Molloy, Georgiana (1805 - 1843)

Arrived in Western Australia in March 1830. In 1836 she was invited to collect seeds and plants by James Mangles, and these were used to establish many Australian plants in cultivation in England. Her specimens were described by Lindley, and later by other botanists including W.Hooker and Meissner. Her collections are at B, CGE and K.

Extracted from: A.E.Orchard (1999) A History of Systematic Botany in Australia, in Flora of Australia Vol.1, 2nd ed., ABRS. [consult for source references]

In 1830, when delicate, cultured Georgiana Molloy left behind the comforts of wealthy society in England to settle in Augusta, on the south-west coast, with her husband Captain Molloy, she would have had no idea of the hardship and loneliness that lay ahead. With few other families around, she was left to cope alone for long periods while her husband attended to business in Perth. She bore seven children, buried two of them, and suffered hunger and sadness through year after year of poor harvests and social isolation. It was Lady Stirling, wife of Governor Stirling, who came to her rescue by suggesting to her cousin, amateur botanist Captain James Mangles, that he write to Mrs Molloy proposing an exchange of botanical specimens. Over the years, collecting and describing specimens and seeds to send to Captain Mangles in London became a passion. By the time her life was tragically cut short by the privations of pioner living, Georgiana Molloy's enthusiasm and talent for botany had made Western Australia's remarkable floral heritage known throughout the world.

Extracted from: Reid, Curry, Clews, (1999), Landscope Winter 1999, CALM WA 'Doing What Comes Naturally' (portrait source)