. |
Although there was a small shop opposite the McAllister house, Ethel would always walk up to the end of Chief Street, past the hotel and the gas works and under the bridge, to the Port Road to do her weekly shopping. Estelle would hang onto the pram as her mother pushed the latest addition to the family up the street.
When Estelle was three years old, her sister Violet Ann was born and two and half years later another sister, Florence May, was born. To Estelle it seemed like her mother was always having babies. Harold Leslie was born when Estelle was seven and a half years old, followed by Ethel Margaret two years later and finally Gordon Henry. Estelle was almost twelve years old when Gordon arrived and she was able to leave school and help her mother at home with the younger children.
All of the children attended Brompton Primary School, which was just a short walk down Chief Street to Torrens Road. Estelle enjoyed school; she especially loved to sing in the school concerts. She was six years old when she sang at the Trades Hall in Grote Street, Adelaide. She was even asked to sing an encore at the concert and after some thought, she sang “A little Aborigine”. Estelle continued to sing at all of the school concerts and in various choirs right through her school years. It was something that she continued to enjoy throughout her life.
When Estelle was three years old, her sister Violet Ann was born and two and half years later another sister, Florence May, was born. To Estelle it seemed like her mother was always having babies. Harold Leslie was born when Estelle was seven and a half years old, followed by Ethel Margaret two years later and finally Gordon Henry. Estelle was almost twelve years old when Gordon arrived and she was able to leave school and help her mother at home with the younger children.
All of the children attended Brompton Primary School, which was just a short walk down Chief Street to Torrens Road. Estelle enjoyed school; she especially loved to sing in the school concerts. She was six years old when she sang at the Trades Hall in Grote Street, Adelaide. She was even asked to sing an encore at the concert and after some thought, she sang “A little Aborigine”. Estelle continued to sing at all of the school concerts and in various choirs right through her school years. It was something that she continued to enjoy throughout her life.
Estelle and her three sisters were expected to take turns to help clean the house and do the cooking. Their mother spent a lot of her time sewing and their father was busy working at the brickwork's and looking after the vegetable garden. The three boys had their chores to do as well. After spending about a year at home helping her mother, Estelle began her first paid employment looking after another family who lived nearby. She did the cooking and looked after three small children while their mother was in hospital. Afterwards she worked for a florist in Rundle Street, Adelaide for a while. She then took on a number of jobs as a maid working in various places including the Old Lion Hotel in North Adelaide.
When Estelle was 17 years old she was working as a maid for a doctor in Renmark, South Australia. She remembered spending her 17th birthday in Renmark and having her first ever party dress made while she was there. After about twelve months in Renmark, Estelle returned home and after a short time working at Ayers House, she took a position as a lift operator at the Bluebird Café in Rundle Street opposite the John Martin’s store. It was here that she met George Frederick Seward, the son of Fredrich Charles Seward and Henrietta Charlotte Clarke. George worked nearby in Hindley Street and would go for a meal at the café on Friday nights. |
Estelle’s next position was as a waitress at Arcadia Cafe in Bowman’s Arcade, King William Street, Adelaide. The cafe was a popular place for wedding receptions in those days and Estelle would help organize the reception including the catering and the music and she would even receive the guests as they arrived. Eventually she was put in charge of coordinating the musical entertainment at the café. Eventually Estelle grew tired of being cooped up inside a building all day and decided to leave the Arcadia Café. She began working at another of the restaurant cafés owned and operated by the Ellis family, Covent Garden, a three-storey building in King William Street, Adelaide. This was the last position that Estelle held before her marriage to George Seward.
George and Estelle courted for a number of years before marrying at Scot’s Church (Chalmers Free Presbyterian), North Terrace, Adelaide on 28th August 1926. It was an evening ceremony and Estelle recalled it being a rather wet night because she needed an umbrella. George's sister, Elsie, was Estelle's bridesmaid.
After their marriage, George and Estelle lived in Willis Street, Norwood, where George had bought a home. His mother, Henrietta and brother, Les, lived there too; houses were very hard to get in those days. Les had to sleep on the front verandah. Henrietta and Les lived with George and Estelle until about 1931. On 16 January 1928 Mavis Estelle Seward, the first of four daughters, was born to George and Estelle. Two and half years later Elva Margaret Seward arrived on 9 April 1931. Five years later, on 6 August 1936, Anita Mary Seward was born. Anita was named after a young girl from their street who had died. Sadly just a month before Anita was born, her grandma Seward collapsed suddenly and passed away in her home which was just down the street from Estelle and George. |
The three girls grew up in Norwood, attending Norwood Primary School and taking music and dance lessons. George would tell them stories of his childhood growing up in Western Australia. He was known to sneak in to their bedroom with a glass of milk and some bread and butter if one of them was sent to bed without any dinner for being naughty. Times were tough though and outings were infrequent – their old Essex was kept in the shed six months of the year.
George was a tobacconist, but during the depression years he was out of work for a long time. Estelle was a member of a choir called the Bluebird’s (5CL Bluebird Girls' Club). They would sing on ABC radio, in hospitals and various homes, especially during the war years. Sometimes they would go around the streets on a horse-pulled trolley singing. Estelle would earn a little money from singing with the Bluebird’s but one day when things were really tough she resorted to selling her hair. She had the most beautiful long hair; she could almost sit on it. One day she came home and it had all been cut off and sold for wig making. The girls were so upset but Estelle just rolled up what was left into a thin roll and got on with life.
Eventually things did improve; George had regular work at Cornell Limited, wholesale tobacco and cigar merchants. He then went on to work for Solomon’s, a tobacconist store in the Adelaide Arcade before moving onto Buring’s, tobacconists in Rundle street, Adelaide. When Buring’s closed down, a nearby menswear store, Thwaites, put in a little stall just inside their front door where George continued to sell tobacco and other smoking supplies. Towards the end of 1941, George and Estelle were able to purchase a new home and moved their family to 34 St. Georges Ave, Glandore.
George was a tobacconist, but during the depression years he was out of work for a long time. Estelle was a member of a choir called the Bluebird’s (5CL Bluebird Girls' Club). They would sing on ABC radio, in hospitals and various homes, especially during the war years. Sometimes they would go around the streets on a horse-pulled trolley singing. Estelle would earn a little money from singing with the Bluebird’s but one day when things were really tough she resorted to selling her hair. She had the most beautiful long hair; she could almost sit on it. One day she came home and it had all been cut off and sold for wig making. The girls were so upset but Estelle just rolled up what was left into a thin roll and got on with life.
Eventually things did improve; George had regular work at Cornell Limited, wholesale tobacco and cigar merchants. He then went on to work for Solomon’s, a tobacconist store in the Adelaide Arcade before moving onto Buring’s, tobacconists in Rundle street, Adelaide. When Buring’s closed down, a nearby menswear store, Thwaites, put in a little stall just inside their front door where George continued to sell tobacco and other smoking supplies. Towards the end of 1941, George and Estelle were able to purchase a new home and moved their family to 34 St. Georges Ave, Glandore.
George was not able to enlist during the Second World War for medical reasons but for many years he was a volunteer driver for the St John’s Ambulance Brigade. He and Mavis also volunteered to join the local ARP (Air Raid Protection), where they were taught basic first aid. They were supplied with gas masks, tin helmets and arm bands. Most South Australian backyards at this time had a fully equipped air raid shelter for emergencies.
On 20 February 1943, Marilyn Janette Seward (Lyn) was born, completing George and Estelle’s family. Elva and Anita attended Black Forest Primary School and Lyn also went to this school. Elva went on to Unley Girls Technical High School, however Anita and Lyn went to Adelaide High School. |
Estelle was always involved with the girl’s school activities; she joined the Mother’s Club and enjoyed the parties and entertainment they provided. She also belonged to their Church fellowship group and sang in the church choir. All four girls took ballet classes at one time or another and Estelle learnt to sew so that she could make their costumes with their layers of tulle and trimmings.
Estelle had continued the family ritual of Sunday nights spent around the piano at her parent’s home. It also became a family ritual to spend Good Friday at George and Estelle’s home in Norwood. At Glandore, where they had a larger house and garden, the family gatherings continued, especially at Christmas time.
As the girls grew up, commenced work, started dating and eventually married and left home, Estelle developed other interests. She took up a number of crafts including floral art, painting and quilling. She also began playing lawn bowls; she was a foundation member of the Brighton Bowling Club and later played for the Holdfast Bay Bowling Club. She took some memorable trips with her bowling friends. She had to give up playing eventually after she had a hip replacement.
Estelle had continued the family ritual of Sunday nights spent around the piano at her parent’s home. It also became a family ritual to spend Good Friday at George and Estelle’s home in Norwood. At Glandore, where they had a larger house and garden, the family gatherings continued, especially at Christmas time.
As the girls grew up, commenced work, started dating and eventually married and left home, Estelle developed other interests. She took up a number of crafts including floral art, painting and quilling. She also began playing lawn bowls; she was a foundation member of the Brighton Bowling Club and later played for the Holdfast Bay Bowling Club. She took some memorable trips with her bowling friends. She had to give up playing eventually after she had a hip replacement.
George and Estelle had a happy time at Glandore; they had lovely neighbours who remained lifelong friends. Estelle’s father Joseph passed away in 1951. Her mother, Ethel, stayed at Estelle’s regularly after Joseph’s death. Ethel spent time with all of her children but always felt most at home with Estelle.
On 29 October 1963 George Seward had a heart attack and passed away at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woodville. He was 62 years old. Estelle remained in the family home at Glandore for about 3 years but eventually she decided to take a unit in an ECH retirement village at Downing Street, Hove. Estelle met widower Roy Frederick Harding at Hove and on 1 September 1967 they were married, Estelle was 63 years old and Roy was 73. Roy Harding died in January 1975 and once more Estelle was widowed. However she remained active and independent, she still enjoyed her craft classes, her bowls and singing in choirs, she was also on several committees. She was still going strong into her nineties. A hip replacement set her back a little but she refused to go into a nursing home. |
Estelle lived a full and active life but in 1995 she was diagnosed with cancer. On 5 January 1996 Estelle passed away at Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park. She was 92 years old.
Descendants of Estelle Ellen McAllister
Estelle Ellen McAllister was born on 15 September 1903 in Brompton, South Australia and died on 5 January 1996 in Bedford Park, South Australia at age 92 years. She married George Frederick Seward on 28 August 1926 in Adelaide, South Australia. George was born on 27 January 1901 in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia and died on 29 October 1963 in Woodville, South Australia at age 62 years. They had four children: Mavis Estelle, Elva Margaret, Anita Mary and Marilyn Janette. Estelle next married Roy Frederick Harding on 1 September 1967. Roy was born on 11 January 1894 in Cameron, South Australia and died in January 1975 in Hove, South Australia at age 81 years.
- Mavis Estelle Seward was born on 16 January 1928 in Norwood, South Australia and died on 11 February 2016 in Morphettville, South Australia at age 88 years. Estelle married Allan George Fathers on 5 March 1949 in Plympton, South Australia. Allan was born on 22 October 1925 in Adelaide, South Australia and died on 14 August 2017 in Morphetville, South Australia at age 91 years. They had two children: Gregory Allan and Paul Anthony.
- Elva Margaret Seward was born on 9 April 1931 in Rose Park, South Australia. Elva married Norman John Butler on 30 January 1953 in Adelaide, South Australia. Norman was born on 30 April 1929 in Adelaide, South Australia and died on 28 January 1993 in Somerton Park, South Australia at age 64 years. They had two children: Michael John and Sharon Margaret.
- Anita Mary Seward was born on 6 August 1936 at Rose Park, South Australia. Anita married Jack Hansford Benson on 28 September 1957 in North Adelaide, South Australia. Jack was born on 1 June 1930 in Campbelltown, Tasmania. They had three children: Mark Hansford, Scott Lakeland and Linda Michelle.
- Marilyn Janette (Lyn) Seward was born on 20 February 1943 in Ashford, South Australia. Lyn married Keith Robert Jacobs on 14 April 1962 in Glandore, South Australia. Keith was born on 21 March 1940 in Bristol, Gloucestershire, England. They were divorced in 1980. They had two children: Andrew Keith and David George. Lyn met Guthrie (Gus) Worby in 1986. Gus was born on 14 April 1946 in Stockport, Cheshire, England. Gus had a daughter from a previous marriage: Megan.