Alice Eleanor Mary Oaten

     NOTE: The information on this page is my research to date and is subject to change as I become better informed. I very much welcome any corrections or additional info you might have - my email address is at the bottom of this page. Whilst historical facts are not copyright, my writing about these facts are. If you wish to use any text from this site on Ancestry or on any other website, please ask me first - Tim Hill.


Alice was born on Monday, 13 May 1901 at the Melbourne suburb of Carlton.^2,3 She was the daughter of Charles Henry Oaten and Catherine Carroll.

On 23 July 1901 Charles apparently left the family home leaving Catherine and their seven children aged 2 months to 14 years.⁴

Her mother died 6 October 1901 at the age of 35.

On Wednesday, 9 October 1901 three days after the death of her mother, Lydia went to live with the nuns in an Abbotsford convent (most likely Sisters of the Good Shepard) in about 1901. Maggie and Kate went to live with the St. Vincent de Paul's Orphanage in Emerald Hill. Their brothers went to a Catholic boys home in South Melbourne (probably St. Vincent de Paul's Boy Orphanage), whilst the youngest daughter Alice initially went to live with neighbours until she was four.. She was then made a ward of the state at Royal Park and lost track of her family until she was seventeen. She became aware of her family when she was sent a cheque.^3,5,6,7 Alice Eleanor Mary Oaten was also known as Alicia.³

Alice was eventually tracked down by John James Thompson. She was working as a domestic in rural Victoria and was found with the aid of a Catholic priest.⁸ Alice Eleanor Mary Oaten lived with her brother Henry and his wife Ellen in 1922 at at 17 Kelvin Grove in the Melbourne suburb of Northcote.⁹ Alice Eleanor Mary Oaten was a box trimmer in 1922.⁹ Alice may have lived in 1924 at at Francis Street in the Melbourne suburb of Yarraville.¹⁰

Alice Eleanor Mary Oaten married Samuel George Brooker at Sacred Heart on Saturday, 25 September 1926 at the Melbourne suburb of Preston. They were 25 and 26 respectively.¹ Alice's occupation was given as 'home duties' in 1928.¹¹ Alice and Samuel lived in 1928 at at 112 Charles Street in the Melbourne suburb of Northcote.¹¹

She may have attended the wedding of her niece in the marriage of Hubert Nicholson and Mavis Lily Oaten in a Church of England ceremony at All Saints on Saturday, 17 February 1934 at the Melbourne suburb of Kooyong. Mavis married with the consent of her mother. They went on to have some eight children together, only two of whom reached adulthood.^12,13

She may have attended the wedding of her niece in the marriage of Harold John Neill and Violet Agnette Oaten at St. John's Church of England on Saturday, 20 January 1940 at the Melbourne suburb of Camberwell. The marriage was featured on the 'Weddings and Engagements' page of The Age and included a photo. Harold and Violet went on to have two children together.^14,15 Alice and Samuel lived in 1942 at at 17 Haig Street in the Melbourne suburb of Preston.¹⁶

Her father died 12 April 1951 at the age of 85 at the approximate age of 85. Alice was aged 49 when this happened. Alice and Samuel lived in 1954 at the Melbourne suburb of Reservoir.¹⁷ Alice lived in 1986 at 13 Great Ocean Road, in Torquay, Victoria.

Alice died on 27 April 1987 at Torquay, Victoria, at age 85.^3,18 Her body was interred at Preston Cemetery on 29 April 1987 at the Melbourne suburb of Preston.¹⁹