Summary

One of a pair of candle holders brought from England to Australia by Susannah Nicholls when she migrated with her family in 1923.

Susannah May Cant was born in London in the late 1800s. She trained as teacher and while teaching in Middlesex in 1906 she met William Nicholls, also a teacher. They were married in 1907 and had their first child, Margaret in 1908 and their second child John in 1911. William served duing World War I in France. They taught until Susannah resigned for health reasons. The family successfully applied for assisted migration to Australia, under the Empire Settlement Scheme and arrived in Australia on the P & O liner 'Beltana' in May 1923, accompanied unassisted by Will's uncle, John Spence. Will first taught in remote Walwa in north eastern Victoria. Keen to try farming, they purchased a ten acre block at Pearcedale on the Mornington Peninsula, and moved in November 1923. The poor soil quality made farming unsuccessful, so in April 1924 Will returned to teaching, as would Susannah. They sold the farm and moved to a rented house at Somerville. Susannah was diagnosed with incurable cancer in 1928 and died back in Pearcedale in 1929. Her family would return to England.

Physical Description

Brass candlestick, multi-tiered with square base. Remnants of wax remain in the top of the stick.

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