Woman's History Month...2023. Post 15...Chesters, Sith "Wood Lady of Subiaco".
This month is Women's History Month. I have decided to repost the stories of many of the wonderful women from Subiaco I have come across.
Chesters, Sith "Wood Lady of Subiaco".
Born c1865 Greater London, England and died 18 August, 1954 (aged 88-89) Nedlands, Nedlands City, Western Australia.
Sith Annie Chesters (c1865 - 1954) "Wood Lady of Subiaco" and James Chesters (c1864-1929) was a builder and Mayor of Subiaco.
The Chesters' grave is on the Karrakatta Historical Walk Trail One. This description about Sith Chesters is from the website at www.mcb.wa.gov.au
"...James Chesters' wife Sith Chesters was always elegant and attired, usually donning large picture hats and white gloves. James Chesters, whilst a moderately affluent man, was very careful with his money. The Chesters had no children, and when James died in 1929, Mrs Chesters gradually withdrew from society, firstly selling their home and moving to a small house on the edge of King's Park and living, it seems, only on what she had before her husband died.
She lived with the utmost stringency but was generous to charitable causes. She was known simply as the "Wood Lady of Subiaco." Then she became a familiar figure pushing her old pram along Thomas Street collecting wood and bottles. She was also referred to as the "Birds Nest Lady", a reflection on her hairstyle.
Over the years she became increasingly antisocial and fought a bitter and unsuccessful battle against a road going through her property. Sith Chesters made a unique effort to the War during World War 11. In August 1940 she bought two Spitfire planes at the cost of 85000 pounds each to be kept in Britain and used in the Battle of Britain, and a training plane costing 1750 pounds for Australian pilots to train in. She lived into her 80's and suddenly people realised she wasn't around anymore. Sith Chesters was one of the unusual characters and eccentrics of Perth. When she died she left many charitable bequests including funding for medical scholarships at the University of Western Australia. '
Death notices about Sith Chesters published in various newspapers reported she left a lot money which was divided among various living relatives as she had no children and many charities. These notices can be found at National Library of Australia database Trove.
"...James Chesters' wife Sith Chesters was always elegant and attired, usually donning large picture hats and white gloves. James Chesters, whilst a moderately affluent man, was very careful with his money. The Chesters had no children, and when James died in 1929, Mrs Chesters gradually withdrew from society, firstly selling their home and moving to a small house on the edge of King's Park and living, it seems, only on what she had before her husband died.
She lived with the utmost stringency but was generous to charitable causes. She was known simply as the "Wood Lady of Subiaco." Then she became a familiar figure pushing her old pram along Thomas Street collecting wood and bottles. She was also referred to as the "Birds Nest Lady", a reflection on her hairstyle.
Over the years she became increasingly antisocial and fought a bitter and unsuccessful battle against a road going through her property. Sith Chesters made a unique effort to the War during World War 11. In August 1940 she bought two Spitfire planes at the cost of 85000 pounds each to be kept in Britain and used in the Battle of Britain, and a training plane costing 1750 pounds for Australian pilots to train in. She lived into her 80's and suddenly people realised she wasn't around anymore. Sith Chesters was one of the unusual characters and eccentrics of Perth. When she died she left many charitable bequests including funding for medical scholarships at the University of Western Australia. '
Death notices about Sith Chesters published in various newspapers reported she left a lot money which was divided among various living relatives as she had no children and many charities. These notices can be found at National Library of Australia database Trove.
