24/09/2026
When this item popped up on eBay just over a week ago, I could not resist the opportunity to bring it home to Barcaldine.
Yes, it has seen some better days - especially the silk fabric - but it is over 132 years old!
It was the artistry that locked me in on purchasing this item, with the intention of gifting it to the museum.
This item is what is typically referred to as an “illuminated address” and was a popular gift given to individuals as a show of appreciation or recognition, and very often on their departure from a town. In some cases, portions of the text might have been typed/printed, but typically they were entirely hand drawn and lettered with decorative calligraphy.
This example only uses black ink on parchment, but some of them included colouring. The parchment, in this case, is enveloped in silk fabric, which has been hand sewn, embroidered and decorative tassels and a tie attached, so that it could be rolled up like a scroll. Other examples were framed.
As you can see, this address was presented to Dr Henry Alexander Francis on his departure from Barcaldine in 1894. I have briefly mentioned Dr Francis in a previous post, as his father was the first Police Magistrate (or judge) in Barcaldine and his mother was the President of the all women committee that was responsible for raising the funds and implementing the construction of the first hospital in Barcaldine (The Victoria Hospital).
I could go into more detail about the good doctor but he actually has his own Wikitia page. (Link below)
I will mention that it’s likely this item has been residing in England since 1902. It was recently found at a market sale by a reseller of curiosities, which is how it became listed on eBay.
My fascination with these types of objects is always to see if I can reveal anything more about them/their history. For instance, in my opinion, whoever created this had some serious talent, particularly for drawing. To illustrate and practice such neat penmanship, likely with a nibbed pen and ink well, and there doesn’t appear to be any errors or splotches of ink (I can’t even use a ballpoint without getting ink all over my hands and the paper).
So, I went on a mission to see if I could uncover who the artist was.
Fortunately, with a date, it didn’t take me long to find that the presentation of the address to the doctor (along with two others) was noted in The Western Champion.
He received three addresses in total from the Barcaldine branches of friendly societies; the Hibernian Australasian Catholic Benefit Society, the Ancient Order of Foresters & the Manchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows.
It was noted that all three had been created by the same person - a Miss Glanville. Of course, they weren’t going to make it even a little easier and give me an initial, but I don’t give up that easily. So, I continued researching.
I found the Glanville family and that there were 7 daughters total. Two of them could be ruled out due to marriage by 1894 (including Rebecca Stephenson Glanville, wife of James Meacham - a name every Barcaldinite will recognise), but that still left 5 possibilities.
So my search turned to any more mentions of addresses being created by a Miss Glanville, to see if any further clues might be revealed.
I have found mention of a dozen addresses made by Miss Glanville between 1889-1897. In at least one case they are noted as embroidered by “the Misses Glanville”, implying more than one of the girls contributed to the embroidery, but mostly just a “Miss Glanville” is mentioned.
It is in the account by a correspondent to the Rockhampton Bulletin, of the address presented to a departing teacher, Mr W. J. Collin’s, in 1897 that finally provides the first name of the Miss Glanville responsible for the intricate keepsakes - Netta.
Therefore, I am very confident that Janet Skeoch Glanville (1868-1967) is the artist.
Janet was called Nettie to differentiate her from her mother, who was also Janet. Errors are very common in newspapers, but as it also notes “Netta Glanville” as a teacher, I am certain it was meant to be Nettie.
It’s important to note here that at least 4 of the sisters were responsible for teaching children at both Jericho & Barcaldine before the state schools were established.
Nettie, particularly though, carved out a career for herself in teaching and never married.
She remained a teacher at Barcaldine, working at the state school once it was established, until 1901, when she was transferred to the Mount Morgan Girls & Infants School.
Electoral rolls indicate she continued working until sometime between 1933-1936, meaning she was teaching for around 50 years. The other schools she taught at were at Brisbane, Gympie, Warwick, Ipswich & Toowoomba.
Nettie lived to be 98. When she passed, she lived with her younger sister Bessie, who had also been a teacher and never married.
All the other girls married; Mary & Eleanor (Nellie) worked as nurses before marrying and Edith taught music privately.
All 7 sisters enjoyed longevity. The eldest, Josephine, being the only one to pass before reaching 90 years of age (only short a couple months). Rebecca reached 100, Bessie passed just a few months shy.
A photo of the five younger Glanville sisters can be seen at https://www.alphajericho.com.au/private-school-teachers/
📰 sourced from Trove;
The Western Champion
13th February 1894, pg 5
The Brisbane Courier
17th April 1897, pg 4
Dr Henry Alexander Francis Wikitia page
https://wikitia.com/wiki/Henry_Alexander_Francis
