Florence Nicholas
Biography
Role: Wife of Rev. Ernest John Telfer — First Matron of Dulhi-Gunyah Orphanage
Born: ~1885 — Boulder City, Western Australia (estimated from marriage in 1909)
Died: Unknown — likely New South Wales
Spouse: Ernest John Telfer (1878–1953) (m. 24 Feb 1909)
Children: John Ernest, Jessica Veronica, Lloyd Wilbur, Gweneth Miranda
Family
| Relation | Name |
|---|---|
| Spouse | Ernest John Telfer (1878–1953) |
| Children | John Ernest Telfer (1877–1877), Jessica Veronica Telfer, Lloyd Wilbur Telfer, Gweneth Miranda Telfer |
Life Summary
Florence Nicholas married Rev. Ernest John Telfer on 24 February 1909 at Boulder City, Western Australia. The following day they began work together at Dulhi-Gunyah (meaning "little child's home") Orphanage in East Perth, where Florence served as the first Matron of the home. While Ernie travelled inland on missionary journeys to remote stations, Florence remained in charge of the orphanage, caring for Aboriginal children brought in from the far interior — some from as far as 900 miles inland.
In March 1911, Florence and Ernie resigned from the United Aborigines' Mission staff. Ernie subsequently entered the Baptist ministry, serving pastorates at Terowie (SA), in Tasmania, and in New South Wales. Florence likely accompanied him through these postings.
A photograph of Florence in academic regalia (mortarboard and gown) appears in Ernie's 1939 book Amongst Australian Aborigines, which she helped make possible by "supplying material" and supporting the work of the mission.
(Details on Florence's parentage, birth year, and death date remain unverified — information needed from birth/marriage certificates or family records.)
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| ~1885 | Born at Boulder City, Western Australia (estimated) |
| 24 Feb 1909 | Married Ernest John Telfer at Boulder City, WA |
| 25 Feb 1909 | Began as first Matron, Dulhi-Gunyah Orphanage, East Perth |
| Mar 1911 | Resigned from UAM staff with Ernie |
| 1912–1916 | Lived at Terowie, SA (Baptist pastorate) |
| ~1939 | Photo published in Amongst Australian Aborigines |
Sources
- Source: E.J. Telfer, Amongst Australian Aborigines (1939), p.138 — photo and caption "Mrs. E.J. Telfer, First Matron of the Dulhi-Gunyah Orphanage" — via vision_analyze 26 Jul 2026
- Source: Donald Telfer, From the Borders to the Bush (ISBN 0 7316 6387 X), pp.141–142 — marriage and mission details — via OCR 25 Jul 2026
- Source: Group photograph caption in Amongst Australian Aborigines (c.1939), pp.199–200 — "Rev. E.J. Telfer, Miss V.E. Turner, Mr. T. Graham, Mr. J. Jago, Mr. G.L. Aitken, Mr. H. Rotherham" — via vision_analyze 26 Jul 2026
Spouse
- Ernest Telfer (1878 – 1953)