Following our presentations on ‘Women and Children on the goldfields’ at the Castlemaine Alchemy of Gold conference in May 2025, the moderator, Dr Katrina Dernelley asked the audience for personal stories about their own Victorian goldfield’s ancestors. After hearing these fascinating stories, Dr Katrina commented on the importance of recording these stories. Both Dr Katrina and her PhD student Kacey Sinclair quickly went from excitement about this wonderful idea, to disappointment when they remembered their impossible workloads. So, I volunteered to use this blog. Following is the first contribution from Robert Hall, the gr-gr-grandson of Charlotte the Flower Seller.
Charlotte the Flower Seller
Charlotte Sylvia (Churchett) Hall
Charlotte Churchett was born on 14th February 1849 in the Worcestershire village of Cookley. In 1862 Charlotte emmigrated to Australia with her parents George and Elizabeth Churchett, arriving at Melbourne. After a short time in Melbourne the family travelled to Ballarat, where her father operated a cordial manufacturing business. Charlotte may have had some work in the family business initially but soon began a trade in paper flower making. She obviously had some artistic flair. Paper flower creation originated much earlier, especially in Europe and China and during the mid-19th century was very popular.
In January 1867, Charlotte married William Hall, a brick maker of Ballarat East. Their marriage certificate disclosed that she was still a paper flower maker at that time. By 1867, a certain amount of gentrification would have been established on the goldfields and there would have been a demand for decorative products, such as paper flowers, to enhance domestic homes.
Charlotte gave birth to their first child, James in 1868 at their East Ballarat home. A daughter, Charlotte followed in 1871 and another son, William, in 1875. It is not known where Charlotte produced the flowers, but with her expertise, I would suggest that she could have carried out her production at home as time permitted with her parenting.
Late in 1875, the family re-located to Stawell goldfields. I don’t know why they decided to move, as they had Hall relations still in Ballarat, although Charlotte’s father who was by now a widower, had moved to South Australia.
Sadly, Charlotte died in June 1875, in Stawell, from pulmonary tuberculosis and was buried two days later in the Pleasant Creek Cemetery in Stawell. They were typical of many young families struggling to survive in very rough conditions. This being especially so for young mothers and children.
William Hall with three young children returned to Ballarat in 1878 to live temporarily with his father, until re-marrying later in the year. The second marriage produced another 7 Halls!
Charlotte Sylvia Churchett was my Great Great Grandmother. In 2021, I dedicated a small memorial for her, on her previously unmarked grave.
Robert James Hall
Castlemaine
3 June 2025