Hanora Ward (HN:1253)

Birth place

Hanora (Nora) Ward was the 3rd child born to Michael and Ann at Kilmore Victoria in 1866.

Life and times

Nora had her name on a block of Greencamp on an early map owning approximately 2,659 acres where the homestead is presently situated. Nora is rumored to have buried a bottle of sovereigns on the old house sight on Greencamp.

It is reputed that Nora had a romance in her younger days and after it fell through, she took it very hard and suffered a mental breakdown or illness, which gradually got worse until the Ward Bros decided to transfer the block out of Nora’s name in case she was committed and the crown took the land. They transferred it into Patrick’s name and this seems to have been forgotten about until Thomas died in 1960 and the estate had to be wound up. The executors had to get the block transferred back from Patrick’s estate 19 years after he died. Source: William Michael Ward.

William and Thomas purchased part of Euroka in 1888/1890 and it is possible that Nora had a share in it then or later because she had to put her signature to the grant of one acre to the Catholic Church for the building of a church in 1903. Nora received ten shillings for her release of the acre. Source: Lands Dept. Book 749 No. 987.

William, Thomas and Nora also took possession of the Moor’s property Megalong Station and Medlow Station in 1904 Source: Historical booklet "Wards of Euroka".

Later in 1908, Nora purchased Neva Cottage 13 Staverly Street, Blackheath, which she then sold to her brother John in 1914. Source: Lands Dept. Volume 1878 Folio 169.

In the 40’s or 50’s Nora thought the price of bread was to high so she employed a bricklayer to make her a bakers oven in the back yard so she could bake her own bread. The school children gave Nora a very hard time when she was walking around Nyngan, teasing and tormenting her. So much so that she took to carrying a whip which one can imagine only made matters worse.

The only mention of Nora found in the early Nyngan Observer’s is as follows.

Nyngan Observer dated December 8th. 1917.

"If William Roberts, builder and contractor does not return by the 15th. Dec. 1917, and finish his work, I will engage another man to do it." Signed Nora Ward.

Nora died after a fall in her home at Minor Street in 1960 at the age of 92 years. Her brother Tom died 4 days later after being ill for several months. They were both buried in the Nyngan Cemetery.

Links

Parents of Hanora Ward

• Michael Ward & Ann Ryan (married in 1861)

Siblings of Hanora Ward

• John Ward (born in 1862)
• Michael Edward Ward (1864)
• Patrick Ward (1867, infant death)
• Patrick Ward (1868)
• Thomas Ward (1871)
• Margaret Ward (1874)
• William Joseph Ward (1877)