sketcher, was born in England, seventh of the fifteen children of Marshall Waller Clifton and Elinor, née Bell. She came to Western Australia with her family in March 1841 as one of the founders of the Western Australian Company’s settlement at Australind, her father having been appointed commissioner. In July she made some pencil drawings of the cottages there (p.c.).
A very competent view, sent to Mrs Whiteside in London on 10 July 1841, shows The Commissioner’s Cottage in Koombanah Gardens below Koombanah Crescent, Australia (a wood and thatched hut with Gothick windows surrounded by tents and a wooden hut behind). It is annotated: 'The marquee to the left was our dining room and is now used by the Surveyors to draw in. The building in the left hand corner is the W.A. Co. Store House with the pantry bell tent near it. The walled tent is Pearce’s [ William Pearce Clifton ], formerly Robert’s and Christina’s. The tents and huts of the work people are placed beyond the Store to the left and those of the settlers and officers of the establishment to the right of this sketch’.
Elinor was postmistress at Australind from 1845 to 1862. With Lady Bunbury she started the British and Foreign Bible Society at nearby Bunbury. She died, unmarried, at Australind on 21 March 1904.
- Writers:
- Staff Writer
- Date written:
- 1992
- Last updated:
- 2011
