Stewart, Mary Caroline

The daughter of a Governor and wife of naval officer, Keith Stewart, Mary Stewart turned the first sod for the railway in Cleveland Paddock on 3 July 1850 and was chatelaine at Government House, Parramatta from 1849. The Evening News claimed that during her tenure 'many gay meetings were held at Parramatta, which, from time to time, broke out in wild dissipation' and included races, concerts and balls held at the Woolpack Inn. The article described her as a 'tall, handsome' with a 'gracious presence and charming manner'.