ORAL HISTORY (AUDIO): MACE, LIL

Lil Mace was interviewed by Anne Eddy.

Lillian Mace was born Lillian Sandstone in Murchison in the Goldfields. She came to Subiaco in the late 1920s, aged 15 and lived at Aberdare Road. Her father had died prior to moving to Subiaco and her mother brought up all seven girls alone. The house was bought with funds from a trust set up prior to her father’s deaths. Lillian describes life in West Subiaco (Shenton Park), including events such as Guy Fawkes Night and the Royal Show. Lillian married twice but had no children. Her first husband was killed in Geraldton.

Lillian also discusses her early life including schooling in Murchison and going into the workforce at a young age. Lillian’s mother became invalided and couldn’t walk without assistance, so Lillian took on domestic work around Shenton Park. She talks about her sister’s becoming dressmakers and milliners as well as the clients she used to work for. Lillian discusses her domestic work, the ways she cleaned houses (including the materials she used) as well as several home remedies for illnesses and cleaning.

She goes on to talk about her involvements with social clubs in Shenton Park, the Shenton Park Hotel, work at the post office during World War Two and her feelings about the war. She finishes by talking about Shenton Park and Subiaco’s changing retail scene after World War Two.

Interviewee: Lil Mace

Date of Interview: 13 and 20 October 1983

Interviewer: Anne Eddy

Transcriber: Unknown

Indexer: Shelly Campbell