I thought I would start this page by writing about an ancestor who seems to have been tapping me on the shoulder and saying ‘Tell everyone about me’. I’ve split her story into two parts. Here is part one:
Susan Grace Benny Part 1: 1872 – 1918
Susan Grace Benny (nee Anderson), was a remarkable woman who became a trailblazer for women in the world of politics. She was born on 4 October 1872 at Crown Inn, Adelaide. After a little bit of digging, it appears that this was a hotel that was established in 1846 on the corner of Currie Street and Rosina Street. It was renamed a number of times, but started life as ‘Golden Fleece Inn’ and finished as ‘College Arms Hotel’. The reason she was born there was because her parents, Peter Anderson and Agnes Ellen Harriot, owned the inn (along with a number of other inns and hotels). Peter Anderson, however, was actually a skilled agriculturalist and was one of the early settlers to move to the Yorke Peninsula when it opened up in the 1870s. It was in this location that Susan, or more commonly Grace, grew up on her father’s prestigious farm of ‘Springfield’. However, when her mother died in 1883, she was sent to a boarding school at McLaren Vale. This would have brought her into closer contact with many members of her family, including her grandparents, Peter and Marion Anderson.
Most likely it was also during her childhood that the basis for her interest in politics began to evolve, as her father was involved in politics, being a member of the Dalrymple Council, and he also tried, unsuccessfully, to be elected to a seat in the South Australian Parliament. Perhaps this was also one of the factors that attracted her to her cousin Benjamin Benny who she married on 16 July 1896. Benjamin came from a family of reverends, but was a lawyer who had an interest in politics. He must also have been willing to encourage his wife’s interest in politics, as she seems to have become active within state politics, while also being a housewife and bringing up five children, two sons and three daughters. The family lived at a property called ‘Stoneywood’, which was located at 81 Marine Parade, Seacliffe. In the early years of their marriage, Benjamin served as the mayor of Brighton for several years.
During World War I, Grace became an active member of the Cheer-Up Society that worked to support soldiers. She was the president of the Women’s branch of the South Australian Liberal Union for a time, and worked to achieve equality of divorce for women as party of this party’s platform. This also became law in 1918. As well as these activities, she was also active in a wide range of community clubs and activities. This included, amongst others, being part of the local spinning club, the progress association and the croquet club.
Sources:
Australian Dictionary of Biography, http://adb.anu.edu.au/
News, Adelaide
Silvy, Graham, Andersons in South Australia Volume 1, 2006
State Library of South Australia Photo Collection
The Advertiser, Adelaide
The Chronicle, Adelaide
The Register, Adelaide