Florence Mary Parsons was born in Somerset, England on 29
December 1879. She was four years old when she came to Australia with her
parents Charles Parsons and Augusta Parsons. Florence had two brothers, Tom two
years older and five years younger Theodore. Her sister Lily was two years
younger. They lived briefly in Queensland before moving to Parramatta. Her
father worked as a draftsman clerk with the Parramatta Council. Her parents died when she was in her late
teens though both Charles and Augusta’s deaths are listed as unknown in
Ancestry database. After the death of
her parents, Florence was forced to find a work to support her siblings. She
was working as a clerk in one of her father’s architectural practice. She was
inspired by the earnings of drafts people, who were earning far more than her.
She enrolled herself in night classes at the Sydney Technical College. In 1904,
she was first qualified female architect. Then she started her studies to
become a first woman to train as an engineer in Australia. 1907 was the year
when Florence Parsons married Sydney born artist, inventor and craft worker
George Augustine Taylor. They got married in St Stephen’s Presbyterian Church
in Sydney. In December 1909, Florence Taylor became the first Australian women
to fly the aircraft (glider) built by her husband George Taylor. Both Florence
and George were passionate about architecture and building industry.
Florence’s husband died after drowning in his bath tub due
to epileptic fit in 1928. After his death she was managing the publishing
business until her retirement in 1961 at the age of 81. She lived in Potts
Point and died on 13 February 1969.
No comments:
Post a Comment