HARRIET ELIZABETH ROWELL WHO SWAM AS MISS ELPHINSTONE DICK

The Big Race On a warm day in December 1876 at Captain Kenney’s St Kilda sea baths Mr McGonigal was putting everything into his swimming

strokes. He just had to win the race. If he lost he would be a laughing stock, especially as his competitor was a woman.

Harriet Elizabeth Rowell was also determined to win. She knew she was as good, if not better, than any male swimmer, and as she completed her last and winning lap she proved it.

McGonigal was not at all impressed. He protested about every aspect of the race and demanded another chance to beat this

woman and regain his dignity. Harriet, who swam under the pseudonym of Harriet Elphinstone

Dick, happily agreed to a re-race. She loved swimming and loved beating men.

One month later the two contestants dived into the baths to begin the race. A band was playing for the many spectators. There was a silver cup worth ten pounds and ten shillings at stake. The contest

was to see who could swim the longest distance in excess of two miles. Three and a half hours later Captain Kenney presented the cup to Harriet. Mr McGonigal required assistance to be dragged out

exhausted. For Harriet, congratulations from her partner, Alice Moon would have been the best reward.

Growing up in Brighton England Harriet Elizabeth Rowell was my great, great, Aunt on my Mother’s Father’s side. Harriet was born in Brighton, England on the 5th of

January 1852. Her father was Phillip George Rowell, watchmaker and jeweller. This was a trade that many of the male Rowells had followed and only ended with the death of the author’s Australian

born Grandfather, Thomas Edward Rowell (PICTURED BELOW) in 1961 at his home workshop in Devonport New Zealand.

Harriet was the third of eleven children. Her older sister Eleanor Ann died from diphtheria at the age of eleven, and her youngest sister

Eleanor Susan also died from diphtheria before she was one year old. At least two of Harriet’s brothers travelled to Australia. George Robert Rouse Rowell who was a newspaper writer and Alexander

Edward Rowell, a watchmaker and jeweller.

Business card of Phillip George Rowell 1826 – 26.06.1902 (Harriet’s father)

Business card of Thomas Henry Rowell 1853 – 1917

(Harriet’s brother)

Fixed to the rear of the card is a watch nameplate from 1821 manufactured by Harriet’s grandfather Thomas of Brighton

1801 - 1854

Little is known to the author about Harriet’s childhood, but she grew up in a family that were very sport minded. Swimming, riding,

cycling and rifle shooting were popular. Harriet’s forte was swimming and she gave swimming lessons at Charles Brills baths, 77 East Street Pool Valley. She was a member of the Brighton

swimming club. Among the club’s members was Helen Saigeman whom the Reverent Charles Dodgson (Lewis Carroll) was rather taken with. In 1875 Harriet (already using the name Miss

Elphinstone Dick) won a six mile (10km) open water swim from Shoreham to Brighton. The swim was a two hour and forty five minute effort in rough September seas.

A street scene in Victorian Brighton (UK). Brill’s baths where

Harriet taught and swam are on the left. The Rowell family shop (with clock mounted on façade above awnings) is at street level in the tall centre building.

The Rowell family shop closed The shop later as in the late 1970’s. an ice cream shop.

In the 1870’s Brighton was one of the few cities in England where gay people lived and met. Even today Brighton has a reputation as

a gay city. Harriet formed a relationship with another woman called Alice Moon. Alice was the daughter of a prosperous doctor, Henry Moon MD who resided at 9 The Old Stein, Brighton. The following

years in the lives of both Harriet and Alice, show them to be physically and mentally strong, independent women. In Victorian times being in an openly gay male relationship could bring about

retribution and social ostracism. Women on the other hand could live in a gay relationship, because the public preferred denial of such happenings.

Map of Brighton (UK)

We do not know the reason why, but on the 6th of December 1875, Harriet said farewell to Brighton and her family as she boarded the Newcastle with Caroline Mercy (Alice) Moon. Harriet travelled under

the name of Miss Emily Howell. Their destination was Melbourne Australia.

Early days in Melbourne Many vessels suffered shipwreck as they entered Australia’s treacherous waters in the 1870’s, but Harriet and Alice arrived

safely in Melbourne on the 26th of March 1876. An uncomfortable voyage of nearly four months.

Melbourne in 1876 must have seemed an exciting town to live in. The vast amounts of money made from gold, timber, wool and meat were being converted into substantial stone villas and public

buildings. The locals had already started acquiring an irreverent identity that would have seemed in stark contrast to the strictures of Victorian England. The opportunities for entrepreneurs were all

around. For two years Harriet earned an income from giving swimming

exhibitions, teaching swimming and entering swimming races at Captain Kenney’s St Kilda sea baths. Alice is thought to have had access to family money but her name appears on swimming school

posters so it is likely she was also teaching. One undated poster is headed “LAST SEASON” and suggests prospective students commence as soon as possible to complete their lessons during

Summer. It may date from Summer 1878. Around this time a wood engraving head and shoulders picture of Harriet was published in

the Australasian Sketcher (11th of May 1878).

Harriet is in her swimming costume and wearing her

swimming awards. Around her are four scenes of swimmers and students.

St Kilda Baths photographed in 1915

Fame

Harriet by now was a well known Melbourne identity. Etching and cartoons of her appeared in The Australasian Sketcher, Illustrated News and Table Talk. In her fascinating history of

Australian women in sport Half the race, Marion Stell describes the female swimming costume of the time. Marion also describes how Harriet taught the daughters of Lady Roma Bowen, wife of the

Governor of Victoria to swim. Lady Bowen (a keen promoter of sports for women) presented Harriet with a gold bracelet inscribed “Presented to Miss Elphinstone Dick by her Melbourne pupils in

recognition of her successful efforts to promote the art of swimming among the ladies of Victoria, and in admiration of her skill as a swimmer and her efficiency as a teacher, April 16, 1878”.

On the 6th of May 1878 Harriet (now 30) and Alice (26) returned to England on the Durham. Less than a year later they returned to

Melbourne on the Assam. Settled in Melbourne

Soon after arriving in Melbourne Harriet and Alice opened their first Ladies Gymnasium on the 30th of June 1879, in Queen Victoria building, which stood on Swanston Street between Collins Street

and Flinders lane. The following year the gymnasium was situated at 6 Mutual Provident Building, Collins Street West. Harriet and Alice were qualified to instruct in the Ling Swedish method of gymnastics

that required no fixed apparatus. The gymnasiums were popular with the new breed of independent

career women, such as school teachers. The teachers soon saw the advantages of having their female pupils instructed in swinging Indian clubs, dumb bells, figure marching and free wand jumping.

Harriet and Alice commenced their instructing at a number of ladies colleges.

From the AUSTRALASIAN SKETCHER July 16th 1881. Harriet is demonstrating the Indian clubs while Alice stands behind

her.

Around this time, Harriet’s brother George spent time in Australia

writing a column for a Brighton England newspaper. The column was called “On the Wallaby Track”. It is believed that George caught up with Harriet in Melbourne.

During the early 1880’s Harriet and Alice resided at 11 Rupert

Street Collingwood and then 2 St Helliers Street Abbotsford. They later resided in the seaside suburb of Brighton. (Were they attracted to the familiar name? one wonders).

By 1881 Harriet and Alice had 190 gymnastic pupils paying 29 shillings a quarter. In 1882 the two ladies were travelling weekly to

Ballarat for swimming and gymnastic instruction. On 02.04.1884 the Ballarat to Melbourne train collided with a goods train at Little River, near Werribee. The carriage next to the one Harriet and Alice

were travelling in was destroyed and three passengers killed.

Posters advertising Ballarat and St Kilda classes

The Move Out of Town

In 1884 the gymnasium had been moved into Hansen’s Buildings Little Collins Street East and the ladies purchased 20 acres in Upper Beaconsfield. An organic farm named The Styne was established. It

is believed that only female animals were kept on the farm. There is also mention of a farm at Clayton where the Monash University

campus is now located. Although residing some distance from the city the partners

continued to instruct at their gymnasium. Between 1884 and 1887 and in 1889 the gymnasium students put on demonstrations of their skills at the Melbourne town hall.

From the AUSTRALASIAN SKETCHER November 19th 1884.

Miss Dick’s gymnastic exhibition.

In September 1887 the Melbourne Herald reported on “an

exceedingly interesting as well as practical lecture on dress in its relation to health, was delivered by Miss Dick of the Ladies gymnasium, in the Masonic hall South Melbourne”. In the article

Miss Dick criticised the popular stiff clothing of young females and recommended the wearing of woollen garments next to the skin. This was a period when metal stays, wire frames and cushions were

sewn into dresses to make them fashionable. She also blamed mothers for encouraging ill health in their children by the way they dressed them. Miss Dick also spoke at length on footwear and

covered the intimate features of women’s health.

Cartoon from TABLE TALK 18th of March 1886.

Return To The Suburbs In April 1888 the Beaconsfield property was sold and the ladies

returned to suburban living in Caulfield and Parkville. In November that year they opened a city restaurant, The Central Luncheon and Tearooms. The restaurant’s menu was published in the Argus until

1890.

Albumen silver cabinet photograph of Harriet taken in the studio of Claremont & Co. Melbourne between 1889 and 1898. The reverse contains a signature and dedication to

Miss Moon. The Split

In 1892 Alice was living in Sydney after making a will the previous year. The will’s three beneficiaries did not include Harriet. It appears the business and private partnership had broken up.

Harriet also moved to Sydney and in 1893 was the Principal of a ladies gymnasium in Liverpool Street. In 1897 she was Principal of another gymnasium in Castlereagh Street and residing in suburban

Randwick.

Harriet standing beside a Miss Montgomery. Photograph

believed taken 1890’s in Sydney NSW. Miss Montgomery was the beneficiary of Harriet’s will.

Alice meanwhile had become a newspaper reporter. She resided with a family in Double bay and sailed a yacht called The Lark. In May 1894 at age 37 Alice took ill and died after interviewing the

multi talented Sydney metallurgist and bacteriologist, John McGarvie Smith. Alice was buried at the old South Head cemetery. Her headstone contains a cryptic bible quote from Job. “where he

giveth quietness who then shall make trouble”. Sue Ingleton’s Film Script

Stand-up feminist comedian, writer and spiritual wellness promoter, Sue Ingleton has spent a number of years following the trail left by Harriet and Alice. Sue wrote a film script based on their lives. Sadly

financial backing was not forthcoming for production of the film. After reading the headstone quote Sue investigated Alice’s untimely death and believes she has a mix of evidence and conjecture that

may explain what happened. Sue has unselfishly made me aware of the evidence but I will leave that for her to reveal in her soon to be

released ‘MAKING TROUBLE – Tongued with fire’. An imagined history of Harriet Elphinstone Dick & Alice C. Moon.

Harriet’s Return to Melbourne

Harriet returned to Melbourne and between 1899 and 1900, she ran a store in seaside Carrum. In 1901, in partnership with a Miss G.E. Gaunt. Harriet then became a principal of the School of physical

culture and medical gymnastics at 243 Collins Street Melbourne. Harriet passed away aged only 50 on 8th of July 1902. The death

register entry shows the place of Harriet’s death as South Brighton, her occupation as masseuse, and cause of death is heart failure from a dilated and fatty heart. An interesting aside is her father’s

occupation as “art collector”. Maybe that is what she had told her friends.

Registry extract of Harriet’s death details.

“July 15 1902 South Brighton, Morrabbin Shire, County Bourke. Harriet Elizabeth Rowell known as Elphinston Dick masseuse. Female 48 years. Dilated and fatty heart, heart

failure.”

Harriet is buried at the old Cheltenham cemetery. Grave No. 105 Compartment D Church of England. Some years ago when I first

paid my respects to Harriet her marble headstone shield was lying on the ground. It’s metal pins having worked free of the granite upright. I returned with strong adhesive and replaced the shield and

weeded the plot. I often wonder if I was fated to locate the shield before it was damaged or lost for good. The simple inscription on the shield reads:

“In

Loving Memory

Harriett L Rowell

Born Brighton Sussex

England”.

Harriet’s grave at the Old Cheltenham Cemetery.

Harriet’s plot marked in red.

Acknowledgments

I am deeply indebted to Sue Ingleton for generously sharing her detailed research.

I am also indebted to Marion Stell for information relating to Harriet on pages 6, 7, 16, 17, and 29 in Half The Race published 1991 by Angus & Robertson. ISBN 0 207 16971 3.

Other references to Harriet can be found in Wikipedia under Harriet Elphinstone-Dick and in the Australian Lesbian & Gay

Archives Inc alga newsletter No. 21, October 2005. The photograph of Harriet, the TABLE TALK and AUSTRALASIAN

SKETCHER illustrations are courtesy of the Victoria State Library.

Wayne Salt 2008

wsalt@bigpond.net.au