Helen Horne (Bowie) was born at Aldgate in April, 1843. She died on September 4, 1929 at East Melbourne. She was the youngest daughter of Dr. Robert Bowie, psychiatrist superintendent of the Yarra Bend Lunatic Asylum, and Margaret Symington, daughter of William Symington (1764-1831), the pioneer of steam navigation. Helen Bowie married a widower, DR. GEORGE HORNE, in Adelaide on 30 October 1890. She was seventeen years his senior and a sister-in-law of his former partner, Dr. Frederick Daniel.

In 1853 she attended the Birthday Ball given by the Lieutenant-Governor. Dr. Bowie and two “Misses Bowie” were among the guests. Argus (Melbourne), Thursday 26 May 1853, page 5

In 1863 she was a guest at a Fancy Dress ball given by the Mayor of Melbourne, dressed as “Ceres.” Leader (Melbourne), Saturday 29 August 1863, page 8

Helen Horne died intestate on September 4, 1929 at Lister House. Her niece, Helen Bowie, made claim to administer her estate. In her affidavit she gave her address as Lister House, Collins Street and her occupation bacteriologist. She had lived with her aunt for thirty eight years.

The following nephews and nieces were recorded as surviving next of kin:

Robert Bowie and Thomas Bowie of Killara near Lilydale.

Margaret Sim of “Wanganella,” Cosgrove

Elizabeth Dryden of Lisbon Street, Shepparton

Catherine Bowie of Lister House, Collins Street, Spinster

Helen Daniel of Bridge Street, Hampton, Spinster

Margaret Esther Lindsay of “Quamby”, Woolthorpe

Edith Twomey of “Langulac”, Penshurst

Grace Alice Latta of Warrnambool

Edith Emily Porta

Mary Ellen Bowie

Margaret Alice Whitely

Robert William Bowie

Gladys Gertrude Slater

Zilla Zoe Zenobia Doocey

William Saul

OBITUARIES

The Argus Friday 6 September 1929 page 8

Her many friends will regret to learn of the death of Mrs. Horne, widow of Dr. George Horne, which occurred suddenly at midnight on Wednesday, at her residence, Lister House, Collins street. Mrs. Horne was a daughter of the late Dr. Bowie, and she arrived, as a child, with her parents in 1852. During her girlhood Mrs. Horne witnessed in Melbourne many strange sights and incidents connected with the early days of the gold rush, and her recollection of the stirring events of early Melbourne were wonderfully vivid. Mrs. Horne had the distinction of “coming out” at a ball given by Governor Latrobe in the old Government House in Toorak. Before and after her marriage Mrs. Horne was connected with many philanthropic organisations, and after she had retired from active service her advice was often sought. She was a member of the Melbourne Ladies’ Benevolent Society from 1890 to 1914, and was president for many years. For 30 years Mrs. Horne was the Collingwood district correspondent to the Boarded-out Children’s department (now the Children’s Welfare department). Until her death she was a member of the Time and Talents Society, and she was also an active member of several hospital auxiliaries. Mrs. Horne had no family, but her niece, Miss Helen Bowie, had been her constant companion for years.

Age (Melbourne), Friday 6 September 1929, page 9

The death occurred suddenly yesterday morning of Mrs. George Horne, widow of the late Dr. George Horne, and daughter of the late Dr. Bowie. Seventy-eight years ago Dr. Bowie landed in Melbourne with his family, Mrs. Horne being then a child eight years of age. It had been Dr. Bowie’s intention to settle in Adelaide, but on the arrival in Melbourne of the boat on which they were travelling the crew deserted to the gold fields, and the passengers were forced to land in Melbourne. For some years Dr. Bowie, practised in Collins-street, and Mrs. Horne had many interesting and amusing stories to tell of early days in Melbourne, when the only water available for household use was brought round in tanks on wheals, and the householders had to purchase a week’s supply at a time. Dr. Bowie was a mental specialist, and was later appointed to the charge of the Yarra Bend Asylum, where for many years Mrs. Horne made her home. Mrs. Horne was all her life well known for her active participation in philanthropic work in Melbourne. For many years she was connected with the Melbourne Ladies’ Benevolent Society, both as a committee member and as president. She was an active worker in the interests of the children of this State, and was for a long period the lady correspondent of the Collingwood committee, entrusted with the supervision of homes of children boarded out under the Children’s Welfare Act. After she gave up the position of correspondent she continued to act as a member of the local committee, and resigned from the committee only on Tuesday last. Mrs. Horne was also a member of the Collingwood creche committee, and an active worker for Time and Talents.

In 1866 she came into conflict with her uncle, William Symington of Bacchus Marsh over an unpaid loan, for which she sued him in the County Court. The newspaper report incorrectly identifies him as William Symington of Kyneton:

Australasian (Melbourne), Saturday 2 June 1866, page 23

In the County Court, on Tuesday Miss Helen Bowie sued Mr. William Symington, of Kyneton, for an amount of money alleged to have been lent on her account by her father (Dr. Bowie) to defendant. The latter’s case was that he had a counter claim against Dr. Bowie, but it being proved to the satisfaction of the judge that it was the daughter’s money that was lent to defendant, a verdict was given for the plaintiff for £40, with £15 odd costs.

ARTISTIC INTERESTS

In 1878 and 1880 Helen Bowie was a student in the School of Design and in the School of Painting at the National Gallery (Master of the School Eugene von Guerard). REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY, MUSEUMS, & NATIONAL GALLERY OF VICTORIA, WITH THE REPORTS OF THE SECTIONAL COMMITTEES, FOR 1879, etc., JOHN FERRIS, GOVERNMENT PRINTER MELBOURNE. 1880 page 57

1872 International Exhibition “a couple of dogs’ heads by Miss Bowie are good”. Age (Melbourne), Tuesday 12 November 1872, page 3

At an exhibition of the School of Painting and Design, held at the Public Library in 1875, she showed a portrait which was considered a “clever” drawing. Leader (Melbourne) Saturday 23 January 1875, page 18   The reviewer made some cutting remarks about some of the exhibitors but Miss Bowie's "Member of the Royal Humane Society," was considered as “among the drawings which challenge most attention”. Argus (Melbourne), Wednesday 20 January 1875, page 6 Other student exhibitors were McCubbin and Sutherland.

At the 1875 Victorian Intercolonial Exhibition Helen Bowie exhibited a “Gypsy” table and chairs, decorated with a fern leaf motif. (Official Catalogue of the Exhibition page 135)

Reported in the Australasian (Melbourne), Saturday 4 September 1875, page 4:

Apropos of the latest thing in drawing room furniture, we may mention two specimens of the art or ornamenting wooden surfaces with fern-leaf patterns, which are obtained by a process, known we believe, as "splashing” (a species of stencilling), from the life. Miss Helen Bowie, of Northcote-road, Fitzroy, exhibits a gipsy table and chair, on which delicate fern fronds and sprays of maiden-hair fern are delineated with pronounced success. Skill of this sort ought surely to be utilised, for articles would ornament the handsomest drawing room. 

NEWSPAPER REPORTS

Australasian (Melbourne), Saturday 17 January 1914, page 40

SOCIAL NOTES.

The committee of the Melbourne Ladies’ Benevolent Society have accepted with much regret the resignation of Mrs. George Horne. Mrs. Horne has been a member of the committee for 38 years, and part of that time occupied the president’s chair. In February Dr. George Horne, Mrs. Horne, and their niece, Miss Bowie, well known as the holder of many golf championships, leave Melbourne by the P. and O. steamer Maloja for an extended trip through Egypt and Europe.

PERSONAL NOTICES

The Argus Thursday 6 November 1890 page 1

HORNE - BOWIE. - On the 30th ult., by the Rev. R. Reid, at Trinity Church, Adelaide, George, eldest son of George Horne, of Launceston, to Helen, youngest daughter of the late Robert Bowie, surgeon, Melbourne.

The Age Tuesday 15 November 1927 page 1

HORNE-On the 14th November, at 78 Collins Street, Melbourne, George Horne, M.D., M.B., Beloved husband of Helen, eldest son of the late George and Martha Horne, of Kew. (No flowers by request.)

The Argus Friday 6 September 1929 page 1    

HORNE. —On the 4th September at Lister House, Melbourne, Helen, youngest daughter of the late Dr. Robert Bowie, of Melbourne, and relict of the late Dr. George Horne. (No flowers).