This blog post on Pleasance Durack is the first of two blog posts written about her family life and community work, in particular with the Free Kindergarten Movement. Pleasance was President of the committee who managed the kindergarten established in Pier Street, Perth written about in the previous blog post 'Kindergarten In Perth...(1911) . The next blog post is about Pleasance Durack's community work helping to raise funds for and establish the Margaret Free Kindergarten and Nursery in Leederville opened in 1938.
Pleasance Sarah Durack (nee Rowe) was born in Perth in Western Australia in 1891. She was married to John Peter William Durack, an Australian lawyer and QC in 1922. They lived at the historic Federation Queen house "Strathmore" at 18 Chester Street, Subiaco. Together they had one child.
So who was Pleasance Durack ? The social pages and women's sections of the early newspapers of Western Australia tell readers a lot about the social life and community work of Pleasance Durack or Mrs. J. P. Durack as she was known.
From an early age Pleasance was interested in community work. At the time of her engagement to John Durack she was involved in the Soldiers League working with returned soldiers. The Australian, 18 November 1921 wrote of about the engagement of Pleasance Rowe to Jack Durack..."ENGAGEMENT OF POPULAR COUPLE. Our heartiest congratulations to Solicitor Jack Durack (late 10th Light Horse) upon his engagement. The happy girl is Miss Pleasance (Petty) Rowe, of West Perth. Miss Rowe has done splendid work for the returned men, along at the Soldiers' Institute and elsewhere, and the boys will join us in wishing both these comrades all possible happiness."
After her marriage Pleasance became interested in the kindergarten movement and was President of the Pier Street Free Kindergarten committee that oversaw the kindergarten in Pier Street, Perth. The story of that centre is published on the previous blog post 'Kindergarten In Perth'...(1911). Pleasance held fundraising events to raise money for the kindergarten and later on to establish the Margaret Free Kindergarten and Nursery in Leederville. She was also President of the Margaret Free Kindergarten Committee. Pleasance was a keen gardener and member of the Hunt club. These events were recorded in the early newspapers on Trove, the database of the National Library of Australia.
After Pleasance's marriage in 1922, the Durack residence in Subiaco was a feature in newspapers such as the Daily News and West Australia as she was a keen gardener. In 1935 some of Perth's well-known residents were featured in special place in their homes or garden. The first segment showed photographs of Pleasance in a special corner of her garden. The article is copied below. In 1937 the Western Mail ran a special on featuring her garden and photographing her with members of the Hunt' club. The article is copied below.
Pleasance died on 28 May, 1979 at the age of 87. She is buried in Karrakatta Cemetery in Western Australia.
Today the former Durack residence at 18 Chester Street, Subiaco is registered as a historic residence and is included on the City of Subiaco walking tours.
The articles are from Trove, the database of the National Library of Australia. No copyright infringement intended.
Daily News, 16 April 1935.
Pet Corners of Perth Homes
This is the first of a series of corners of homes of some of Perth's well-known residents. Most women have a special corner in their homes or gardens which have an irresistible fascination for them and, in which they spend as much of their time as is possible.
Mrs . J. P. Durack is particularly fond of this (pictured), corner of tier lovely garden at her home in Chester-street, Subiaco. The hedge which divides the garden from the tennis court is ablaze with hundreds of large gaily-colored dahlias, a tribute to the care which both Mr. and Mrs. Durack put into their cultivation. The side of the house, which is covered with masses of Virginia creeper is a lovely background for the riot of color on the opposite side.
There are banks of multi-colored phlox, zinnias, a few roses interspersed and then a profusion of dahlias in reds and mauves, and golds and bronzes, and pinks. Mrs. Durack, who is a member of the Hunt Club and a foundation member, of the Repertory Club, is fond of tennis and sewing and keenly interested in the kindergarten movement.
Her son Peter is just eight years old and at school, so Mrs. Durack has time to devote to the planning and nurture of her garden. 'Our dahlias seem to thrive on special well water' said Mr. Durack, who was painstakingly watering the garden when seen yesterday.
MRS. J. P. DURACK in the favorite comer of her garden.
Western Mail, 7 October 1937.
Mrs. Victor Harwood on the left of the group above, is the energetic secretary of the Hunt Club held last night. The pictures on this page were taken in the garden of Mrs. J. P. Durack's home, in Chester-street, Subiaco. Arm in arm with Mrs. Harwood are Molly Manning and Mrs Durack, who are both actively interested in Hunt Club affairs
