Historical information

Dr Michele Matthews has been a local and social historian for nearly three decades since she first used correspondence held by the then Bendigo City Council for her Honours thesis. She is an ardent advocate for the use of local history records to tell Victorian and Australian history from a grassroots perspective. Michele’s MA thesis, ‘A forgotten “Father” of Federation: Sir John Quick 1852‑1911’ (2003), and her PhD thesis, ‘Survivors, schemes, Samaritans and shareholders: the impact of the Great Depression on Bendigo and District 1925‑1935’ (2007), both drew heavily on Bendigo and district records.

Michele used this article as part of her research:

Annie Irene Michelsen, a prominent Bendigo community figure.

Annie Irene Michelsen (1870–1955) was born in White Hills, Bendigo, to Spero Tussup (from Dalmatia) and Mary Tracy (from Ireland). She became a nurse at Bendigo Hospital and later helped establish the Bendigo Nursing Auxiliary.

In 1894, she married John Andrew Michelsen, a former Bendigo mayor after whom the Michelsen Medal (awarded annually in the Bendigo Football League) is named. Annie and John had three children, including Cyril Michelsen, who became Chief of Staff and later Editor of The Bendigo Advertiser.

She was deeply involved in community service and social welfare, working with:

The Baby Health Centre
The Red Cross (which awarded her a long-service medallion)
Church and sporting organizations, including rowing, croquet, and lawn bowls clubs.
As mayoress, she was known for her kindness, energy, and dedication to the welfare and progress of Bendigo.
In 1927, she and her husband helped host the Duke and Duchess of York (later King George VI and Queen Elizabeth) during their visit to Bendigo.
Over more than three decades as the wife of a councillor and during three terms as mayoress, she contributed extensively to civic life in Bendigo.
Annie died on 7 June 1955, aged 85, at her home, Stoneleigh, in Lucan Street, Bendigo.

The article portrays Annie Michelsen as a pioneering community worker and respected civic figure whose contributions to Bendigo's social, charitable, and public life left a lasting legacy.

Physical description

Michele Matthews Collection: PHD Research - Newspaper Article History Lives, by Jim Evans - Annie was a true pioneer, newspaper article date unknown

This item includes the following documents:

8672.27a Black and white photo in 1920 by the Bartlett Brothers of John Michelsen, Rene and Beryl (front), with Cyril and Annie Michelsen

8672.27b Annie Michelsen (right) with an unknown fried - Black and White Photo

8672.28c The Duchess of York black and white photo in 1927

8672.28d Black and white photo of the Former Bendigo Mayor, John Michelsen in his robes

8672.28e PDF File of the article