Edith Winstone Blackwell
Encyclopedia
Edith Mary Winstone Blackwell (1877 – 15 September 1956) was an eminent philanthropist in Auckland during the 20th century. She was born the only daughter of George (Senior) and Mary Winstone.
She attended the Beresford Street Public School before becoming one of the first girls to attend Auckland Grammar School
in Symonds Street.
Edith married Joseph Henry Blackwell in 1932. Following a time in Kaiapoi they returned to Auckland building Marewa a fine home on the north-eastern slopes of Mount Eden with fascinating gardens spreading down the hillside.
In 1950 Edith established a charitable trust the Edith Winstone Blackwell Foundation - which was incorporated in 1956. A Trust Board appointed to run the trust included a representative of the descendants of each of Edith's brothers. Edith donated a Zeiss telescope to the Stardome Observatory
. The primary fixed telescope at Stardome Observatory is named after her.
In 1954 Edith was awarded an MBE by Her Majesty the Queen; the award was presented at Government House in Auckland on 25 February 1955 by the Governor General Sir Willoughby Norrie. She died on 15 September 1956.
The Edith Winstone Blackwell Case Room in the Owen G Glenn Building at the University of Auckland
is named after her.
In 2008, the University of Auckland
launched a fundraising campaign to redevelop the Leigh Marine Laboratory at Goat Island, Auckland
as the base for the South Pacific Centre for Marine Science - with a $4.5 million donation from the Edith Winstone Blackwell Foundation. In 2011, the Edith Winstone Blackwell Interpretative Centre is due to be opened.
She attended the Beresford Street Public School before becoming one of the first girls to attend Auckland Grammar School
Auckland Grammar School
Auckland Grammar School is a state secondary school for years 9 to 13 boys in Auckland, New Zealand. It had a roll of 2,483 in 2008, including a number of boarders who live in nearby Tibbs' House, making it one of the largest schools in New Zealand...
in Symonds Street.
Edith married Joseph Henry Blackwell in 1932. Following a time in Kaiapoi they returned to Auckland building Marewa a fine home on the north-eastern slopes of Mount Eden with fascinating gardens spreading down the hillside.
In 1950 Edith established a charitable trust the Edith Winstone Blackwell Foundation - which was incorporated in 1956. A Trust Board appointed to run the trust included a representative of the descendants of each of Edith's brothers. Edith donated a Zeiss telescope to the Stardome Observatory
Stardome Observatory
Stardome Observatory is a public astronomical observatory situated in Cornwall Park in New Zealand's largest city, Auckland....
. The primary fixed telescope at Stardome Observatory is named after her.
In 1954 Edith was awarded an MBE by Her Majesty the Queen; the award was presented at Government House in Auckland on 25 February 1955 by the Governor General Sir Willoughby Norrie. She died on 15 September 1956.
The Edith Winstone Blackwell Case Room in the Owen G Glenn Building at the University of Auckland
University of Auckland
The University of Auckland is a university located in Auckland, New Zealand. It is the largest university in the country and the highest ranked in the 2011 QS World University Rankings, having been ranked worldwide...
is named after her.
In 2008, the University of Auckland
University of Auckland
The University of Auckland is a university located in Auckland, New Zealand. It is the largest university in the country and the highest ranked in the 2011 QS World University Rankings, having been ranked worldwide...
launched a fundraising campaign to redevelop the Leigh Marine Laboratory at Goat Island, Auckland
Goat Island, Auckland
Goat Island is a tiny island in New Zealand located close to the North Island coast, north of Auckland, northeast of Warkworth, and directly west of Little Barrier Island...
as the base for the South Pacific Centre for Marine Science - with a $4.5 million donation from the Edith Winstone Blackwell Foundation. In 2011, the Edith Winstone Blackwell Interpretative Centre is due to be opened.
See also
- Stardome ObservatoryStardome ObservatoryStardome Observatory is a public astronomical observatory situated in Cornwall Park in New Zealand's largest city, Auckland....
- South Pacific Centre for Marine Science, University of Auckland