Lulu Benstead (1891–1983; born Lucelle Stuart Benstead) was an Australian opera singer and performer. She claimed to be the first European child born in

Alice Springs Alice Springs ( aer, Mparntwe) is the third-largest town in the Northern Territory of Australia. Known as Stuart until 31 August 1933, the name Alice Springs was given by surveyor William Whitfield Mills after Alice, Lady Todd (''née'' Al ...

, although this was actually her older sister Queenie who had died in infancy

Early life

Benstead was born in 1891. At that time, her parents Triphenia and William Benstead leased the

Stuart Arms Hotel The Stuart Arms Hotel was the first hotel in Alice Springs, Northern Territory (which was originally called Stuart). Located on the corner of Parsons and Todd Street, it was centre of social life for 96 years. History The Stuart Arms Hotel was ...

in Stuart (now Alice Springs), where they publicly presented her on 5 February 1891. Later that year, and after tiring of the Stuart Arms Hotel and the prospects of the

Arltunga Arltunga is a deserted gold rush town located in the Northern Territory of Australia in the locality of Hart about east of Alice Springs. It is of major historical significance as the first major European settlement in Central Australia. Earl ...

Goldfields, the family moved to Coolgardie, where the musically-talented family entertained people on the mining fields, among other activities. In Coolgardie, Lulu trained with the woman married to Jack Wilson and helped the town be recognised as the "musical centre of the goldfields". In 1907, the 'Coolgardie Lulu Benstead Continental Musical Education Fund Committee' was set up to raise money for her musical education, and her family moved to England in 1910 to help her further her career. Using the money raised, she traveled to Berlin and Paris.

Career

Once living in Europe Benstead sang extensively in Paris, Vienna, Milan, America and Canada, and often topped the bill at the

London Palladium The London Palladium () is a Grade II* West End theatre located on Argyll Street, London, in the famous area of Soho. The theatre holds 2,286 seats. Of the roster of stars who have played there, many have televised performances. Between 1955 an ...

, under the newly adopted professional name "Lucille". Some of her most popular songs, that she introduced and were written for her, are: "The Bells of St. Mary's", "God send you back to me", "My Curly Headed Baby", "The Long, Long Trail", "The Perfect Day" and "Chloe". According to

Jose Petrick Jose Petrick OAM ( Tizard, born 14 February 1924) is a British-born Australian historian and community advocate living in Alice Springs in the Northern Territory. Early life Petrick was born in England on 14 February 1924. She trained as a se ...

, Benstead's personal favourite song was "Stay In Your Own Backyard". She also sang to troops in both World Wars throughout Germany, France, Holland and the Middle East, during which she often experienced great personal discomfort.

Later life

She gave singing lessons in London for her last 30 years, almost until her death at age 92.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Benstead, Lulu 1891 births 1983 deaths 20th-century Australian women opera singers People from Alice Springs People from Coolgardie, Western Australia