Mrs Fraser

Posted on Friday, 20th March 2020 by Janine Rizzetti

from our Facebook page 6 March 2020

One hundred years ago, in March 1920, Mrs Anna Elizabeth Fraser died at the age of 86. She was the widow of the Rev. Duncan Fraser from Heidelberg Scots Church, who predeceased her by 8 years. She was born at South Shields, near Newcastle-on-Tyne, and she came to Australia in 1862 with her husband and large family. After seven years in Ballarat, Rev Fraser was given the pastoral charge of the Heidelberg and Janefield districts, which at that time included Northcote and Preston. After living for some time in Northcote, Rev and Mrs Fraser shifted to ‘Rossarden’, 40 Banksia Street Heidelberg, which was demolished in 1984.

You can see a photo of Rev and Mrs Fraser at https://www.slv.vic.gov.au/pictoria/gid/slv-pic-aab60897

The cause of Mrs Fraser’s death was given as “senile decay”. As one of the obituaries published after her death noted: “As a colonist of 56 years Mrs Fraser has resided in the district for half a century and has witnessed the remarkable development and growth of the northern suburbs”. After her funeral conducted at ‘Rossarden’ by Rev. John Caldwell, she was buried at Warringal (Heidelberg) cemetery.

So why the interest in Mrs Fraser? Well, she and her family make up a large part of the story of the Heidelberg Busy Bee Signature Quilt. You can learn more about the Fraser family, and the other people from the Scots Church congregation (and beyond) on our interactive Quilt page