Across 160 years and more than 16,000 kilometers - a family connection is made in the John Oxley Library

On Thursday 17 October 2024 a very special 'virtual' family reunion took place in the John Oxley Library reading room of the State Library of Queensland. 

While Jean Alexander from the United Kingdom was visiting Australia recently, she enjoyed a day-long heritage trail which connected her with a distant relative who spent most of her life in Queensland. Jean's great-great-great-grandfather was Bertram Percival, the elder brother of Henrietta Mallalieu née Percival who arrived in Brisbane in May 1864. She quickly became known as Madame Mallalieu, the young colony's premier pianist, and was later also a trailblazing female cathedral organist after studies with Walter Graham Willmore whom she married in 1885. In addition to her musical career, Mrs Willmore was a strong advocate for the social and political advancement of women. 

Furthermore, she took up various causes through fundraising, notably during World War One in support of Belgian victims of the conflict. After the war, Mrs Willmore received a citation from the King Albert I of Belgium and the Queen Elisabeth Medal in recognition of this work. In 1940, the State Library of Queensland received various memorabilia from Mrs Willmore's family. These included the Medal, a scrapbook of concert programs and press reviews of concerts presented by Mrs Willmore in the 1890s, and papers relating to the commissioning of the Willis pipe organ for Brisbane's Exhibition Hall. Mrs Willmore performed in its inaugural recital series in 1892 and returned in the late 1920s to try out the instrument after its relocation to the newly built City Hall.

Jean (pictured) was thrilled to be able to see these heritage items at the State Library of Queensland. She felt a profound sense of connection with her distant relative, who arrived here just over 160 years ago. While there are several descendants of the Percival family in England and Europe, the Australian line died out 70 years ago. The day's itinerary also included a visit to The Women's College at The University of Queensland, where the Willmore Memorial Chair is located, and the Queensland Art Gallery which holds several paintings and bronze sculptures funded by the estate of Beatrice Mallalieu, Henrietta's youngest daughter. Other locations visited were St Paul's Presbyterian Church, whose organ featured in Queensland's first-ever organ recital in 1883, the Queensland Country Women's Association headquarters where Henrietta's official portrait is on display, and her final resting place at Balmoral Cemetery. These visits were organised by Peter Roennfeldt, who in 2015 published the biography of Madame Mallalieu. The family history research for this book was conducted by Evelyn Kruger, who also accompanied Peter, Jean and her husband on this day of historical connections around Brisbane.