Diary of Georgiana Molloy
Katie Andrews
Georgiana Molloy 1819 One of the saddest things has just happened to me. Father died from being flung off a horse. Father’s name was David Kennedy and he was 53 years old. I can’t think of anything that could be sadder. Anyway, I should probably think of all the good things to come. I’m sure there will be lots of great things to come, I’m only 16.
Georgiana Molloy – 1830 March 12th After six long months of travelling, we’ve finally arrived. We are just docking at the Swan River Colony. The waves are rough and we have to paddle in rowing boats to get to the shore. The only stop we’ve had was a brief one in Cape Town. I’m almost about to give birth and all the land is taken up by other people in the colony. The weather is so hot and I’m sweating in my long skirt. It looks like the tools we brought aren’t strong enough and they break against the strong trees. The thing that is bothering me the most is the mosquitos, tics, fleas and flies. Warrior
I think we might have to move.
Georgiana Molloy – May 24th 1830 We have arrived in Flinders Bay. Getting all our luggage to the shore was easier because the Bussell Brothers were on the whaler with us. They made sure that all our belongings arrived safely. In a few days, I will probably give birth to my first child. The weather is a little bit better, but still at a metal melting temperature to me. It is raining heavily, for which I am actually quite glad. They gave me the first tent because I was about to have a baby. The flies are still annoying me but they are better than they were at the Swan River Colony. I can remember on John and my wedding day, when we decided to Emily Taylor set off to the Swan River Colony on the Warrior. I am glad that we aren’t on a ship.
Georgiana Molloy – May 27th 1830 My baby was just born yesterday. I am feeling pretty weak. It was raining and the conditions were harsh. We have decided to call her Elizabeth Mary Molloy. My two sisters were called Elizabeth and Mary. I miss them quite much so I thought I could remember them well if my daughter was called their names. We have managed to build a shack for shelter. I am worried about Elizabeth Mary because she is sick. I hope she will survive.
Georgiana Molloy – 6 June 1830 I can remember the day when dear father passed away and I thought it was the saddest thing, well now is sadder. Only nine days after Elizabeth Mary was born, my beautiful child, has died. For her grave, I have collected little blue flowers to put on it. John and I are devastated.
Georgiana Molloy – 1832 I’m done with sad and bad things. I have found a new interest in the flowers and plants of this new, strange country. James Mangles, who is back in England, sent me a letter a while back saying if I wanted to send flower and plant specimens to him! Of course, I agreed. I can’t wait until the next boat stops by, then I can send back some of my specimens. I have been very stressed lately, for John has been very busy, and I must do all the things he would normally do, like cook, clean, and look after all the children. Going out into the bush and collecting flowers calms me right down. After all of these years living in the Flinders Bay Colony, I have finally found something that calms me down.
Georgiana Molloy – 1832 Going out into the bush has become almost daily, I always look forward to going there. When I arrive home after being in the bush, I am often covered in scratches from the dense forest. The trees have sharp, cut-off branches that if you get too close they scratch you. As soon as I get home with the specimens, I preserve them and store them in small canisters that are lined with tin. When the next ship comes, whether I’m finished my collection or not, I send off my specimens. I do that because the ships only come every so often, maybe twice a year, and Mangles doesn’t like to be kept waiting, I assume. The woodlands and full of colourful birds singing and chirping, the colours prettier than any bird in England, I wish I could show my children.
Epilogue
Georgiana Molloy is known as the first successful female botanist in Australia. After 184 years, her specimens are still kept in various libraries and museums. Some of the seeds she sent back are kept in the Kew Gardens. Some of her diaries and letters that survived are in the Cumbria Archive Center. This can show how her life was like and things that happened that she wanted to let her family back in England know about. You can look at her life vividly online thanks to modern day technology. Images of what life in her time might look like are online so you can see what life might be like. Dr. John Lindley thinks that Mrs. Molloy was ‘collectively, the best and contains more good things than I have before received from that interesting part of the world.’ Georgiana Molloy always found time to collect flowers and time for her passion. Even with seven children, she found time to care for them, do jobs that her husband would normally do (he was working most of the time), cook meals and send plant specimens back to Mangles. Even though along the way many tragic times occurred, she is remembered as a woman of triumph. She is known as a successful botanist, some of her diaries and letters have survived, famous botanists think her work was amazing and she always found time for her strong passion. That is why Georgiana Molloy’s life was triumphant.