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      Hume Family Collection - A.K. Hume
 
 

 

History in Photographs : Images from the Hume Family Collection

A. K. Hume

 
 

Marriage

Anna Katherine Hume was the fifth daughter in a family of seven girls and two boys. Her father, Charles Fowler, was a prominent architect. She first met Walter when attending his mother's school. Katie, Kate or Kats as she was sometimes called was a genteel young lady from an affluent home. She and her sisters were active in their neighbourhood in particular helping in the local school. Katie's decision to marry Walter was deeply considered. Her surprise at Walter's proposal, and the time it took for her to adjust even after accepting, is expressed in her early letters to Walter. These are quite formal even though she is engaged. Gradually she relaxes into a more bantering and warm style as their friendship via mail develops.
Katie arrived in Moreton Bay, aboard the Alfred Hawley, on the 23rd of September 1866 after a voyage of three months. She and Walter both wrote home to describe their wedding which took place St Johns Church of England on William Street in Brisbane.

Toowoomba ... Oct, 18th, 1866

"My Dear Papa & Mama,
I am truly thankful to be able to tell you that the object for which I was willing to cross the world, is now happily accomplished. I became Walter's wife this day week - Oct, 11th at St. John's Brisbane. Of course the marriage was by Licence, as it was only a fortnight since I landed." (Bonnin, p. 14)

Toowoomba, Queensland, Oct. 16th/66

"My 'Five' dear Sisters,
Now Know Ye, and all whom it may concern - the graphic pen of your new brother is about to convey to your delighted vision, the full true and particular account of the forging of the chains of his matrimony - not only the forging but the rivetting ...
O Ye Five, you don't know what a dear good wife I have got, she is everything that is good, too much so I am afraid for me. We have been married a week today, & we find we like one another far more than we did a week ago." (Bonnin, p. 13)

 Mrs W.C. Hume just married, Oct 1866, Photograph Album Vol. 1, p. 2(b).

 

Sisters

Katie wrote to her mother and to each of her sisters in turn during her early years on the Darling Downs leaving a wonderful record of this time in her life. The letters were addressed collectively to the 'five' or to the 'sisters', or when directed individually family knicknames were often used. Through the photographs in the albums we see the sisters reunited, at a time Katie no longer feels the absence which is often evident in her early letters home. She stands with four of the 'five' whom she occasionally gently chided for not making the mail which she waited for each month.

Katie missed her family, particularly her sisters, when she came to Australia. Walter would sometimes entreat one or another to make the trip but the attractions of Australia did not entice them. The following image was taken at the Fowler family home, called 'Fairseat', in England, which the Hume's visited in 1891, a year they devoted entirely to travel.

Drayton, Queensland ... June 14th 1867

"My dearest Loaf,
... Walter often says 'how I wish one of them wd come out here' but when we come to talk it over we are obliged to confess it would be dreadfully dull - a complete exile - such as we could not ask anyone voluntarily to undergo! Of course it is different while one is married. There are so many things to attend to in one's house. If it were not for that I should sometimes be very dull, for I see hardly anyone & there is nothing going on here. When Walter is away I cannot ride. Those are the times when I long for a sister to talk to - if only you were near enough to pay me a visit!!" (Bonnin, p. 65)

The Sisters. Fairseat May 1891. Mrs W.C. Hume and unmarried Fowler sisters Jane, Sophie, Alice, Emma.
Photograph Album Vol. 7, p. 30. 



 

Responsibilities

The beginnings of Walter and Katie's married life had the qualities of an epic romance. The journey, began with a letter from one side of the world to the other, and continued throughout their life together. It ended with Katie's death in 1909, while still travelling with her 'boy', on a ship in the Indian Ocean. Katie took her roles of wife and mother very seriously. Katie's preparation for her married life included taking lessons in cake-making, with the Fowler family cook, and in horse riding. She later wrote laughingly of her experience at the races, a place she found there were many women riding horses, but not many of them were ladies. Katie saw her support of Walter's career as part of her wifely role.

Drayton ... Aug. 2nd. 1869

"O ye dear Five!
... I am sorry to say Mr. Taylor is still Minister for Lands & gives a good deal of trouble by poking his nose in details he does not understand. He has taken it into his head to 'knock off' two of Walter's men, which will much inconvenience him & indeed he has remonstrated. We heartily wish he would resign, as he is always making a fuss about something, being so unpleasantly near!

I paid a long visit to Mrs. Taylor the other day, as one must propitiate the 'powers that be'. She is agreeable, tho' common." (Bonnin, p. 153)

 

 Mr and Mrs W.C. Hume, [C. 1890] Photograph Album Vol. 6, p. 1.
 
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