Behind the politics – Isabella Southwell and the Hotel Kurrajong.
11 August 2026
CDHS member Jane Southwell will be talking about her great aunt, Isabella and Isabella's connection with the Hotel Kurrajong, as it celebrates its centenary this year.
Isabella was born near Sutton in 1886 and grew up in the mountains beyond Brindabella, before 'coming down' to the Canberra district in the early 1900's. Her connection with the Campbell family saw her commence a career in hospitality management and she was closely involved with the 're-purposing' of Yarralumla Homestead before working at the Hotel Canberra and being engaged as the first manageress of the Hotel Kurrajong in 1926.
Our speaker, Jane Southwell, has had a lifelong association with farming and promoting an appreciation of the importance of agriculture to the wider community. She has received several awards for this work but now focuses on 'putting together the missing pieces' of a huge family jigsaw puzzle, as it relates to the stories of the women so often overlooked in research. She is on the committee of the Yass and District Historical Society and travels from Bowning each week to volunteer at the Hall History Centre.
Doors open at 5pm for a 5.30pm start. Finish about 6.30pm.
Free parking from 5pm at the Wesley Centre car park.
Wesley Centre, National Circuit, Forrest.
No booking needed.
Contribution to cost of venue hire appreciated.
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