HerStory
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Lucelle Stuart BENSTEAD
Also known as: née Benstead, Lulu, Lucille
Born: 5/02/1891
Died: 1983
Resources
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References
Petrick, Jose. (2010, November). The History of Alice Springs through Landmarks & Street Names. St Marys, South Australia: Openbook Howden Design and Print. pp. 27-28.
BENSTEAD STREET
The Benstead Family, William (Bill), his wife Tryphina – Pastoralists and hoteliers and their daughter Lucille – vocalist.
Bill Benstead, a cattleman and rough rider in SA was appointed manager of Undoolya Station, east of Alice Springs, when aged 21 years, in 1877. …
After five years he returned to Adelaide to marry his fiancée, Miss Tryphina Rains.
…He then returned to Adelaide to bring up his wife, their small son Bertie and his sister-in-law Miss Cornelia Rains.
The family travelled from Adelaide to Hergott Springs by train, the remaining 1300 km, with horses and two traps. Tryphina drove one trap all the way in an epic six week journey, even though some of the horses were unused to harness.
The family went to Hermannsburg Lutheran Mission for the birth of their second son Julian Geoffrey Barrow Benstead, on 15 October 1886 and the marriage of Cornelia to OTL Inspector, Joseph Skinner (Skinner St).
In 1889, Benstead bought two blocks of land in Stuart (regazetted Alice Springs in 1933) and built the Stuart Arms Hotel.
Their daughter Lucelle (Lulu) claimed to be the first European child born in Stuart, on 5 February 1891.
On 21 December 1891 the hotel lease was transferred to Thomas Gunter and the Benstead family travelled to WA. They reached Southern Cross, near Coolgardie, just before the goldstrike.
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Lulu loved to sing. When Dame Clara Butt heard the child sing, she advised that her voice should be trained. Lulu’s parents sent her to a convent boarding school so that her education would be worthy of her talent. The nuns appreciated her gift and she sang at all the services. However, homesickness overcame her; she ran away and went home.
Lulu, Julian and their younger sister Florence Ann (Faby), were show-oriented and held concerts for the miners to raise funds for Lulu’s singing lessons in Sydney and then Paris. Their older brother Geoffrey died at an early age.
Lulu adopted the professional name of ‘Lucille’. Lucille sang in her first concert in London on the same program as Dame Clara Butt. She became world famous and entertained in noted concert halls throughout England, Europe and America. She also sang to troops in both World Wars in England and overseas, often at great danger to herself.
Lucille particularly enjoyed singing Negro spiritual songs like ‘Mammy’. The words and music of ‘Chloe’ were written especially for her during an American tour.
She gave singing lessons in London for her last 30 years, almost until her death, aged 92.
When Lucille went to Paris, her family moved to England to be near her. Bill became a livestock advisor and travelled the world extensively. He died in London in 1940 and his wife, two years later.
Government surveyor, Charles Winnecke (Winnecke Avenue) commemorated Benstead’s name when he named Mt. Benstead on Undoolya Station.
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References
Purvis, A. V. "Billy Benstead's Pub ... and Early ALICE." The Inland Review. date unknown:26-27.
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References
Petrick, Jose. "Brilliant career of first white woman born in Alice." Centralian Advocate. 5 February 1981:21.
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References
Petrick, Jose. "Music and the Centre." Centralian Advocate. 5 May 1961:page unknown.
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References
Various articles from The Stage Archive, sent from the Prince of Wales Theatre, London, dated 22.03.08.
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Link - LULU BENSTEAD
Trove: Sunday Times (Perth, WA: 1902 - 1954), Sunday 19 December 1909, page 7
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Link - LULU BENSTEAD
Trove: Sunday Times (Perth, WA: 1902 - 1954), Sunday 31 May 1908, page 7