MRS EDWARDS, MARRIED WOMAN OF KALAMUNDA, AND THE MARISTOW GUEST HOUSE

By Michelle Bunn

Maud Edwards was well known in Kalamunda as “Mrs Edwards”. She arrived in Kalamunda in the early 1920s and lived there for three decades with her husband, William Edwards, daughter Margery and son Ron. For 15 years she ran the Maristow Guest House, still standing at 77 Heath Road – and it is was her who bought the land and financed the building. A talented musician and excellent cook, she hosted and contributed to many social events. Yet her early life contained personal drama and tragedy. Here we explore a little more of the life of this “married woman of Kalamunda”.

Family history records1 show Maud Mary Edwards was born 21 March 1878 in Plymouth, Devon, to the Master Mariner Captain John Prout and Ada Prout. She was the second of six children, although the first born died in early infancy so grew up as the eldest child. Captain Prout sailed in many ships over his career but one in particular, the steamship ‘Maristow’, must have been a Prout family favourite as both Maud Edwards and her sister, Lottie, named their homes after it. All the family were great sea travelers. Maud’s niece can recall her father telling her that whenever his mother wanted a break from home duties, she would gather up the five children and take them along on whatever ship her husband was captaining at the time. 2

Perhaps her mother’s desire to escape from daily chores encouraged Maud’s own independence. Aged 17, in 1895, she married Frederick Stickland. They had two children: Frederick Leo and Stanley. Sadly, after just four years of marriage, her husband died of tuberculosis. Maud was now 21, a widow with two babies, and life must have seemed bleak.

Maud married again, around 1901, to Henry Chiles and bore Ada (1902) and Margery Mabel (1904). A year later, Ada died from “convulsions and rickets” aged only three years. Maud was not yet 30 years old and had experienced the painful deaths of both a husband and a child. Another son, Archibald Robert, was born in 1908. However, for some reason the marriage to Henry Chiles ended.

Her eldest child, Frederick Leo, was 19 years old when he enlisted for WWI. Maud had married for a third time – to William Edwards, who was (perhaps) a widower and had three teenage children of his own. In 1916 their son, Ronald Colin, was born. Maud was about 38 years old and Ron was her sixth child. Then in 1917 Maud experienced another family tragedy when Frederick Leo was killed in action at Ypres, France, aged 22 years.

Now in her third marriage, with two deceased children, four living children (one a baby) and perhaps three step-children, Maud was still barely 40 years old. Her husband suffered from severe asthma and at some point she decided to put Britain behind her and emigrate to Australia. A new life began when she and William arrived in Perth, Western Australia, from Sydney around 1920 with Margery, aged about 16 years, and Ron, aged about four years.

Local histories record that the Edwards moved to Kalamunda in the 1920s for the sake of William’s health. The Edwards first stayed in Kalamunda at the Mountain Rest guesthouse (now 47 Recreation Rd). Margery recalled asking there for a drink of water, not finishing it and throwing the remainder on the ground – she was duly admonished because water was such a precious commodity in the hills. 3

Perhaps it was the experience of staying in a guesthouse herself that gave Maud the idea of operating her own. It is also probable that managing a guesthouse – a task managed usually by women – was a strategy for obtaining income that was not reliant on William’s health. Whatever the thoughts were, it is certain that in May

1 Compiled by Sandra Chiles, Maud Edwards’ granddaughter, and Patricia Paterson, niece.

2 Patricia Paterson (email to M Bunn 10 Oct 2013)

3 Interview with Marg Kostera, c. 1980

1921 “Maud Mary Edwards, married woman of Kalamunda”,4 purchased Lot 54 in the Kalamunda Brie-Brie estate. This block of land (originally two acres, one rood and one perch) on the corner of Heath Road and Seaview Terrace, Kalamunda, was to remain in the family until 1975. Having purchased the land, Maud Edwards quickly obtained two mortgages probably used to finance building a home (£250 in July 1921, and another £200 in January 1922).

Maristow’s Construction, 1922

Margery recalled that her father’s health improved so much he was able to clear the land and assist a local builder, Fred “Jim” Elson, to construct the home she named “Maristow” after her father’s favourite ship.5 It is a large weatherboard house on a timber frame, with wide jarrah floorboards on timber stumps, two brick chimneys and a high-pitched corrugated iron roof. There were six original rooms. The floor plan of the original building followed a traditional Australian design of two rooms either side of a central hallway, with a kitchen and ‘wash-house’ at the back of the house. Internally, the 14-foot ceilings and walls are lined with horse hair plaster on wooden lathes. Jarrah chair rails and skirting boards found in the original rooms and hallway were handmade (judging by their irregularity).

Upon entry, there were two bedrooms to the right (west) of the hallway. An early photograph (above) shows that both had French-doors opening to the western verandah. On the left (east) side after entry was the formal sitting room, with a decorative plaster ceiling and French-doors opening to the side verandah, and the dining room. A double fireplace and brick chimney connected these rooms.

At the end of the hallway, a heavy wooden door exited to the rear verandah (south) and a small third bedroom/ sleep out on the west. On the east was the separate entrance to the kitchen, with another door exiting to the eastern side verandah and a large larder/pantry. The brick fire-recess on the kitchen’s external south wall housed a wood-burning Metters’ stove (or similar).

When compared to other contemporary homes that can be viewed today in the Kalamunda History Village (for example, Chamber’s House), there are several clues in Maristow’s architecture indicating that Maud always intended her home to be a guesthouse. Firstly, it is a larger than average sized house comprising six generously proportioned rooms. Indeed, the 1933 Census shows that most (61 per cent) dwellings in the Darling Range Road District only had four or less rooms, another 21% had five rooms, and just 18 per cent had six or more rooms.

Secondly, there are unusually wide verandahs on three sides of the house – a feature noted by people at the time – where guests and the family would have slept in warmer months. Thirdly, the kitchen built at the back of the house had its own separate entry and was also unusually large.

Maristow – a family home and popular Guest House 1922-1932

Maristow was being advertised as a guesthouse by April 1922: “Kalamunda: A complete rest and change can be had at Maristow; spacious verandahs, excellent view. Mrs Edwards.”6 By June that year, the wording had added: “Ring ‘Phone 16.” Further improvements were made and later in 1922 advertisements included wording such as “Ideal position, spacious verandahs, good table”, and “first class Accommodation, sleeping out, tennis court, ocean views.” 7 A well was put down forty feet to seek water but was not overly effective – not surprising as the land is literally on top of granite. Maristow’s primary source of water, as for most Kalamunda residences, was “from rain-water tanks; when that ran out it had to be bought.”8

4 Landgate Certificate of Title Vol 280 f.18 (transferred to Vol 281 f.111)

5 Mansfield, Carol, 2012. Transcript of Conversation with Marg Kostera, c.1993 at Parry House, Lesmurdie (copy at Kalamunda Library, Local History Collection).

6 The West Australian Tuesday 11 April 1922, p. 12 (also later dates throughout April 1922).

7 The West Australian Wednesday 27 Sept 1922 p. 12 (also later dates throughout Sept and Dec).

8 Mansfield, Carol, 2012. Op cit.

Margery recalled that at first friends were invited, and their recommendations (plus the advertising and referrals from other local guesthouses) helped Maristow’s success. The cost, she remembered, “in the 1920s was 2 guineas a week”. The first entry in the Maristow guest book is dated 27 August 1923. Two notable guests in the book were May Holman (and her sister), and a very young Harold Clough.9

Electoral rolls show that William gained employment as a cordial manufacturer. No formal occupation is recorded for Maud but it is evident she ran the guesthouse and undertook all the cooking in the spacious kitchen she had designed. Maristow’s “good table” was highlighted in the advertisements. “Guests liked cream and poultry; roast beef was a specialty at Maristow. Food was kept cool in the Coolgardie safe, and butter was kept on a wet brick with a flannel over it under the house.10 Maude’s culinary skills became very well known and she generously contributed to social celebrations, as shown by the following newspaper extracts:

“KALAMUNDA NEWS: Mr. and Mrs. C. Kostera gave a party in the RSL. Hall to celebrate … and all joined in the dancing, games and singing and when supper was served did full justice to the nice savories for which Mrs. Edwards is famous and all the other good things.” 11

“Mrs. Edwards … entertained Mr. and Mrs. Green and about 18 neighbours and friends to morning tea and another cake made and decorated by Mrs. Edwards was cut. All present thoroughly enjoyed the good things cooked by Mrs Edwards who is well known for her culinary art.” 12

Maud was also a talented musician – a valuable skill in an era when social activities almost inevitably included dancing and singing. She played the piano and was noted as the accompanist to many singers. Within a few years of settling in Kalamunda Maud was also leading an orchestra. Visitors to the 1925 Kalamunda Show enjoyed “Excellent music … during the afternoon by the Kalamunda Orchestra, comprising Mrs. M. Edwards (leader), piano; ... The same orchestra played the music for the dance which eventuated in the evening, and largely contributed to the enjoyment of all.” 13

Margery recalled that “Surprise parties were frequent at her home. At dances Parents and children as well as young folks danced to piano and concertino. Babies were parked under seats. Everyone brought supper in a tea towel. Danced on side verandah.” 14

9 Patricia Paterson (email to M Bunn, 10 Oct 2013)

10 Interview with Margery Kostera, c. 1980

11 The Swan Express, 30 June 1949, p. 4

12 The Swan Express, 7 August 1952, p. 4

13 The Swan Express, 30 January 1925, p. 2

14 KOSTERA, Mrs Margery. Biography (copy at Kalamunda Library, Local History Collection).

The last entry in the Maristow guestbook is dated 31 October 1937. Less than a year later, in August 1938, Maud was widowed again when William died. She was then 60 years of age. Both Margery (34 years) and Ron (22 years) were still living in the family home. Rather than move, Maud subdivided the land and sold a portion in the south-west corner (now 5 Sea View Terrace)15. This subdivision reduced the size of the remaining land to a more manageable area and also raised enough money for Maud to immediately (on the same date) discharge both the original two mortgages.

After the Guesthouse (1940 – 1975)

Electoral rolls and family records reveal that Maud remained living at Maristow with Margery and Ron. Margery was working as a shop assistant16 in several local business and as an office assistant. Margery recalled people bringing her their babies to be weighed on the store’s flat-topped glass scales. Once a week she was part of the Kalamunda Women’s Gymnastics Club. Throughout the late 1930s “Miss M. Edwards” was often reported in local papers as participating in local golfing tournaments17 and attending functions at the Embassy Ballroom – and was even photographed in 1941 with a formally dressed group of people celebrating “At the Movie Ball”.18 During the WWII years Margery worked in uniform as part of the emergency services in the wards of King Edward Hospital.

In February 1944, Margery married Cazmiez Kostera, or “Kos”, the well-known proprietor of the Kalamunda bus service. He was a widower at this time, with five adult children. Maud, Margery and Kos, and Ron all continued to live at Maristow.

In 1953, when Maud was 75 years, she implemented two further subdivisions to create 1 and 3 Sea View Terrace. Maud retained sole ownership of the remaining 3,048 square metres.19 However, in the same year, she and Ron moved to a house he had built in South Perth. 20 Margery and Kos remained resident in Maristow.

Maud Edwards died on 11 May 1961 and the ownership of Maristow was transferred to her two children, Ronald Edwards and Margery Kostera. Almost immediately Ron transferred his half-share to Margery’s husband.

Margery Kostera became the sole proprietor in August 1965, following the death of her husband in May 1964. 21 She continued to live at Maristow for another decade, selling the property in 1975. Margery died 10 April 1993 (aged 89 years) and is buried in the Guildford cemetery along with her husband.

Postscript

Maristow underwent several changes of ownership after Margery’s sale of the property in 1975. 22 It is classified in the local government’s Inventory of Heritage Places23 as Conservation Strategy Category C: possessing a moderate level of significance. Maristow is also included in the report Guest Houses in the Kalamunda Area: A Compilation of Information and Photographs. 24 The property owners between 1999 and 2005 significantly extended Maristow, maintaining the original character to a high standard. Much of the original house and its wide verandahs remain.

Michelle Bunn, January 2023

15 Landgate Certificate of Title Vol 281 f.111 (transferred to Vol 1064 f.27)

16 Western Australian Electoral Rolls 1926, Swan District, Swan Subdivision.

17 See, for example, The Daily News, 5 September 1938 p. 6

18 The Sunday Times, 31 Aug 1941 p. 15

19 Landgate Certificate of Title Vol 1164 f.269 (from Vol 1064 f.27).

20 Patricia Paterson (email to M Bunn 10 Oct 2013)

21 Landgate Certificate of Title Vol 1164 f.269.

22 Landgate Certificate of Title Vol 1419 f.102 (from Vol 1164 f.269): shows sales in 1975, 1978, 1980, 1999, 2005 and in 2009 to the current owner and author.

23 Shire of Kalamunda (May 1997) Municipal Inventory of Heritage Places – Stage Three Report, Vol 2. Kalamunda and Districts Historical Society.

24 Kalamunda and Districts Historical Society. Copy available in the Kalamunda Library (647.994 KAL)

PANTRY / SCULLERY (later Bed 5 / laundry / WC)

Later bathroom

KITCHEN

BACK VERANDAH (later enclosed to become dining room)

BED 2

BED 3

DINING (later Bed 4)

FORMAL SITTING ROOM

ENTRY

MARISTOW

BED 1

VERANDAH

Historical Floor Plan c. 1920s-1960s

(note not to scale)