ONCE forgotten, a pioneering Australian woman has been honoured at Castlemaine's cemetery, with a memorial marking her burial place.
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Frances "Fanny" Finch cast a vote with another woman in 1856, using a loophole granting suffrage to rate-paying "persons".
These ballots were later disallowed and the act amended to only include men.
But the act preceded Australian women's suffrage by more than 40 years.
Mrs Finch's grave has now been marked, with government representatives unveiling a memorial in Castlemaine cemetery on Wednesday.
Great, great, great granddaughter Alice Garner said the memorial acknowledged an influential person, nationally, for Castlemaine and for her family.
Dr Garner's father was researching family history when he came across an article written by a Castlemaine historian.
It was the first anyone in the family knew about Mrs Finch.
Dr Garner said the more the family looked into Mrs Finch's story, the more they wondered if her story had been silenced because she was a woman of colour who probably ran a brothel.
She said Mrs Finch had been hidden from the family past despite being probably the most influential figure in their family.
"She was quite a character in Castlemaine goldfields period. Nobody knew about her in our family. We've never been told about her," Dr Garner said.
"The more we found out the more we began to wonder if her story had been hidden and silenced: because she was a woman of colour, she probably ran a brothel.
"She was probably by 19th century standards seen as not very respectable. We've sort of reclaimed her as someone exciting from our family history."
OTHER NEWS:
Several generations from a few branches of the family - some previously unknown to each other - joined politicians to unveil the memorial at Castlemaine General Cemetery.
Mrs Finch's grave has now been marked, but some mystery remains. No one has been able to uncover a photograph or image of Mrs Finch.
Dr Garner urged anyone with old documents to keep an eye out.
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Elspeth Kernebone
Accident brought me to journalism, but every day convinces me again that strong media is more important than ever. After a starting off as the sole reporter in a tiny NSW town, I’m loving the teeming metropolis that is Bendigo. Focussed on health, business and education. Got a tip? Email elspeth.kernebone@bendigoadvertiser.com.au.
Accident brought me to journalism, but every day convinces me again that strong media is more important than ever. After a starting off as the sole reporter in a tiny NSW town, I’m loving the teeming metropolis that is Bendigo. Focussed on health, business and education. Got a tip? Email elspeth.kernebone@bendigoadvertiser.com.au.
