The State Library of NSW is celebrating new additions to its collection, with the private diaries, love letters, manuscripts and personal items of celebrated author, Ethel Turner, now on display.
Curating at the State Library, Sarah Morley said Ethel Turner was one of Australia’s most prolific writers and her ability to produce 44 novels over 34 years, following her successful debut work Seven Little Australians in 1894 was nothing short of amazing.
“For over 62 years, Turner kept a near-daily diary where she reported on her latest writing projects, as well as documenting her everyday activities, social interactions, special events, and innermost thoughts and feelings in a matter-of-fact way,” Ms Morley said.
“Turner’s diaries, which provide an intimate record of a life full of ambition and aspiration, are now available for public access for the first time,” she said.
“They document the challenging roles Turner juggled and excelled at through her lifetime — journalist, author, lover, housewife, mother, grandmother and citizen.”
Ms Morley said that through some 65 individual diaries, the stop-start love story between Turner and her future husband, Herbert Raine Curlewis unfolds, including their secret engagement in May 1891.
She said Turner was an independent, career-driven, successful writer by the time she met Curlewis and, despite their feisty beginning, the couple married in 1896.
“Turner did not miss a beat and continued to deliver a book a year, even with the birth of their children Jean in 1898 (The Camp of Wandinong) and Adrian in 1901 (The Wonder-Child: An Australian story),” the Curator said.
“Her diary entries from these years are full of childhood achievements and happy accounts of regular family holidays to the Blue Mountains and Palm Beach.”
Ms Morley said a selection of the recent acquisition was on display in the Library’s Amaze Gallery until 2 April.
She said visitors would get to see Turner’s diaries, passionate love letters from Herbert, her secret engagement bracelet, pen money book, dance cards and original photographs.
