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Lady Ann Spencer
Remembered for her generosity and resilience, Lady Ann Spencer championed charitable causes while enduring profound personal loss in Albany’s formative years.
Andrew Eyden |16 Feb 2024
Sir Richard, his wife Lady Ann Spencer, and their nine children and eleven servants arrived at King George Sound on 13 September 1833. Sir Richard was newly appointed as Government Resident at Albany. Coming on board HMS Buffalo, with most of their goods and chattels, including agricultural implements, building materials, and all the necessary paraphernalia to establish a landed gentry in the new colony, carried by another vessel, Brilliant.
The Spencers were somewhat shocked to discover that their new home was anything but the picture of a progressive and rapidly growing colony that had been painted for them by Governor Stirling before leaving England. Still, they had little choice but to begin setting up their new home in this rather lacklustre isolated colonial outpost of around 40 people, with the latest arrivals contributing a 60% increase to the somewhat minuscule population.
Soon after arriving, Sir Richard and Lady Ann purchased the government farm known as Strawberry Hill Farm or The Old Farm, including additional land. They set about building an extension, a second storey, and outbuildings to the somewhat limited cottage that had been ordered by Dr Alexander Collie, Royal Naval Surgeon, and first Government Resident for Albany, appointed in April of 1831. After Collie's appointment, he was notified of a visit to Albany by the Governor, having the cottage ready for the governor's stay in late 1831.
Lady Ann Spencer devoted herself to charitable works in her new home at King George Sound. Deeply concerned by what she perceived as the lack of adequate clothing among Menang women and children, she appealed to friends and acquaintances in England to help raise funds for the purchase of fabric and clothing.
One of her principal concerns was the vulnerability of Aboriginal women to the rough and often intoxicated whalers and seamen who frequented the settlement. Determined to provide assistance, Lady Ann successfully enlisted the support of several influential friends, including Lady Byron, widow of the poet Lord Byron; the Duchess of Kent, mother of the future Queen Victoria; and the Honourable Miss Wilbraham of Lancashire. It was an impressive circle of supporters by any measure.
Their efforts proved successful. In June 1837, five bales of red flannel garments arrived aboard the Hero for distribution among the local Aboriginal community. The shipment was granted special dispensation to enter the port free of duty, reflecting both the significance of the donation and the standing of those involved in the initiative.
Following the death of Sir Richard Spencer at the Old Farm on 24 July 1839, Lady Ann remained in Albany with many of her children. Sir Richard, who died at the age of sixty after suffering what was described as a fit of paralysis, had been a controversial figure and was not universally admired by the townspeople. Nevertheless, Albany experienced considerable growth and development during his tenure as Government Resident.
In contrast to her husband, Lady Ann was widely respected and held in high regard throughout the community. Despite often living with limited means, she was renowned for her generosity and gracious hospitality. The people of Albany also felt deep sympathy for her following a series of devastating personal tragedies that occurred shortly after Sir Richard's death.
In November 1839, her youngest son, Horatio Spencer, was killed at just fifteen years of age. He and a companion had sought shelter in a cottage during a violent storm when a tree, struck by lightning, crashed through the roof, killing them both. Tragedy struck again only five months later when her eldest son, Hugh S. Spencer, drowned in a boating accident on 6 March 1840. John L. Morley also lost his life in the same incident.
Lady Ann Spencer died in Perth on 19 July 1855, having arrived in the colony's capital only two days earlier after travelling by carriage from Albany. Her body was returned to Albany and laid to rest beside her husband at their gravesite on what would later become Seymour Street in Mira Mar. Today, their final resting place continues to overlook the magnificent waters of King George Sound, a fitting vantage point from which to survey the settlement they helped shape.