The Accidental Heiress

Guest Speaker, Dr Carol Grbich

What has the iconic Glencoe Station in the State’s SE got to do with Australian soldiers in The Great War and a place called Harefield on the outskirts of London? A South Australian millionairess is the answer.

Hers was a journey from running wild as a child with the Boandik Aboriginal children of the South East of South Australia to mingling with the royalty of England. Along the way there was murder, infidelity, corruption, contested wills and the making of several fortunes.

She was responsible for the establishment and much of the running of No. 1. Australian Auxiliary Hospital during WW1 at her estate, Harefield Park, in England.

Between 1915 and 1919 the 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital treated 50,000 wounded Australians. The owners of the property - Letitia and Charles Billyard-Leake - went out of their way to make it a happy place for wounded Australian servicemen.

Authors Carol Grbich and John Berger, wrote ”The Accidental Heiress” as a result of researching the Glencoe Woolshed. It has just won the Keain medal of the History Society of South Australia for the best history book on South Australia published in 2020.

Time: 1830 lecture begins; 1930 dinner

Members Price: $65.00; $15.00 lecture only

Non-Members: $75.00; $15.00 lecture only

Dress: Jacket and Tie

RSVP: By Monday 6 December 2021

* This event is free seating (no table plan) *