Harriet Skelton - Sorrento Museum & Nepean Historical Society
Harriet Skelton (née Dickens) was a pioneering woman whose life embodied strength, resilience, and compassion in the face of adversity. Born in Buckinghamshire, England, in 1818, Harriet’s journey to Australia was shaped by both personal and societal forces. She and her husband arrived in Melbourne in 1839 aboard the barque Arab. While family lore suggests that Harriet worked as a nurse for the Henty family during the voyage, shipping records suggest that she was employed as a servant and travelled as a passenger alongside a Mr. and Miss Ley. Upon arrival, the Skeltons set up a life together, but it was not without its challenges. In January 1840, they were married, with Edward signing the register, and Harriet, who could not read or write, making her mark.
In 1841, the Skeltons are believed to have made their way to what is now Shelly Beach (formerly known as Skelly’s Flat) near The Heads, a remote area of the Mornington Peninsula. At this time, their daughter, Mary Ann, was just six months old. The family arrived in early spring and settled in this isolated part of the Peninsula, where Edward established his first lime kiln and over 200 of her descendants gathered in 1988 to commemorate the centenary of her death. They initially lived in a bullock hide tent due to the scarcity of canvas, enduring the harsh conditions of early settler life. The first permanent structure built by the Skeltons was a small wattle and daub cottage, constructed from materials that washed up on the beach. Despite these primitive conditions, Harriet's resourcefulness allowed her to raise a growing family.
Over the years, Harriet gave birth to nine children, and her family became an integral part of the small, isolated community in the area. During the first 12 years of their settlement, there were no amenities, doctors, or nurses, and Harriet often had to rely on her ingenuity and natural skills to care for her family and those around her. It is said that she became known as the "nurse" of the community, stepping in as midwife and caretaker to many families in the area. While she did not have formal medical training, her instincts, experience, and dedication allowed her to fulfill this crucial role. She never turned away a call for help, no matter the hour.
Harriet’s life was one of both personal tragedy and strength. In 1859, just months before giving birth to their youngest child, Edward Skelton died at the age of 49. Harriet was left to raise her children alone, though her eldest sons eventually built a new wattle and daub cottage for her behind the home of her eldest daughter, Mary Ann, who had married John Boswell Clark and settled on the Sorrento front beach esplanade.
One of the most remarkable stories from Harriet’s life was her determination to care for her grandchild, Annie Clark, who was blinded by sand while playing on the beach. Harriet rode for two days, with her grandchild in front of her on horseback to Melbourne to seek medical treatment. After securing the necessary care, she returned, making the same arduous journey back to her family. This act of devotion illustrates Harriet's fierce commitment to her loved ones and her community, even in the face of extreme challenges.
Harriet’s life was not only about survival but also about establishing a legacy. Despite being illiterate, she raised a large family of nine children and saw them grow into adulthood. Many of her descendants went on to play significant roles in the Sorrento and Mornington Peninsula communities, and over 200 of her descendants gathering in 1988 to commemorate the centenary of her death. Harriet died in 1888, at the age of 70, from debility and apoplexy. She is buried alongside her husband in the old Point Nepean Cemetery.
Images: Harriet Skelton Credit: Sorrento and Nepean Historical Society