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Christina Campbell of Yarralumla

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Christina Campbell of Yarralumla : her life story

Christina was a relative of mine. I think her story is very interesting and I would like to share it with you.

Here you will find information on Christina's early life, her time at Yarralumla, the house which later became the governor-general of Australia's residence and her memorial is at St Johns Church in Reid.

Photo with permission of National Library of Australia. The caption reads: Frederick Campbell (seated right) with members and friends of the family, probably pictured during the 1890 visit to the district by photographer C.H. Kerry. Mrs Christina Campbell is holding baby Charles, while Jean, daughter of Frederick Campbell's first marriage stands beside her father.

Early life
A love match
Yarralumla homestead
Resumption of Yarralumla by the Commonwealth
Christina's Death
Books with info on Christina Campbell
Links relating to Fred and Christina Campbell
Governor-Generals residence, Yarralumla, Canberra.
The history of Canberra
The first people of Canberra
Ngambri country
Other lenses relating to my family history
Reader Feedback

Early life

Christina McPhee was born in 1861 in Ipswich, Queensland. Her parents were John McPhee, a scottish crofter and Anne McPhee (nee Cameron).

John McPhee was accidently killed in 1864 and is buried on Taromeo station in Queensland. Anne McPhee died of Kidney failure in 1866, leaving Christina without either of her parents by the time she was 5 years old. Christina and her sister moved to Queanbeyan and was cared for by an aunt Mary Hope nee Cameron.

Christina worked at Duntroon, as a governess for Frederick Campbell's daughter Jean. Fred's first wife Frances had passed away when Jean was an infant.

Photo is of Christie McPhee as a child.

A love match

Christie McPhee was Fred Campbell's second wife. In 1880, his first wife Frances, died as so many women did in those days after the birth of their daughter, Sybil Jean Campbell. Christie was governess to Fred's daughter Jean.

In 1889 Fred married Jean's governess, Christie. They were married at St Paul's Anglican Church, Redfern by Bishop Mesac Thomas of Goulburn. Christina's 1889 diary gives details of their travels through the Pacific, North America, and the British Isles. In Britain they visited the graves of her ancestors near Fort William, Scotland .

Christina is mentioned numerous times in the book Gables, Ghosts and Governors-General.

Christina is described as "... a fine looking woman with a clear skin and erect carriage."

Fred's marriage to Christina "was a marriage of love that caused 'great talk' at the time because many thought that Campbell had married beneath his station"

Yarralumla homestead

At Yarralumla, the couple's first son, Charles Bruce, was born in March 1890. In 1891 Fred pulled down the old house and built the one that stands there today as part of the present Government House. Christina and Fred had three more children, Kate, Walter and Jack. Jack was an invalid and passed away in 1917. Charles was a second lieutenant in the 48th squadron of the Royal Flying Corps and was reported missing in action, presumed dead, in November 1917 aged 27, near Cambrai in France. Christina did not easily accept the news and never gave up hope that her son was still alive. She made Fred provide a trust fund for Charles if he ever returned. After 15 years, this money was distributed to charity.

Commemorative Roll - Australian War Memorial

Charles Bruce Campbell

Rank: 2nd Lieutenant

Unit: 48th Squadron Royal Flying Corps

Service: British Army

Conflict: 1914-1918

Date of death: 29 November 1917

Cemetery or memorial details: FRANCE 403 Cambrai East Military Cemetery

Notes: Born at Yarralumla

The Campbells entertained neighbours, friends, and relatives. Some years later, Christina confided to her daughter, Kate, she felt that the visitors came to meet and view her as she was a local girl who had married her employer. After Fred's cousins visited Yarralumla and were clear in their admiration and respect for her, criticism ceased.

Christina was an active member of the Women's Liberal League of New South Wales, and president of its Queanbeyan branch until 1913.

Resumption of Yarralumla by the Commonwealth

Canberra was selected as the site for the nation's capital. This meant the resuming of a number of properties in the district. Yarralumla was one of them. The Campbells were given 5 weeks notice to leave Yarralumla. They rented Bishopthorpe, the residence of the Bishop of Goulburn for a time. After a fire destroyed the house and left them with only the clothes on their backs and a few sticks of furniture stored in the stables, they moved to Sutton Forest.

In 1914 Frederick purchased Red Hill station near Tumut, NSW from Pat Kiley, coincidentally another relative of mine, although not related to Christina. Red Hill station is thought to be the place written up in Banjo Paterson's poem 'On Kiley's run'.

Christina's Death

From The Sydney Morning Herald Friday 19 May 1933

MRS. C CAMPBELL

TUMUT, Thursday.

Mrs. Christiana Campbell. 65, late of Yarralumla, in the Federal capital territory, died In Tumut Hospital, after a short Illness. She was the widow of the late Frederick Campbell, formerly owner of Red Hill Station, 28 miles from Tumut. For several years Mrs. Campbell had been residing with her son, Mr. Walter M. Campbell, at The Glen, Brungle, 12 miles from Tumut. She was well known for her work for charity.
The funeral took place in Sydney to-day, to the Waverley cemetery.

This is a photo of the Lych gate at St. John's church in Reid which was dedicated to the memory of Christina in 1933.

This plaque was erected by Christina's family after her death. The plaque is on the Lych gate at St. John's Church in Reid.

Books with info on Christina Campbell

Links relating to Fred and Christina Campbell

Fredrick (and Christina Campbell) of Yarralumla: mostly on the pastoral activities of Christina's husband Fred, but does include info on her
Canberra Times newspaper article on Christina Campbell: Dedication of lych gate St John's Church in Reid in memory of Christina
Stained glass window in St Johns Church dedicated to Christina's son Charles: It has the inscription R.F.C. (Royal Flying Corps) at the top, with the motto: "Per Ardua ad Astra" and was installed in 1936 in memory of Lieutenant Charles Bruce Campbell, 1890-1917, the son of Frederick and Christina Campbell. Charles was shot down in Cambrai, France, during the Great War.
Papers of Walter Campbell, Christina's son: Includes information on Christina and her family
Government House: a brief history of Government House
Obituary of Angus Cameron: Cousin to Christina Campbell
News and views : the Campbells: newspaper article mentioning the resumption of Yarralumla
Obituary of Fred Campbell: Husband of Christina Campbell
Memorial honouring Charles Bruce Campbell: remembering all those who have served, died, or volunteered during conflicts and on peacekeeping missions throughout the world.
Frederick Campbell of Yarralumla: a forgotten pioneer pastoralist: Detailed biographical information on Fred Campbell's life and his marriage to Christina.

Governor-Generals residence, Yarralumla, Canberra.

The house once owned by Fred and Christina Campbell is now the Governor-Generals residence. Photo taken 2007.

The history of Canberra

Canberra history publications: Publications on Canberra & District

The first people of Canberra

Featured on ABC TV's Stateline program

In the 2nd excerpt from The Stakeout of Canberra, Richard meets descendants of the Ngunnawal Ngambri Aboriginal tribe.

Ngambri country

History of Ngambri country: Ngambri were the custodians of the country south-west of Weereewaa (Lake George), which includes the modern Australian Capital Territory. The name of the capital, Canberra, derives from that of our ancestral group.

Other lenses relating to my family history

Red Hill station

William and Patrick Kiley owned Red Hill station, also known as Kiley's run.

Reader Feedback

Do your have other information on Christina Campbell?

Then I would love to hear from you

Reply

LittleWhiteDuck Apr 26, 2011 @ 3:59 pm | delete

I am fascinated by the early history of Canberra and found this a very interesting read - thank you