Alice (Garvie) BROWN [878]

  General Notes:

Alice appears to have been abandoned by her husband in circumstances not clearly understood, however her Father-in-Law Archibald Julius remained loyal to her and left a sum of money to be invested by her Brother-in-Law Percy Julius, for her benefit.

Alice was known as Garvie by her grandchildren she resided for her last years with her daughter, Annie Madeline Ford of Whytecliffe Parade, Scotts Pt. Redcliffe, before dying aged 104 at Woody Point Brisbane.
Relatives claim that Alice was the first typist in the Queensland Public Service, Alice imported a typewriter and sought work from the Government Offices. Her office was a basement room in the Treasury Building. She worked until she was aged 60.
Alice played bowls at Ithica Bowling Club until she was 80.

Julius Jottings, No 6 Jan, 1902.
Julius Jottings record's Miss Nellie Julius visiting England, concluding "and we were delighted to see Mrs Arthur Julius again after so many years absence".

Australian Electoral Rolls 1903 Hamilton Brisbane. Alice was recorded as a typist of Windermere Rd.
Ancestry.

Centenarian First Typist
Mrs. Alice Julius , who has died at Scott's Point, Redcliffe, aged 104, is believed to have been the first typist in the State public service. When widowed and trying to raise her family, she imported a typewriter and sought work from Government offices.
She played bowls until she was 92, and worked in the garden until she was 100
Ref: Brisbane Telegraph Qld. Fri 10 Aug 1951

  Other Records

1. Census: England, 30 Mar 1851, Denver NFK. Alice is recorded as a daughter aged 3 born in Denver NFK

2. Census: England, 2 Apr 1871, Southery NFK. Alice is recorded as a daughter unmarried aged 23 born in Denver Norfolk

3. Census: England, 3 Apr 1881, St Mary Abbot's London. Alice Julius nee Brown is recorded as married aged 34 born in Denver Norfolk

4. Alice (Garvie) Brown: Letter to Son Arch & Wife, 26 May 1907, Boroese.
Kiaora
Bororese [?]
26 May 1907
My dear Arch and Clara,
I am not sure if you arrive home today or started for home but I have a letter there to greet you and next Sunday will be your birthday dear son, I wish you very many happy returns of it and every blessing - I hope you have both had a very happy little honeymoon in Sydney and after the tiring work of sightseeing will be glad to settle down in your own house - I always think sightseeing is more tiring then a day's work, but you know I am an old woman now and very fond of home - and I seemed to have come to the days when all my house birds are scattered - Daisy left us yesterday she came last Tuesday week and I shall miss her very much, but she gave me quite a nice long visit - her Rockhampton friends wanted her to go on there very much, but her nursing engagements wouldn't allow her to be absent from Brisbane any longer, she has a home now at the Governesses Home, she has to have one on a telephone and the girls are in a little cottage at Sandgate and have their dinner at a large Boarding House "Saltwood" kept by Miss Murray, a very nice woman and then go home to their . . . . . little cottage and they get their own breakfast and carry lunch to town.
Yesterday it was a great day in Bororese and Day and Ash and I went in the cart and looked on till it was time to go to the train 3.20 pm after that Ash drove me home - Jack rode in - I was so pleased to get your postcard from Sydney and here the telegrams reach due at the church - and I received the paper with the account of your wedding in which was very nice, I think Mrs Evans must have sent it. Now I want to hear what all the presents were and all about your time and what you get with grannies present -- Clara will have time to give all these details, but Arch must write too sometimes, he knows now I love my weekly letter.
Who sent the other telegrams? Did you run against any of our old friends in Sydney? I don't know if I told you of Mrs Cooper's death on the 29th of April in the Manly Hospital - poor dear has had a sad life and not a long one - only 38. Nell wrote us a tremendous letter last week of her start at the new hospital, I think she will be very happy and be sure to succeed - it seems to be a busy place - I don't believe you have seen her since you started for Garmet? so many years ago.
Now my dear children goodnight and every happiness go with you through your lives.
Best love from your loving
Mother

5. Alice Brown: Family pictures & 100th birthday.
Photo 1 L to R - Gordon, Alice, Clara, Archibald.
Photo 2 L to R front - Constance [892], Alice [878], Madge [880]. L to R bacj - John [894], Nell [882], Margaret [879], Archibald [884].
Photo 3 Alice & her pet Kangaroo.

Celebrating Hundredth Birthday
Celebrating her hundredth birthday today is Mrs. Alice Julius, of Scotts Point, who was born in Denver, a small village in Norfolk England near King's Lynn, on May 8, 1847. For some years she has been living with one of her daughters, Mrs. H.T.James, at Chelsea, Scotts Point. To celebrate her birthday members of her family have gathered for the first time for many years and a family party is being held. One of her daughters, Mrs. E. M. Simmers, flew from New Zealand to attend. Mrs. Julius came to Tasmania in 1881 with her late husband. Rev. A. C. Julius, and four children, in the sailing ship Ethel. The voyage was made in response to an appeal for clergy by the late Bishop Montgomery, father of Field Marshall, Lord Montgomery. In 1883 the family came to Gayndah. Mrs. Julius spends her time knitting and is able to walk around the garden. Members of her family who attended the party were Mr. and Mrs. S. B. C. Ford (Brisbane), Mrs. E. M. Simmers (New Zealand). Mrs. James, Miss M. A. Julius (Brisbane), Mr. A. C. Julius (Eloucra, N.S.W.), Mr. John Julius (Dalby), and a number of grandchildren and great grandchildren. Mrs Julius was the first president of the Ithaca Ladies Bowling Club.
Ref: The Telegraph Brisbane, Qld. Thu 8 May 1947

A Grand Old Centenarian
Played Bowls at 96.
Remarkable citizen is Mrs Alice Julius who celebrated her hundredth birthday with 21 relatives at "Chelsea" Scots Point, Redcliffe, on Thursday. Despite her age, she still reads, writes, knits and discusses current events, and played bowls until she was 96!
Born in Denver, Norfolk, England, on May 8, 1847, she left for Australia in the sailing ship, Ethel, in the year 1881, and arrived in Tasmania 3 months later. With her husband (now deceased) she lived at Granponds (now known as Kemsey), and after a few years in Tasmania, came to Queensland and settled Gayndah. In the past 60 years she has lived in Brisbane and at Scots Point. Up to four years ago Mrs Julius played bowls with the Ithaca Ladies Bowling Club and her set of bowls are now owned by Mrs Frances Forsyth, of Seaview Hotel, Sandgate.
Among the messages Mrs Julius received was one from Adml Sir Reginald Skelton (England), who was the engineer-in-chief of the British Fleet during the war, and who was with Capt Scott on his first polar expedition. He is a nephew of Mrs Julius. Another one was from Messrs C E Chuter, J England and A C Palmer who remember her as a member of the staff of the old Colonial Secretary's Department.
Ref: Truth Brisbane, Qld. Sun 11 May 1947

Keen To Be a 104.
She's 103 Now.
Mrs Alice Julius of Whitecliff Parade Scots Point, Redcliffe, at hundred and three, insists on 6 cups of tea every day. Here she is with one of them. The picture was taken yesterday on her hundred and third birthday which she celebrated also with a glass of wine to the astonishment of her friends. Since she reached the century she has become deaf and partially blind, but she is keen to reach 104 at least. Relatives claim that she was the first typist in the State Public Service. Widowed and seeking to raise her family, Mrs Julius, imported a typewriter and sought work from the Government Offices. Her office was a basement room in the Treasury Building. She worked until she was 60. She played bowls until she was 92, and knitted and worked in the garden until she was 100. Incidentally she raised a family of 6 healthy children.
Ref: Unidentified newspaper articles.

Picture with family taken on Alice's 100th birthday at Redcliffe 8th May 1947.
L to R
1. Gordon, Alice, Clara, Archibald.
2. Alice with her children
3. Alice with her pet kangaroo

4. Alice at her 100 birthday with family
5. Persons in group
Front row - Seated left to right:-
1 - Tom James [19493] and his dog
2 - Constance James [892]
3 - Archibald Julius [884]
4 - Alice "Garvie" Julius [878]
5 - Annie Madeline Ford [880]
6 - Frank Ford [881]
Middle row - Standing left to right:-
7 - Muriel Julius [856]
8 - Reginald Julius [854]
9 - Minnie Julius [855]
10 - Margaret Julius [879]
11 - Isabel Julius [895]
12 - Frances Eleanor Simmers [882]
13 - Elizabeth Dicks [896]
14 - Baby Joanne James [19496]
15 - Una James [19495] (wife of Bink, daughter-in-law of Con, granddaughter-in-law of Alice)
16 - John "Bink" James [19494] (Con's elder son & Alice's grandson)
Back row - Standing left to right:-
17 - Partially obscured lady - unknown
18 - Gordon Julius [890]
19 - Young lady with dark hair beside Gordon - not sure - may be either Margaret or Barbara Julius (daughters of Reg & Min)
20 - Clara Julius [885]
21 - John "Jack" Julius (snr) [888]
Ref: Helen Macintosh 2014

6. Alice (Garvie) Brown: Letter to Son Arch, 17 Jan 1909, Hamilton Brisbane.
Hamilton.
Brisbane.
17th January 1909.
My dear Arch,
We all congratulate you most heartily on having passed the exam: your letter yesterday gave us great happiness I wouldn't hope too much after the great disappointment of two years ago - as it was just lovely to get your letter and now I suppose they won't require any more exams of you. You must be so pleased dear one and must have worked hard - your Christmas excursions to Jenolan must have been a great pleasure to you - fancy the old horse still being so useful, he is a real marvel I dare say little Alice was rather a tie to Clara, mothers with babies are rather inclined to stay at home - Harry Ricards and Dolly must have been helps, I suppose his horse and sulky too.
You must have been very busy moving did you take the new . . . . . grape vine Villa? The underground tank will be a great boon to the landlord - have you any garden or fruit trees I suppose the plums and greengages are just ripening. The girls have been developing some of the photographs, some have disappointed them very much - they think the plates must have been old - they are so spotted - one of Clara and baby is very nice, and I have put it in a pretty little silver frame - Jack is at Borningbak? now with Wilbie & Grieve, he is helping with work and getting 30/- a week and living with them - I think he is fencing, ploughing, and helping with a new dip - he was very sorry to leave Mr Mackay who liked him very much - but his eyes and head got so bad - he says his eyes are still sore and Dr Stawell wrote to him to say he thought it must be his eyes causing the headaches and he had better see an eye specialist - but Jack wrote to me that " he couldn't he messing about with more doctors and he would give up the study" I hope in time he will be able to start something satisfactory on the land - we don't regret selling Kiaora the land wasn't good enough. We have got house so nice again - Con is at work now in the Lands Department for six weeks - I have no servant, but have a nice woman who comes one day a week, one week to wash, and another to clean the house - I like cooking for them - my chief drawback is my deafness? Did you see a specialist in Sydney?
We have had a beautiful rain today, it was wanted badly. Is your new house any nearer to the mine - I suppose little Alice keeps Clara too busy to feel lonely now - kiss the dear little girlie for me I am so glad she is so good and happy - with very much love to you Clara and Alice.
I am
Your loving
Mother.

Alice married Rev Arthur Cowper JULIUS [877] [MRIN: 287], son of Rev Archibald Aeneas JULIUS [847] and Charlotte MAYOR [848], on 7 Jun 1875 in St Mary The Virgin Southery. (Rev Arthur Cowper JULIUS [877] was born on 11 Nov 1852 in Myland Parish Mile End Rd Colchester ESS, died on 12 Nov 1918 in NSW Aust and was buried in St Thomas Enfield NSW.)