Objects of Substance - A modest abode for an illustrious alu

2016 Centenary of WWI: 1916 stamps

Recently, a small suburban house was put up for sale in Victoria. The property was described in the local paper as follows: “The first iconic English-styled cottage was built on just over half an acre and bears 'Arnwood' 1911 on the brass name plate by the front door.” Another of Grace’s nieces, Margaret Shellshear, clearly remembers visiting her aunt while a young trainee nurse in Victoria in 1938. She was fortunate enough to spend the occasional weekend with her at Mooroolbark. Grace loved her garden and the minute they arrived home she would be on her hands and knees pulling out weeds or admiring bulbs which she had planted in her ‘scarlet oak grove’. No-one today would guess that this charming, old cottage was once the home of one of Australia’s greatest wars heroines.