Miss
Dorothy Leviny’s Diary
[In response to a request for information about
Miss Dorothy Leviny’s Diary, we here display a summary of contents
of the one hundred handwritten pages.
This has been compiled by Mary Thompson, dated 26th July 2003]
Dorothy’ s Diary
1899 (age 17) to 1920 (age 39)
Buda Tour Guide reference
1899
P2
May 23 Relief of Mafeking, middle of the night, pouring rain, Mail office
rang fire bell with the news (rang so hard, cracked the bell and it
had to be replaced), bonfire on Bakers Hill to celebrate.
1900
P3
Feb 19 Seventeen and a half, finished schooling
Pressing wildflowers
Tennis court finished, written to Erne to get racquets for Katie and
Dorothy. Gertrude will pay for Dot’s and it will be repaid by
time payment. [1st ref to Dot’s difficulty with money].
P5
Sent to S.Aust. for waterlily seeds “I watch them every day they
first come up like a thread and about two days after a little leaf appears…
Gertrude says I will kill them looking at them so much” cover
against magpies: “Frilby and Little Billy, Sven does not come
into the house so much”
P6
Invited to Foundry picnic at Kyneton
P7
“I earned a shilling yesterday plucking a pair of ducks I think
I would rather go without the shilling next time… I still have
my racquet to pay for”
P9
July 25 Birthday presents “Gertie carved me a photo frame”
Confirmation photos taken (Verey?)
P17
Dec 10 Return of Boer War veterans, Castlemaine T Hall reception
P19
Sundays at Botanic Gardens ritual: “ I don’t think I will
go again…a real parade Sundays and everyone wears their new things”
Domestic skills: “Made combinations and slip blouses.. I made
gooseberry jelly on Sunday and it turned out beautifully”
P20
Dec 24 “I dropped my watch twice today and I think it is done
for. The other day getting down from the loquat tree it descended before
I did “
1901
P21
Feb 1 The Queen is dead “a solemn service in our church in the
afternoon… decorated in black and purple… Duke and Duchess
of York are coming out for the first Federal Parliament”
P23
Feb 12 Ernest and Alba’s baby christened “Ernest Cutts none
of us like the names”
[Although listed as James in the Family Tree, he is called Boy to the
end of this diary].
Aug 13 Twentieth birthday 20/- each from Mother and Father
Ilma’s wedding: “ Its just four weeks and two days Mary
and Alice [Newell] bridesmaids white muslin with pink roses in their
hats. They got butterfly brooches”
Starting classes in Bendigo one day a week
Oct 21 Ilma’s wedding: “Decorated the Music Room So pretty”
Father’s seizure left side Dr Jim Thompson [Ilma’s husband]
very helpful.
P30 First painting lesson “ father provided such a nice box of
paints and some brushes”
P31 Feb 22 “ on 14th of November we had a fearful cyclone which
took the roof off, knocked down chimneys through the ceilings broke
windows and blew down trees we only had the dining room to sleep that
night so we went to different people we did n’t get back till
nearly Christmas time”
1902
June 2 The War is over Peace was declared today the news came through…
we hoisted our flag and went down town”
June26 “I came out at the Poster Ball last night enjoyed it very
much my dress very pretty The King is very ill so the Coronation is
put off it was to be today”
Aug 13 “Tomorrow I will be twenty one”
P32 Art classes: “We are doing life models now & this is the
third model we have had Mr Bell said it was the best head I had done
so far though I thought it ought to be torn up and said so”
P33 Nov 5 “Ilma’s birthday next week,Hilda and I are giving
her a frame I’m just bankrupt I have only got 2 to 3 shillings
left altogether how I wish I has 2 or 3Pounds. There seems such a lot
of things to get and I feel so cramped the studio takes up a lot of
my money as we just get 2 shillings a month”
1903
P35 7-15 May Railway Strike: “No trains all day it seems so quiet
but in town everyone is talking in the streets butter has already gone
up to 1/9… no papers came… I think some people think it
will end in Civil War…Mother is congratulating herself that she
had just ordered 25lbs of flour and a bag of sugar Katie said today
while we were out walking ‘ I wish the country was safe and I
had my dress from town’ she would be so happy I yelled”
P37 June 4 “Hilda put her hair up at Easter and came out at the
Tennis Club dance on Friday… Mr Woodward thinks I am getting on
with my painting I wish I were”
P38 Aug 13 ”Gertrude is desperately ill in the Childrens’Hospital
with typhoid Mary was wired for last Monday and went in the train
P39 Nov 8 “The golf season is over and Mr Wilding has gone away
for good unless something turns up here again so there are hardly any
men left only boys … I get 3/- a month… but I wish I had
my allowance I changed my last birthday pound and now I don’t
know what I want to buy but it will melt in no time”
P40 Nov 15 “Erne is staying with us from Sat to Monday Father
did n’t feel at all well & wanted to see him so he ran up
& Father is so much brighter”
.Nov 11 “Mr Wilding is coming back tomorrow after all” Mr
Woodward is very pleased with Miss Sheridan & me lately says we
are getting
P41quite toffs he says I can go into the life room next year but I simply
must work…He always encourages me and is so nice about even my
most garish mistakes and really my work must strike him as garish and
amateur
P44 25 Dec “The Foundry is very busy now in fact it is working
night and day & refusing work poor Mr Wilding has to work in the
office often till eleven o’clock at night its no joke this hot
weather he is going down to his Mother for Xmas I think
1904
P45 Jan 1 Its Louis’ birthday today and Father’s on Sunday
Louis sent Mother 4 lovely feathers from S. Africa {Only reference to
Louis in this diary}
Jan 19 “I am to have my allowance this year I am so glad but it
does seem an awful waste to put it all in clothes I am to get the first
cheque today of 5Pounds that is 20Pounds a year so I hope I wont get
into debt I have to get nightgowns and shoes right off”
P46 28 Jan “Tomorrow Ilma’s baby will be one week old she
was born last Friday (23rd) & today she came up for father to see.
She is simply a little darling we are all in love with her”
P47 29 March “Ive simple got the blue blacks today I think its
because I’m so ugly I do get visions of myself & they give
me the blues worse luck because it does n’t make me any more beautiful
We went to the Dredge with Mr Wilding last night it was great fun and
very interesting
P49 17 July “It’s awfully hard to make my allowance meet
golf or something wears my shoes out in no time We sold Carbine [?]
the other day & so had a dividend each of 6/- will come in handy”
Aug 13 “Tomorrow is my 23rd birthday I don’t feel 20 yet”
Violet is coming in with Hilda after golf to tea. It is my night up
with father tonight”
P50 Sept 21 Baby Ilma [Ernest and Alba’s second child] is staying
with us just now and has been very ill”
Nov 12 “ Its almost settled that I am to go to Bendigo next year
coming home for the weekends & I don’t think I’m glad
for I’m beginning to see that I’m no genius and it seems
all so hollow to go in for it but I simply must do something & I
love the work so much so I must go it hard for I am twenty three and
do very little work other girls make me ashamed I think Ive got the
blues perhaps it’s the hot weather coming on but I do seem so
ignorant and everything else & I am beginning to feel one too many
in this house but dread being quite by myself in Bendigo though doubtless
it will do me good I’ve come to the conclusion I’m simply
most awfully selfish..lazy
P51 I was staying down at Brighton for nearly three weeks last month
and did enjoy it so much but I was so very glad to get home again if
only something nice could happen soon, but I don’t see how it
can. Betty is growing and has six teeth I have been home nearly three
weeks but have only seen her once. Today is Ilma’s birthday she
was up to tea and looked very pretty in a white muslin with frills and
a gathered skirt 1830 style… Yes Ive got the blues everyone seems
to jar on me and yet I feel so full of possibilities”
1905
P55 Mar 13th ‘Today week ago Father left us
Monday morning he passed very peacefully away he was semiconscious to
the end tho he knew I think Mother & every thing that was said to
him we were all with him at the time
It was Wednesday night he did n’t feel very well and on Thursday
he was very sick on Saturday we sent for Hilda Gert and Erne. Jim was
wonderfully good
Father was buried at nine on Tuesday morning by Canon Dennis
We six girls brought father to the door—
P57 March 19 “ The old goldfinch died last Friday morning &
I buried it under the New Zealand palm near the bird’s cage Father
was always so fond of the bird. Ernest is up from Saturday to Monday
Gert is down staying with Alba
[ This was a not uncommon arrangement]
May 5 “I have started golf at Bendigo again I have only had one
round of the Links I bought a new driver when I was in town in February”
May 25 “ Ive got the blues I cant find anything for a study &
I cant play golf & I cant bear myself nor anybody else & its
all so silly”
P60 Oct 22 “ We made about 170 Pounds by our bazaar… Yesterday
Hilda and I played off for the Championship for golf & I won but
I did n’t play a good game at all went round in 66 with some very
bad holes”
P62 Dec 31 “Another New Years Eve How the years fly and yet not,
Ernest is staying with us he came yesterday Alba broke her rib so they
could not come up for Xmas
1906
P65 May 6 “I started working in Bendigo from Monday to Friday…
staying with Mr & Mrs Craig & they are very good to me”
P66 July 8 “The baby was christened Alison Mary… Erne is
staying with us for a few days see about putting the property under
the lands act”
P67 Nov 26 I got a most awful shock last Wednesday when I opened a letter
from Mother, she wrote to tell me of Gertrude’s engagement to
Edgar. We are glad for her but most awfully sorry it is not someone
else tho he will be very good to her, he wants her to marry him in January
cos he gets his holidays then it simply takes our breathe away we are
waiting to hear definitely I suppose whe will come back from hospital
in about a fortnight that will make her three months there”
Dec 14” Gertrude is home from hospital and looks very well in-deed
they are to be married at Easter time I think”
1907
P69 March 4 “Just a month to the wedding, we went down for the
day & had our dresses tried on they were made at the Mutual Store
and have arrived with the wedding dress they are very pretty and dainty
turquoise blue with white chiffon fichus. Gertrude has some lovely presents
the invitations will be out in a few days
Betty is staying with us I have just put her to bed she is one of the
very sweetest kiddies I have known”
P70 March 29 Tonight is Good Friday Edgar and Aunt Anna are staying
with us Edgar goes back to toen tomorrow. Everything is going on well
for the wedding which is to be on Wednesday if alls well… Mr Haslin
has asked us if they might give us a full choral service I hope we all
get through alright”
April 3 the wedding did not take place after all today Gertrude and
Edgar broke their engagement on Monday, so we spent the day at Harcourt”
April 17 ‘”On Friday Mother is probably taking Hilda and
me down to the opera then they will go down to Beaconsfield to stay
with Ada & Mrs Myring and then on to Flinders the notice of Leonard
Wilding’s marriage was in the paper a day or two ago”
P71 June 3 “I have been in Bendigo now for six weeks this last
two or three weeks Miss Brodribb and I have been doing a Poster for
the Woman’s [sic] Work I went in also for the medal and we went
together for a book cover but can hardly expect to win anything as we
have never tried any of them before I may join the golf club up there
as a country member”
August 18 “…I have entered for nine things for the Women’s
Exhibition in October but have not done any yet I will have to work
at concert pitch to get it all in. Alba’s baby ( a little girl)
is about six weeks old now”
Nov 13 “ I have the house to myself… the rest of the family
are at Brighton… I have to stay and help our moll (?) I said I
had to get back to Bendigo and now I am acting Cinderella here Cinderella
without the prince”
1908
P74 March 2 “I arrived home last Friday night after two months
in Tasmania”
March 29 “ Mother, Mary, Kate & Ilma went to Brighton for
a fortnight again & Hilda will join them there… While they
were away we have been having the house altered a passage being put
through Kate’s room opening out onto a little porch but it has
rather spoilt Kate’s room the papering of the dining room was
done at the
P75 same time. I have passed in most of my exams Advanced modelled design
Adv.General design Plain Geometry Credit Solid geometry Pass memory
Plant forms and Shading in tempera…
I got my Diploma from the Women’s Work Exhibition this week
Yesterday was the opening of the GolfLinks for the season”
P76 April 19 “…a lovely day it has been but still no rain
at Tarnagulla they are selling water at 6d a bucket & we have had
our tank cleaned out and it is quite empty”
July 12 “ Boy has been staying with us for the last three weeks
and seems very happy.
We are giving an evening next Wednesday but I will be in Bendigo
I have pruned some roses while I have been home for the holidays”
P77 Aug 9 “Am doing very little work in Bendigo am getting so
sick of it yet would find it very hard to settle down at home again
in fact I would dislike intensely to have nothing to do again”
P78 Dec 30 Christmas tree for the children Dorothy dressed up as Santa:
“draped the fireplace with flags when all came in the room they
caught hands round the tree and sang to father Christmas to come and
I came out of the chimney Betty half guessed it was me we all gave each
other presents it was great fun and now the new year will be here day
after tomorrow what will it bring I wonder
Gertrude goes up to Pyalong to Mrs Pennyfather for a year [as companion]
but what I will do is a greater mystery than ever”
1909
P80 Jan 16 “Rex (Brodribb?) helped me to make a potter’s
wheel out of the old machine and now I am waiting for Rex to get the
top plate made at the Foundry I wish it would come I have spring cleaned
the apple house ready to work in and am now waiting a slow game”
P81 Feb 4 “…Mother and I are alone my potters wheel is in
full swing but so far I cant make anything just rough shapes
P82 July 4 “I bought myself this dear little secretaire that I
am writing at…for 3 Pounds seventeen and sixpence & I am selling
the cloth to Mother that I worked for the Exhibition”
Last Friday I went to the second meeting of the Womens National League
and have been made secretary for this branch which they are forming”
I am staying home this year; at present I am stencilling bands for the
dining room curtains to go with the frieze”
Aug 8 “Yesterday we played the first round of our Golf Championships
Mrs D Thompson is leading with Mrs C Beckingsale second Hilda third
& me fourth
We had the first Committee meeting of the W, N. League there were only
five of us there”
P84 “…leaving Hilda & me in charge the painters were
colouring out Mother’s Hilda’s and my room’s (spare
room)…Berta Gibson asked me if I would go up to her cousin’s
station at Savernake N.S.W.as governess to three little boys so I said
I would like to…
Meantime I am taking Latin lessons and have bought some school books”
P85 Dec 21 “ I am going to Savernake in February… and am
looking forward to going Today Gertrude comes home from Pyalong”
Dec 31”yesterday Ilmas third wee girl was born”
1910
Feb 8 “ I start by the first train tomorrow morning. Today was
Betty’s first day at school”
July23 “ I have been home a month… and it all seems a dream
I left Savernake…on a beautiful Winters day and drove through
the station to Mulwala… it was such a pretty morning… through
the thickest and most beautiful fog, in the end I was sorry to go but
I had been too lonely while up there but they were all so nice to me
& it is such beautiful country but governessing is not my forte
and I am glad to say they have a tutor that seems most satisfactory”
P87 “Hilda went to the School of Economy in Melbourne we met in
town and came home together…now I am settling down at home again
and am trying the no brakfast plan but its rather a struggle”
Sept 3 August the birthday month is over… I have bought a camera
with my birthday money & have used the first film & they are
all rather successful they are mostly ones of the cherry plum tree which
is out most beautifully just now”
P88 “ There are so many babies here this year Ilma’s I did
n’t know when I came back from Savernake she is such a big baby
she cut her first tooth last week.
I give Betty drawing lessons every Saturday morning now
We have just had a most successful Past & Present exhibition in
the Mechanics Winnie Brotherton being the biggest mover…”
P89 Oct 30 ‘Mary & I ran down for two days about three weeks
ago to see the Arts & Crafts Exhibition we also saw Blamire Young’s
works which we simply raved about…died to buy two of them”
Dec 2 “One day we brought them to the Zoo and they loved it Hilda
and I even went on the elephant with them and Katie of course snapped
us
Hilda is in the middle of her exams now she comes back today week and
then starts for Ceylon [with Matron from her school]
I am sleeping outside again and do love it [on Mother’s veranda]
Dec 31 “…I hope to go down & meet her at the end of
January possibly I will see the boys from Savernake also Mr & Mrs
Sloane Mr Hugh sent me three lovely photo of the Mulwala fat bullock
I was so pleased to get them”
1911
P94 March 21 “As soon as Easter is over I am to go to the College
of Domestic Economy with Hilda for a term in the meantime I will have
to be getting my clothes in order…I am still at college and we
go back today but I am just longing for another week here as it is quite
the most beautiful time of the year in the bush and I have n’t
had one day in it except a walk a most beautiful walk with Mary
P95 … I do get so very tired of city life. Mr & Mrs Craig
took us to the theatre to see Ethel Irving I did so enjoy it
1912
P96 21 Jan ‘ Yesterday I received a letter from Miss Walker accepting
me for the position of House Mistress at Girton & of course every
thing inside of me turned turtle when I realized that it was settled
Funnily enough our results came out yesterday Hilda got credit passes
for all but one and only failed in practical teaching but unfortunately
that stops her getting the Diploma. I got credit passes for Laundry
& Household Management but nothing for cooking
P97 Feb 2 “ I received a wire from Miss walker this morning to
go up to Girton…I am getting three white uniforms made and they
look so nice I was fitted this morning”
P98 April 10 “At the beginning of February I went up to Girton
to be House Mistress there but I really had a very bad time of it and
was not anything like mistress there at all & at last I had to send
in my resignation I was only there for six weeks Mrs Craig was most
wonderfully good to me while I was there
At present I am really enjoying being at home again every morning Alison
comes up and I give her an hour’s school… Funnily enough
when I was at Girton a week they wrote & told me Hilda had been
asked to go to Merton Hall as mistress there and she seems to be thoroughly
enjoying it”
July 30 “Of all the extraordinary things today I am off to Morris
Hall where I am to do the duties of resident governess without the teaching;
being on duty every second day so I hope to be able to take up some
of my studies again”
29 Sept “ I like being at Morris Hall very well but have not enough
to do of course”
1913
1 Jan “ I have been appointed in Miss Quarterman”s place
as matron at Morris Hall for three months to see how things go and longer
if both sides satisfied I have not been thinking of it yet but must
as soon as today is over”
P101 “While I was in town Miss Hodgkins arrived from England &
held an exhibition of her pictures which are simply the work of a genius
how I wish I could have some of them but the price of any one is more
than I have in the bank so I could just go and enjoy them on the wall,
but oh I’m so fond of waterclours.
Kate has been taking the most delightful photographs of Mary Best’s
children”
P103 26 January “Jim has bought a piece of ground next to Miss
Kentish & from her and is going to build”
1915
7 January “About a year since I have written this and such a dreadful
year the War has broken out between the Allies (Great Britain France
& Russia) and the Germans, it has lasted for six months I hope it
will end soon
P104 such horrible tales of cruelty we hear
It has been an unsettled year at school… Hilda has resigned and
has since been appointed matron of the boys Prep.”
1916
6 Feb “I left Morris Hall at the end of the term and took charge
of a small house for Miss Henderson [ for teachers?]
Babe was born on July 19 & she is my god daughter being called Dorothy
Winsome David Babe has lived up here [Buda} almost all the time &
Gertrude has the care of her & she is an absolutely splendid kiddie
we are very proud of her…[in January] Gertrude went to Lorne with
Dick and & Babe was in my care she was so beautifully well at the
time & cut her first [two] teeth while she was here we did n’t
know she was cutting them until
P105 they were through I heard the first one on her cup
There was a dreadful accident at the Foundry last Tuesday when David
Thompson and Mr Miller the foreman in the boiler yard were both crushed
by the firebox for an engine falling on them Mr Miller died that day
& David died on Friday”
Tomorrow I hope to go up to Bendigo & stay for a few days with Mrs
Craig its really very nice not going back to town to earn my living
there are so many things I want to get at that I want at least a year
off I only wish I had a couple of rooms of my own and enough money to
live on”
1918
11 Nov “ Strange that I have realized that last wish for two rooms
& money to manage with, I have both I ‘m glad to say &
now I want my own home all together
This is the most stirring day in all history as Peace is declared the
Armistice being signed yesterday… many people believe that this
is the last war that differences between nations will in future not
be settled by going to war… some of the people were out rejoicing
all night”
1919
25 Feb “Hilda has just been up for the weekend…she is looking
exceedingly well”
Flu epidemic “I was not going to be inoculated until they wanted
help then I asked for it & volunteered… schools have not been
opened & all church services held in the open air”
31 Dec “ Bea Gibson was married… quite the nicest I’ve
seen..it rained quite steadily Hilda & I went in a taxi at Hilda’s
expense
All the family went away in November even Ilma & Jim & I was
at Buda with Ilona & loved it altho the evenings were a bit lonely
On the 6th & 7th I take the three children to the sea side as usual”
1920
P109 14 October “My last day at home for how long I wonder? Hilda
has bought a little home & I am hoping to live there am in the midst
of packing…I leave on the early train tomorrow… have been
very busy getting furniture … Mother has been awfully good in
helping me”
This is by no means the whole of the Diary. I
pulled out slices that might be useful to me when I write something
about the two diaries. Mary’s is complete. Dorothy’s is
padded out with endless references to social engagements, so and so
stayed for a week, came for tea, got engaged, got married, had babies.
There were frequent visits to Melbourne for shopping, dentists, staying
over with the same friends. October saw the exodus to the beach, sometimes
to the Wilding’s at Flinders, mostly to Brighton “Mother
has taken rooms”. There were many complaints about the heat in
Castlemaine up to 107F in the shade. (I suspect that thermometer at
the back door is faulty).
|
JUST TWO GENERATIONS of the Leviny family occupied Buda for a period of 118 years (1863-1981).
Only
one of the six daughters married. Ilma married Dr Jim Thompson, and
they lived in Castlemaine. Each of the other five girls spent most of
their lives at Buda.