Jessie Litchfield
Encyclopedia
Jessie Sinclair Litchfield (18 February 1883 – 12 March 1956) was an Australian author and Northern Territory
pioneer.
Litchfield was born Jessie Sinclair Phillips at Ashfield
to contractor John Phillips and Jean Sinclair, née Reid. Jessie was educated at Neutral Bay Public School and was taught by Mary Cameron
. She married Valentine Augustus Litchfield, a miner whom she had met on a ship to Darwin
, on 21 January 1908 and they moved around the Territory: West Arm, Anson Bay, Brocks Creek, the Ironblow mine, the Union reefs and Pine Creek
. In 1909 she wrote to the Messenger, a Victorian church newspaper, describing "Chinese and blacks [as] my nearest neighbours", and her reports may have contributed to the establishment of the Australian Inland Mission
.
By the time her husband died in 1931, Jessie was a mother of seven and had published Far North Memories (1930) based on her experiences. She wrote five books as well as short stories, articles, and verses, and pursued a career as a journalist, becoming editor of the Northern Territory Times and Government Gazette in 1930. The Times was purchased in 1932 by the union-owned Northern Standard, prompting many battles with the conservative Litchfield. She was Darwin press representative for many papers, including Reuters
, for six years.
Litchfield was evacuated to Sydney in February 1942 and bought a small library, which she re-opened in Darwin on her return. She campaigned for self-government in the Territory and contested the federal division
in 1951. Litchfield was awarded the coronation medal for outstanding service to the Northern Territory in 1953, becoming its first justice of the peace
in 1955. She was involved in the founding of the North Australian Monthly in 1954. Litchfield died at Richmond
on a visit to Melbourne
in 1956 and was cremated, her ashes scattered over Darwin.
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
pioneer.
Litchfield was born Jessie Sinclair Phillips at Ashfield
Ashfield, New South Wales
Ashfield is a suburb in the inner-west of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Ashfield is about 9 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of the Municipality of Ashfield.The official name for the...
to contractor John Phillips and Jean Sinclair, née Reid. Jessie was educated at Neutral Bay Public School and was taught by Mary Cameron
Mary Gilmore
Dame Mary Gilmore DBE was a prominent Australian socialist poet and journalist.-Early life:Mary Jean Cameron was born on 16 August 1865 at Cotta Walla near Goulburn, New South Wales...
. She married Valentine Augustus Litchfield, a miner whom she had met on a ship to Darwin
Darwin, Northern Territory
Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities...
, on 21 January 1908 and they moved around the Territory: West Arm, Anson Bay, Brocks Creek, the Ironblow mine, the Union reefs and Pine Creek
Pine Creek, Northern Territory
Pine Creek is a small town in the Katherine region of the Northern Territory, Australia. According to the 2001 Australian census 665 people live in Pine Creek, which is the fourth largest town between Darwin and Alice Springs....
. In 1909 she wrote to the Messenger, a Victorian church newspaper, describing "Chinese and blacks [as] my nearest neighbours", and her reports may have contributed to the establishment of the Australian Inland Mission
Australian Inland Mission
The Australian Presbyterian Mission was founded by the Presbyterian Church of Australia to reach those "beyond the farthest fence" with God's Word. It is better known as the Australian Inland Mission . Rev...
.
By the time her husband died in 1931, Jessie was a mother of seven and had published Far North Memories (1930) based on her experiences. She wrote five books as well as short stories, articles, and verses, and pursued a career as a journalist, becoming editor of the Northern Territory Times and Government Gazette in 1930. The Times was purchased in 1932 by the union-owned Northern Standard, prompting many battles with the conservative Litchfield. She was Darwin press representative for many papers, including Reuters
Reuters
Reuters is a news agency headquartered in New York City. Until 2008 the Reuters news agency formed part of a British independent company, Reuters Group plc, which was also a provider of financial market data...
, for six years.
Litchfield was evacuated to Sydney in February 1942 and bought a small library, which she re-opened in Darwin on her return. She campaigned for self-government in the Territory and contested the federal division
Division of Northern Territory
The Division of Northern Territory was an Australian Electoral Division in the Northern Territory. Throughout its existence, it was the only Division in the Territory....
in 1951. Litchfield was awarded the coronation medal for outstanding service to the Northern Territory in 1953, becoming its first justice of the peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
in 1955. She was involved in the founding of the North Australian Monthly in 1954. Litchfield died at Richmond
Richmond, Victoria
Richmond is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 3 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Yarra...
on a visit to Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
in 1956 and was cremated, her ashes scattered over Darwin.