Julia Warren Farr née Ord (14 August 1824 – 21 April 1914) was an English-born South Australian philanthropist.

History

Julia was a daughter of Major Robert Hutchinson Ord (1789–1828), whose family were associated with Greensted Hall, Essex, and his wife Elizabeth Ord (née Blagrave). She married (Anglican) Rev.

George Henry Farr The Ven. George Henry Farr, M.A., LL.D. (2 July 1819 – 7 February 1904) was a British born Australian Anglican priest; headmaster of St. Peter's College from 1854 to 1879. History Farr was born in Tottenham, London, a son of John Farr, and was ...

, Vicar of St. Wenn's Church in Cornwall, in 1846 after a four-year

engagement An engagement or betrothal is the period of time between the declaration of acceptance of a marriage proposal and the marriage itself (which is typically but not always commenced with a wedding). During this period, a couple is said to be ''fi ...

, the delay being occasioned by her parents' disapproval, the Ords being

Plymouth Brethren The Plymouth Brethren or Assemblies of Brethren are a low church and non-conformist Christian movement whose history can be traced back to Dublin, Ireland, in the mid to late 1820s, where they originated from Anglicanism. The group emphasizes ...

and in much wealthier circumstances. In 1854 he was offered the position of headmaster of

St Peter's College, Adelaide , other_name = The Collegiate School of St Peter , seal_image = St Peter's College, Adelaide Logo.svg , seal_size = 150 , image = SPSC chapel and memorial hall.jpg , image_size ...

, which he promptly accepted, hoping the drier climate of South Australia would improve her delicate health. George and Julia, their six-year-old daughter Eleanora and Julia's half-sister Edith Bayley sailed to South Australia aboard ''Daylesford'', arriving in Adelaide in July 1854 after a long four-month voyage during which an outbreak of

measles Measles is a highly contagious infectious disease caused by measles virus. Symptoms usually develop 10–12 days after exposure to an infected person and last 7–10 days. Initial symptoms typically include fever, often greater than , cough, ...

affected the children, the ship ran out of provisions, and the captain, missing the entrance to

Gulf St Vincent Gulf St Vincent, sometimes referred to as St Vincent Gulf, St Vincent's Gulf or Gulf of St Vincent, is the eastern of two large inlets of water on the southern coast of Australia, in the state of South Australia, the other being the larger Sp ...

, nearly ran the ship aground at the

Murray Mouth Murray Mouth is the point at which the River Murray meets the Southern Ocean. The Murray Mouth's location is changeable. Historical records show that the channel out to sea moves along the sand dunes over time. At times of greater river flow ...

. Their first few weeks did not augur well for life in the new colony: the ship's Adelaide agent had gone broke and the captain had to borrow money from passengers before he could continue to Melbourne. The only transportation they could find at the port was an old cart that broke down in

Hindley Street Hindley Street is located in the north-west quarter of the centre of Adelaide, the capital of South Australia. It runs between King William Street and West Terrace. The street was named after Charles Hindley, a British parliamentarian and soc ...

and the women had to put up for the night at a

temperance hotel A coffee palace was an often large and elaborate residential hotel that did not serve alcohol, most of which were built in Australia in the late 19th century. A modest temperance hotel was opened in 1826 by activist Gerrit Smith in his hometo ...

(George had been taken to the college the previous day by the government health officer). The next day was Sunday and Julia Farr and Edith Bayley were expected at the 11 am service at the College chapel, but they could not find a cab and had to walk the two miles of what must have been rudimentary, and possibly muddy, tracks in their best clothes. The Farrs' accommodation was not yet habitable and they had to board with Mrs Baye, the college matron. Farr was concerned at the plight of

orphan An orphan (from the el, ορφανός, orphanós) is a child whose parents have died. In common usage, only a child who has lost both parents due to death is called an orphan. When referring to animals, only the mother's condition is usuall ...

ed girls who had been committed to the Destitute Asylum, an unsatisfactory situation in many ways. She organised a group of like-minded friends and founded the Church of England's Orphan Home for Girls near the corner of

Carrington Street Carrington Street is a street in the south-eastern sector of the centre of Adelaide, South Australia. It runs east–west, from East Terrace to King William Street, blocked at Hutt Street and crossing Pulteney Street at Hurtle Square. It is one ...

and

East Terrace __NOTOC__ East Terrace marks the eastern edge of the Adelaide city centre. It is one of the main north–south thoroughfares through the east side of the city. Although the terrace essentially runs north–south between North Terrace and South ...

, previously a German hospital, opened in October 1861. The girls were looked after, fed, clothed and educated to the age of 14, then most found employment as servants to middle-class households. The first secretary of the Home was H. Kent Hughes, and matron Mrs. Sarah Birt. The Home was relocated to Fullarton Road,

Mitcham Mitcham is an area within the London Borough of Merton in South London, England. It is centred southwest of Charing Cross. Originally a village in the county of Surrey, today it is mainly a residential suburb, and includes Mitcham Common. It ha ...

in 1912. Farr was later concerned with alleviating problems for people with intractable physical problems, and set about establishing the Home for Incurables. A committee was formed in 1878 and a house on Fisher Street, Fullarton was purchased. Over the years, as demand increased, new buildings were added, and wings were appended to those. A section of the complex was demolished in 2011 and some retirement homes were built on that piece of land. Julia Farr died at her residence on Barnard street, North Adelaide, after an extended period of ill-health. Her daughter Julia, granddaughter Mary Clift, and great-granddaughter Joan Clift followed her in succession as committee members of the Orphan Home.

Other interests

The Farrs purchased a property near

Tea Tree Gully The City of Tea Tree Gully is a local council in the Australian state of South Australia, in the outer north-eastern suburbs of Adelaide. The major business district in the city is at Modbury, where Westfield Tea Tree Plaza, the Civic Centre a ...

and built there a holiday house, dubbed "Brightlands". Dr. William T. Angove initially used Brightlands' extensive cellars to mature his wines before moving to the St. Agnes property.

Recognition

*Each year the Annual General Meeting of the Church of England Orphan Home for Girls was held on 14 April (Sundays excepted), in recognition of her birthday. *The Orphan Home for Girls at 588 Fullarton Road, Mitcham was named Farr House in 1935. *She was accorded the privilege of, on 13 October 1906, laying the foundation stone of the new wing of the Home for Incurables at 99 Fisher Street,

Fullarton Fullarton is a small area in Irvine, North Ayrshire. It is situated close to Irvine Bay and is next to several industrial estates, large supermarkets and retail stores and the town centre itself. Stagecoach Western buses operate the local bus s ...

. *The Home for Incurables was renamed Julia Farr Centre in 1981.

Family

Julia Warren Ord (1824–1914) married George Henry Farr (2 July 1819 – 7 February 1904) on 5 February 1846. Their children included: *Eleanora Elizabeth Farr (1847–1901) married

Edwin Gordon Blackmore Edwin Gordon Blackmore (1837–1909), was Clerk of the Legislative Council and Clerk of Parliaments of the colony of South Australia. Blackmore was educated at King Edward VI. Grammar School, Bath, Somerset. He served with the Taranaki Rifle ...

(1837 – 1909) in 1872 :*

Lewis Gordon Blackmore Lewis Gordon Blackmore (21 May 1886 – 23 July 1916) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Essendon in the Victorian Football League (VFL). Family and early life Blackmore's father, Edwin Gordon Blackmore (1837–1909), an Engl ...

(21 May 1886 – 23 July 1916) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Essendon in the Victorian Football League (VFL). *Mary Edith Patteson Farr ( – ) married (William) Hey Sharp (c. 1845 – 3 February 1928), later known as Canon Sharp, warden of

St Paul's College, University of Sydney St Paul's College (commonly known as Paul's) is an Anglican residential college within the University of Sydney in Sydney, Australia. Founded in 1856, it is Australia's oldest university college. Its alumni, referred to as "Old Paulines", includ ...

, on 17 June 1876. *Lewis Henry Ord Farr (1859 – 20 November 1912) married Mabel Beatrice Steward Bruce in 1901. He was a surveyor of Teatree Gully, later of

Port Lincoln Port Lincoln is a town on the Lower Eyre Peninsula in the Australian state of South Australia. It is situated on the shore of Boston Bay, which opens eastward into Spencer Gulf. It is the largest city in the West Coast region, and is located a ...

. He disappeared from the vessel ''Rupara'', presumed drowned, while travelling to Streaky Bay on business. Suicide was not suspected. He had "a family of four or five children" including: :*Mary Stuart Ord Farr (3 September 1896 – ) married Lawrence Clift, of

Guntur Guntur () is a city and the administrative headquarters of Guntur district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Guntur is spread across 168.49 km square and is the third-largest city in the state. It is situated to the west of the Ba ...

, India, in

Colombo Colombo ( ; si, කොළඹ, translit=Koḷam̆ba, ; ta, கொழும்பு, translit=Koḻumpu, ) is the executive and judicial capital and largest city of Sri Lanka by population. According to the Brookings Institution, Colombo me ...

on 22 December 1921. :*(Lewis Henry) Bruce Farr (1 May 1901 – 1969) engaged to (Eva) Marion Ffloyd Chomley of North Bungaree in July 1940, married outside SA. :*Henry Coleridge Farr (1902– ) granted Land Agent's licence in 1937; living at Church terrace, Walkerville. *Gertrude Margaret Farr (1862–1956) studied art, exhibited at least once. *Julia Coleridge Farr (1864 – 7 October 1951) also studied art, became missionary on

Norfolk Island Norfolk Island (, ; Norfuk: ''Norf'k Ailen'') is an external territory of Australia located in the Pacific Ocean between New Zealand and New Caledonia, directly east of Australia's Evans Head and about from Lord Howe Island. Together with ...

. She was author of ''Early Days at St. Peter's''. :* (Clinton) Coleridge Farr (22 May 1866 – 27 January 1943) married Maud Ellen Haydon at

Papanui Papanui is a major suburb of Christchurch, New Zealand. It is situated five kilometers to the northwest of the city centre. Papanui is a middle socio-economic area with a population of 3,645 consisting predominantly of Pākehā (NZ Eur ...

on 22 April 1903. He was a noted physicist and academic in New Zealand. It is likely that Muriel Farr OBE (1914–1968), who may have been an Orphan Home committee member in 1919, was unrelated. She was organizing secretary for the

Australasian National League The National Defence League (NDL) was an independent conservative political party, founded in 1891 by MLC Richard Baker in South Australia as an immediate response to the perceived threat from Labor. Though renamed the Australasian National Lea ...

, secretary for the

Wattle Day League Wattle Day is a day of celebration in Australia on the first day of September each year, which is the official start of the Australian spring. This is the time when many ''Acacia'' species (commonly called wattles in Australia), are in flower. So, ...

, activist for equal pay for women, the Liberal Union, and the (later Royal)

Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals A Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) is a common name for non-profit animal welfare organizations around the world. The oldest SPCA organization is the RSPCA, which was founded in England in 1824. SPCA organizations operate i ...

. She was awarded an OBE in 1918. Muriel was a daughter of Edmund Arnold Farr ( –1957) who married Mildred Elizabeth Booker on 25 April 1905; he was the eldest son of Joseph Farr of

Kings Walden King's Walden is a civil parish in the English county of Hertfordshire. The name includes an apostrophe, but this is often omitted. The main settlement is now Breachwood Green, and there are also the hamlets of King's Walden, Ley Green, Darleyha ...

, Hertfordshire, and a manager at G. & R. Wills & Co., then partner

Charles Birks & Co Charles Birks & Co Ltd. was a South Australian department store founded by Charles Napier Birks in Rundle Street, Adelaide. His son Napier Birks took over the business in 1908. The business was acquired by David Jones Limited in 1954. History Ch ...

. Edith Jane Stewart Bayley (George's half-sister, died in London on 8 June 1876) married

George Wright Hawkes George Wright Hawkes SM (16 September 1821 – 5 January 1908) was a prominent and energetic Anglican churchman and philanthropist in South Australia. He was instrumental in the erection of St Andrew's Church, Walkerville, and St Paul's, Pulten ...

(16 September 1828 – 5 January 1908) on 18 December 1854.

References

External links