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Harriet Douglas Daly, born around 1854 and died on August 25,
1927, made her mark as an author and journalist. Her writings spanned
topics about the Northern Territory and included her role as a London
correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald.
As the eldest
daughter of Ellen and William Bloomfield Douglas, Harriet's early life
involved extensive travel due to her father's position as a merchant
marine officer. In 1854, her father's visit to South Australia led to
the family settling there, where he held various high-ranking
administrative roles.
In 1870, her father became the first
Government Resident of the Northern Territory. Harriet, along with her
family, moved to Palmerston (now Darwin), comprising seven children. At
16, Harriet had reservations about leaving her friends for such an
isolated place. The family resided in the newly built Government House,
Darwin, then known as 'The Residency,' becoming its inaugural
inhabitants.
Shortly after arriving in Palmerston, Harriet met
Dominick Daniel Daly on board the 'Gulnare.' They married in Adelaide on
October 23, 1871, and returned to Darwin, where Dominick worked for the
Engineer-in-Chief.
Harriet chronicled her family's experiences
and the settlement's history in her book "Digging, squatting and
pioneering life in the Northern Territory of South Australia" (1887).
She received positive reviews for her work, noted for its humor and
pleasant style.
In Darwin, Harriet was one of the few women
holding Miner's Rights, engaging in horseback excursions. She expressed
the vast freedom of the country, where familiarity with every tree and
path became second nature during long jungle rides.
After her
father's dismissal in 1873, Harriet left Darwin. She and her husband
later moved to the Malay States, where Dominick died in Borneo in 1889
while working for the British North Borneo Company.
Following her
husband's death, Harriet relocated to London, where she contributed to
The Sydney Morning Herald with a column initially titled 'A Lady's
Letter from London,' later changed to 'A Woman's Letter from London.'
Known for supporting fellow journalists and having a keen interest in
the theatre, Harriet Douglas Daly continued making significant
contributions to the world of journalism.
She had a son, James, who died in 1899.
Notes:
• Daniel, Harriet's husband,
worked with her father in Kuala Lumpar, but neither had a successful
career, as is evident in the article on William Bloomfield Douglas.
Daniel was a nephew of Governor Dominick Daly.
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