Fanny Mason
Hutt Girl
Fanny was one of thirteen children born to Samuel Smart Mason and his wife Frances Maria (born Cridland). Samuel was born at Taita in 1853. Fanny’s family lived on a farm at Waiwhetū. Flock Mill, which sat on the bank of the Waiwhetū stream, was built by Samuel Mason on part of his farm. The mill turned waste clothing and rags into flock for stuffing upholstery items.
With so many children to care for, Fanny’s mother hired a ‘daily’ governess. They never seemed to stay long, as the job was readvertised throughout the 1890s. It was at the Mason’s farm that a number of photographs were taken at the turn of the century. One includes Fanny peering under the camera hood with her hat on, while being photographed from a second camera. It is unclear whether she was a photographer herself, or simply interested in the technology.
In 1899, Fanny entered the Amateur Class of the Hutt Horticultural Show and received a ‘highly commended’ for her collection of pansies. In 1901, Miss Mason at ‘Waiwetu’ advertised in the Evening Post that she was wanting to purchase a Lady’s Bicycle. We can see from another photo that Fanny succeeded in her purchase. Perhaps inspired by his sister, a few days later her brother was advertising for a Gent’s one. The Hutt was the ideal location to get around by bicycle.
On 17th August 1910, at the age of 30, Fanny married Fred Randolph Blackburn. It was described as a ‘quiet wedding’ and held in the presence of ‘a good number of friends and relatives. The ceremony was performed by the Ven. Archdeacon Grace at Fred’s parents’ home in Blenheim. Their wedding cake decoration of artificial flowers is held in Te Papa’s collection. The couple had seven children over the following ten years. Fanny died in 1950 in Levin. She was 69 years old.
Fanny Mason, with a camera set up in a garden. Blackburn, Misses : Photographs. Ref: 1/2-082473-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/23182519
Fanny Mason. Courtesy of Hutt City Libraries.
Mason family by a stream. Blackburn, Misses : Photographs. Ref: 1/2-082495-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/23218236
Farm of Samuel Mason with daughter Fanny and goats. c 1890. Courtesy of Hutt City Libraries. Ref. 3779; BRN 416507
These artificial flowers and ceramic hand, complete with gold wedding ring, originally adorned the wedding cake of Fanny Mason and Fred Randolph Blackburn, who wed on 17 August 1910. The flowers would have matched the white icing of the cake.
Credit: Glass dome with floral display, 1910, New Zealand, maker unknown. Gift of Wayne Blackburn, 2010. CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Te Papa (GH012684)