Historical information

Lily Sandner (1896-2001) was born in London to Dr Adolph Sandner and his wife Rosa Lang. After studying at St Mary's College in Bendigo, Lily obtained a BA from Melbourne University in 1915. In 1929, she married New South Welshman Alexander Ewan McDonald. Lily died in Queensland in 2001 at the ripe old age of 104. She came from a family well instilled in Bendigo history. Carl Sandner and his wife Lena Sticht came to Australia from Hamburg, Germany and set up an eucalyptus distillery in 1875 in Unly St. Bendigo. The business grew and Carl sent to Germany for his son Adolph to join him. Adolph furthered his interest in the health benefits of eucalyptus and decided to formalise his medical training. He studied in England and Scotland before returning to Bendigo and opening a practice in Bridge Street. Lily's brother Eugene followed in his father's footsteps and became a doctor and then the first specialist surgeon in Bendigo.

Physical description

Copy of photograph of Lily Sandner (m. McDonald) b. 1896. Sister of Eugene born London, photo courtesy - Mrs F Legg, Canterbury, Melbourne.