Eliza Vera Earl

In Loving Memory of
Eliza Vera Earl
Who Died 21st December 1913
Aged 35 years 8 months

Headstone : (marble, 3 step pedestal Latin cross surmount with mother and babe on cloud, concrete edging)

Eliza Vera Earl (nee Brown) was born at Stanwell, Qld on 9 April 1875, according to family and Qld BDMs, to John James and Eliza Brown (nee Geoghan). John, an Englishman, and Eliza, an Irish lass, were married in Rockhampton, Qld in 1870.

Eliza married Edward Campbell (Ned) Earl on 20 June 1900 in Mareeba and was the mother of five children, Marion Vera, Gladys Irene, Edith Eileen, Edward Campbell and Clive Halson.

Eliza, Ned and their family lived in a house Ned built named “Balaclava”, a house no longer existing. The suburb Earlville was named after their eldest son, Edward Campbell Patrick Earl, who inherited the house.

Eliza died in childbirth at St. Margaret’s Hospital Cairns, Sunday 21st December 1913. This was her sixth child, a boy. Eliza was buried from St. Monica’s on Sunday afternoon 21 December 1913 after a service conducted by Rev. Father Walsh. Pall bearers were Messrs P.J. Doyle, T. P. Kelly, W. Houston, D. Miller, J. Hartigan and R. T. McManus.

Eliza was respected and admired by all who knew her. A family member says “when she was alive, all was bright”. Eliza was remembered as a very vivacious and fun-loving and shared a great love of music and literature with her husband.

Ned Earl was a well-known identity in the development of Cairns, the son of James and Marian Earl of Butchers Hill, near Cooktown. Ned moved to the Katoomba area after Eliza’s death, remarried and had a further 5 children. He is buried in Katoomba, New South Wales.

Information Compiled By: Cairns District Family History Society Inc.