Ada Augusta Holman

Ada Augusta Holman
Holman in 1917
Born
Ada Kidgell

(1869-10-03)3 October 1869
Ballarat, Victoria, Australia
Died3 April 1949(1949-04-03) (aged 79)
Darling Point, New South Wales, Australia
Other names"Myee"; "Marcus Malcom"; "Nardoo"; "Literoctopus"
OccupationsJournalist, novelist
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1901)​

Ada Augusta Holman (née Kidgell) (3 October 1869 – 3 April 1949) was a journalist and novelist in New South Wales, Australia. However, her writing career was increasingly curtailed after her marriage to politician William Arthur Holman, who was to become Premier of New South Wales.

Early life

Ada Kidgell was born in Ballarat, Victoria, on 3 October 1869, the daughter of journalist Ebenezer Kidgell and his wife Agnes (née Martin). Her father worked on Clunes Guardian, the Hawthorn and Boroondara Standard and in 1895–1902 as sub-editor, The Sunday Times in Sydney. She became a teacher at a private school in Narrandera, New South Wales.

Literary career

Ada Kidgell was active in debating societies and well-informed about literature and politics. Writing as "Myee", she contributed a report on the Sydney literary scene to Melbourne Punch. She published short stories and political articles under her own name as well as a number of pseudonyms including "Marcus Malcom", "Nardoo" and "Literoctopus". She was an active member of the Fellowship of Australian Writers.

Her books included a memoir, Memoirs of a Premier's Wife, a travel book titled My Wander Year, the novel Sport of the Gods and two children's books.

In 1921, her book Sport of the Gods came third in the De Garis Prize.

Marriage and subsequent career

On Tuesday, 22 January 1901, Ada Kidgell married William Arthur Holman (1871–1934), future Premier of New South Wales, at the Australian Church in Sydney. She visited Britain and the United States with her husband; she described Woodrow Wilson as "stuffy" and "pompous". From October 1938, she was granted a pension of £1 per week by the Commonwealth Literary Fund.

Works

Later life

Ada Holman died in a private hospital in Darling Point, Sydney, on 3 April 1949; she was survived by her daughter Dr Portia Holman.

Kidgell Place, in the Canberra suburb of Gilmore, is named in her honour.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Radi, Heather. "Holman, Ada Augusta (1869–1949)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN 1833-7538. OCLC 70677943. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  2. 1 2 "Mrs. Ada Holman". Narrandera Argus and Riverina Advertiser. Vol. 72, no. 28. New South Wales, Australia. 8 April 1949. p. 1. Retrieved 5 September 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. 1 2 "Ada A. Holman". AustLit: Discover Australian Stories. The University of Queensland. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
  4. 1 2 "Mrs Holman Dead". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 34, 723. New South Wales, Australia. 6 April 1949. p. 7. Retrieved 4 September 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ↑ "Family Notices". The Sunday Times. No. 784. New South Wales, Australia. 27 January 1901. p. 1. Retrieved 4 September 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ↑ "Candid Comment..." The Sunday Herald (Sydney). New South Wales, Australia. 10 April 1949. p. 2. Retrieved 5 September 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ↑ "Commonwealth Literary Fund". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 31, 459. New South Wales, Australia. 29 October 1938. p. 13. Retrieved 21 April 2026 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ↑ "Australian Capital Territory National Memorials Ordinance 1928 Determination — Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. Periodic (National : 1977–2011), p.20". Trove. 15 May 1987. Retrieved 7 February 2020.

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