"Molly" Ethel Alice Phyllis HIMBURY
Born 1911 in London, England [21]
In 1924 departed London, England on the Bendigo with Christina HIMBURY (age 48) and Zenobia HIMBURY (age 14) [70]
They arrived in Fremantle, Western Australia on the steamship Bendigo on 4 January 1925 [70]
Shifted from Geraldton to Carnamah in late 1932 or early 1933 to assist Mrs COWDEROY with her large drapery store [5: 27-Jan-1933]
In March 1933 she established the "Wattle Tea Rooms" within Cowderoy's store at 2 Macpherson Street, Carnamah [4: 18-Mar-1933] [51]
Proprietress of the Wattle Tea Rooms in Carnamah 1933-1935 [5: 18-Mar-1933, 4-May-1934, 2-Aug-1935]
Supplied meals at all hours, fresh fruit and eggs, cool drinks, ice cream, specialty scones, cakes and catered for parties [4: 18-Mar-1933]
Sold homemade cakes and pasties, late suppers, fresh vegetables, tobacco and cigarettes [5: 29-Sep-1933, 2-Feb-1934, 11-May-1934]
The premises she operated from had previously been occupied by Misses GILES and STEPHENS's Pyramid Tea Rooms [P22]
By arrangement with local dairy owner Mrs Agnes S. SHARP she began seeling milk at her tearooms in June 1935 [5: 21-Jun-1935]
Sold the milk from her tearooms for 3d. per pint and took standing orders for regular supplies of milk [5: 21-Jun-1935]
Committee Member of the Carnamah Repertory Club in 1933 [5: 2-Jun-1933] [72]
Attended the Surprise Party tendered to Mrs Eva and Miss Joyce COWDEROY in Carnamah on Friday 5 January 1934 [5: 12-Jan-1934]
Attended the Parkinson Tennis Club's Dance held at the Carnamah Hall on Saturday 14 April 1934 [5: 20-Apr-1934]
Attended the Methodist Home Mission Social held in Carnamah on Tuesday 24 April 1934 [5: 27-Apr-1934]
On 12 May 1934 attended the Carnamah Football Club's Grand Opening Ball in an ankle length floral silk voile dress [5: 18-May-1934]
Member of the Carnamah Golf Club in 1934 and 1935 - was Secretary and Treasurer in 1935 [5: 15-Jun-1934, 5-Apr-1935]
Attended the Inering School Dance held to raise money for books at the Carnamah Hall on Saturday 21 July 1934 [5: 27-Jul-1934]
Won the "hidden prize" at the Bridge Party held at Roger and Margaret CLARK's home in Carnamah on 22 August 1934 [5: 24-Aug-1934]
Catered for the evening supper at the Carnamah Agricultural Show at Centenary Park on Thursday 6 September 1934 [5: 14-Sep-1934]
Attended the Childhood & Nursery Rhyme Ball held in Three Springs on 6 November 1934 as "Mary had a Little Lamb" [5: 9-Nov-1934]
Attended the Three Springs C.W.A. Ball at the Three Springs Hall on the evening of Thursday 22 November 1934 [5: 23-Nov-1934]
During December 1934 sold from her tearooms a variety of seasonal novelties, Christmas stockings, cakes and puddings [5: 14-Dec-1934]
Member of Carnamah's Parkinson Tennis Club in 1934-35 [5: 2-Nov-1934] [56]
Won the Ladies Golf Driving at the R.S.L. Sports at Centenary Park, Carnamah on Easter Monday 22 April 1935 [5: 26-Apr-1935]
Secretary of the Carnamah Golf Club's Dance Committee in 1935 [5: 7-Jun-1935]
Rendered a humorous monologue at the afternoon tendered to Mrs PATRICK Jnr. in Carnamah on 24 June 1935 [5: 28-Jun-1935]
Paid a hurried trip to Perth during the last weekend of July 1935 [5: 2-Aug-1935]
Received a presentation from the members of the Carnamah Golf Club during gold on Thursday 1 August 1935 [5: 2-Aug-1935]
In early 1935 her Wattle Tea Rooms in Carnamah were taken over by Albert and Eva COWDEROY [5: 2-Aug-1935]
Left Carnamah and shifted to Perth on Monday 5 August 1935 [5: 9-Aug-1935]
Later worked at the Queen Adelaide Ladies' Club in Adelaide, South Australia[5: 19-Feb-1937]
Albert P. COWDEROY of Carnamah renewed her acquaintance while in Adelaide in February 1937 [5: 19-Feb-1937]
From The North Midland Times newspaper, Friday 8 September 1933:
Around the Shops - Goods Which Can Be Bought Locally - The Wattle Tea Rooms
"Miss Himbury is gradually making a name for herself with pies and coffee and her Saturday night suppers are very popular. Some very fresh and attractive green grocery and all cooked meats are also on sale."
| Reference: Carnamah Historical Society & Museum and North Midlands Project, 'Ethel Alice Phyllis Himbury' in Biographical Dictionary of Coorow, Carnamah and Three Springs, retrieved 26 October 2025 from www.carnamah.com.au/bio/ethel-alice-phyllis-himbury [reference list] |
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