7 October 1834 'Sidbury' St Leonards Tasmania Australia Robert Halstead Elizabeth Dinah, Eleanor, Amy Edith, Florence Sarah, Grace Isobel, Mary Constance & Robert William

Mrs Eleanor Dinah (Ellen) Halstead was born in Hobart on 7 Oct 1834, the eldest child of William Thompson Macmichael and Dinah Gatehouse. She married Robert Halstead on 24 Jul 1861 in Hobart. They lived at Breadalbane, where Robert worked on Mrs Duggan's farm. They moved to 'Nonesuch', Sorell, in 1864, Perth in 1870, and to 'Sidbury', St Leonards, a year later. They had six daughters between 1862 and 1871. Thier only son Robert William was born on 15 Aug 1872 at 'Sidbury', but died on 16 Jul 1874 aged nearly two.

Her husband Robert died suddenly on 20 Nov 1873 aged 47. He became ill at lunch time and died one hour later. Eleanor took in boarders and taught music to support her family. In 1895 she moved back to Hobart with her five unmarried daughters and died there on 18 Apr 1920. Four of her daughters, her brother John Macmichael and his family are also pictured in the Family Album.

Karlena Lockett Aug 2005