sketcher and writer, was the only daughter of Dr Helenus Scott, a physician and botanist, and Augusta Maria, née Frederick. In 1832 she accompanied her mother and brother Alexander Walker Scott to New South Wales to join her two elder brothers who by then had settled in the Hunter River district. Augusta Mitchell shared her family’s interest in natural history and her mother’s love of painting, drawing and sculpture and both influences can be seen in the album she compiled of watercolour sketches and pencil drawings by various hands (ML). It presumably includes some of her own work although no drawing is signed by her and most are by English artists, including several quite distinguished ones (the Landseer brothers and Louisa Sharp). All are extremely competent.
In 1833 Augusta Maria Scott married Dr James Mitchell with whom she had corresponded for many years; they lived in her family home in Cumberland Street, The Rocks. She was a voluminous letter writer. Her letters reveal the family to have been involved in the cultural life of Sydney in a way that was remarkable for connecting the town’s artistic and scientific communities. This continued into the next generation. Augusta Mitchell’s nieces were the natural history illustrators Harriet and Helena Scott , while another niece, the noted feminist Rose Scott, also sketched in youth. James and Augusta Mitchell’s only son, David Scott Mitchell (1836-1907), founded the Mitchell Library.
- Writers:
- Staff Writer
- Date written:
- 1992
- Last updated:
- 2011
