Carleton, Caroline

Caroline Carleton was born at Bonner Hall, near London, in 1811 and married Charles James Carleton in 1836. They emigrated to Australia in 1839 with their two young children. During the voyage to South Australia on the Prince Regent both their children died and were buried at sea. They arrived at Glenelg on 26 September and moved to Gouger Street, Adelaide. Charles Carleton working as medical dispenser to Dr Nash, the first Colonial Surgeon.

In 1847 the family moved to Kapunda, where Charles worked as an assayer and medical officer. Returning to Adelaide, he opened chemist shops in Rundle and Gouger Streets, and at Hindmarsh. In 1855 he was appointed Superintendent of the West Terrace Cemetery and sexton of the Anglican Cemetery. He died in 1861.

After his death, it became apparent that Caroline had played an important role in the management of the cemetery, helping her husband while he was sick. She appealed to the governor to appoint her as Superintendent, but the chief secretary rejected her application stating that the position ‘required an oversight and decision, such as no lady of education could be expected to possess’.

While in residence at the West Terrace Cemetery, Caroline had become an established poet and entered a competition run by the Gawler Institute to write the lyrics for a patriotic song to be called ‘The Song of Australia’. Legend has it that Caroline wrote the five verses while sitting on a bench in the grounds of the cemetery ‘with her children playing at her feet’.

After the death of her husband Caroline was left with five young children to support. Having been refused appointment to the position of superintendent at the West Terrace Cemetery, she set up several schools in Adelaide. Later she established a school at Wallaroo which, once in full operation, she left in the care of her eldest daughter. Caroline made occasional visits to introduce new programs to the school and on one visit she became ill and died shortly after, on 10 July 1874, at the age of 54. She was buried in the Wallaroo Cemetery. Caroline Carleton was described as a highly intelligent, well-educated, resourceful and resilient woman.