EASTON SISTERS

The two eldest Easton girls May Agnes Dora Easton (1870 - 1939) and Selina Susannah (Sue) Easton (1872 - 1954) were well known in the East Fremantle district.  

They were the daughters of Walter Easton, who had emigrated to Australia in 1857 as schoolmaster to the convicts in Fremantle Gaol and who became one of the biggest landowners in the East Fremantle area. Easton named the land he owned Windsor, which became the suburb of Richmond- and was divided by his successors. Street names Easton, Walter, Stratford, Gill and Morgan (later changed to Osborne) were named after the Easton family. His son Frank Gill Easton (1868 - 1917) was an East Fremantle councillor from 1897-1900.

May Easton married Albert Bulgin in 1894. Albert, who arrived in WA in 1891 was an accountant  for WD Moore and Co, Fremantle Building Society and the first auditor for East Fremantle Council. They first lived in ‘Aygera’, Gill St East Fremantle.

1894- “The wedding of Miss May Easton, second daughter of the late Mr. W. Easton, of Windsor Vineyard, Fremantle—and Mr. Albert Bulgin, was solemnised at St. John's Church, Fremantle, by Archdeacon Watkins. After the ceremony the happy pair drove to the residence of the bride's mother, where a number of friends were entertained. The honeymoon trip was taken to Pinjarrah.” (reference)

May and Albert had 6 children- sadly her eldest John Albert died at sea in 1919, on the barque Kinross-shire. (reference)

Mays daughter Minnie “Beatrice’’ Maud went to Perth Ladies College in 1922-23 and became a nurse. Other siblings were Faith, Ruth, Joyce and William.

The Bulgin’s lived at ‘Hygeia’, 3 Bolton St East Fremantle from 1926-1947.

1929 “WOMEN'S EXHIBITION: Needlework predominates at the exhibition of women's work organised as a Centenary effort by the Girls' Friendly Society, and opened on Wednesday at the High School, Perth. The art section, however, is comprehensive, and many paintings in oils, water colours, and pastels are shown. Collections of wild flower pictures by Lady Bedford, wife of a late Governor of Western Australia, and by Mrs. W Trethowan, illustrate faithfully the diversity of form and colouring of the native flora… Among other pictures of interest are three of wildflowers by the late Lady Forrest, 'Cosmos' by Miss May Gibbs, 'The Pioneer' by Miss M. Saunders, Mrs. Pelloe's watercolor originals for the wildflower illustrations in Sir Hal Colebatch's Centenary book, landscapes by Mrs. Landells, and portrait studies by Miss C. M. Hinckley. Black and white conventional designs by Miss Nina Jackson, a charming fairy design in colour for a fan by Miss Mary Durack, a collection of miniatures by Miss C. A. L. Andrews, and hand-painted glass by Miss A. Basham, are exhibits of merit... Among unique exhibits of interest are a pictorial representation of a bunch of West Australian wildflowers fashioned entirely from postage stamps by Mrs. May Bulgin…” (reference)

1937 “Mr. and Mrs. A. Bulgin of Bolton-street, East Fremantle, entertained a number of friends at their home on Friday at a bridge evening in honour of their daughter, Joyce, who will leave today by the Moldavia for Melbourne where her marriage will take place to Mr. Edgar Finch. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Finch will make their home in Sydney. (reference)

1939- Obituary of Mrs. May A. D. Bulgin, wife of Mr. Albert Bulgin, secretary of the Fremantle Benefit, Building and Investment Society, and of 3 Bolton-street East Fremantle:

“She was a strong supporter of her parish church of St. Peter's, East Fremantle, and an enthusiastic member of the Mothers' Union. She was a great lover of wild flowers, and had a wonderful flair for depicting them in water colours, and by way of postage stamp pictures. Some of the last-mentioned have been exhibited here and elsewhere and have evoked the keenest admiration.”(reference)

Selina Susannah Easton (1872 - 1954), married Charles Frederick Foster Wearne in 1900. She had three children; Walter, Foster and Connie.

1944: On July 23, suddenly, at Mandurah, Charles Frederick Foster, beloved husband of Selina Wearne, of East Fremantle and Mandurah, and late of Singapore; loving father of Walter (POW, Thailand), Foster (POW, Singapore), Connie (Mrs Quinton Angus); brother of Theo, Florence (Mrs T. P.Mauger), Ellen (Mrs McCall): grandfather of Joan, Shirley, John and Geoffrey Wearne and Valerie and Gordon Angus; father-in-law of Connie and Wynne Wearne; aged 70 years. (reference)

1954: On Jan. 14, 1954, at her residence, Hygeia, 3 Bolton-street, East Fremantle, Selina Susannah Wearne, widow of the late Charles Frederick Foster Wearne, loving mother of Walter, Foster (Singapore) and Connie (Q. S. W. Agnus), mother-in-law of Connie, Wynne and Quinton, grandmother of Joan, Shirley, John, Geoffrey, Valerie, Gordon and Jean; aged 81 years. (reference)

1954: Selina Susannah Wearne, widow, of Bolton-street, East Fremantle, who died on January 14 at the age of 81, left estate of £ 15,539/8/4. Under her will and a codicil her two sons and daughter are the main beneficiaries. She also  left £100 each to the Parkerville Children's Home, the West Australian Institute and Industrial School for the Blind, the Salvation Army and the Swan Boys' Orphanage and £50 each to the Silver Chain District and Bush Nursing Association and the Princess Margaret Hospital for Children. (reference)