Edith Winstone Blackwell
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Edith Mary Winstone Blackwell (née Winstone, 28 July 1877 – 15 September 1956) was a New Zealand philanthropist. Her philanthropic activities were concentrated in
Auckland, New Zealand Auckland ( ; ) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. It has an urban population of about It is located in the greater Auckland Region, the area governed by Auckland Council, which includes outlying rural areas and ...
during the first half of the 20th century.


Early life and family

Born Edith Mary Winstone on 28 July 1877, Blackwell was the only daughter of George and Mary Elizabeth Winstone. She attended the Beresford Street Public School before becoming one of the first girls to attend
Auckland Grammar School Auckland Grammar School (often simplified to Auckland Grammar, or Grammar), established in 1869, is a State school, state, Day school, day and Boarding school, boarding secondary school for Single-sex education, boys in Auckland, New Zealand. ...
in Symonds Street. In 1932, she married Joseph Henry Blackwell. Following a time in
Kaiapoi Kaiapoi is a town in the Waimakariri District of the Canterbury, New Zealand, Canterbury region, in the South Island of New Zealand. The town is located approximately 17 kilometres north of central Christchurch, close to the mouth of the Waimak ...
they returned to Auckland, building "Marewa", a fine home on the north-eastern slopes of
Mount Eden Mount Eden is a suburb in Auckland, New Zealand New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Z ...
with gardens spreading down the hillside.


Philanthropy and legacy

In 1950, Edith Blackwell established a charitable trust—the Edith Winstone Blackwell Foundation–that was incorporated in 1956. A Trust Board appointed to run the trust included a representative of the descendants of each of her brothers. Blackwell donated a Zeiss telescope to the
Stardome Observatory Stardome Observatory & Planetarium (IAU observatory code 467, previously known as Auckland Observatory) is a public astronomical observatory and planetarium situated in Maungakiekie/One Tree Hill Domain in Auckland, New Zealand. Stardome has ...
. The primary fixed telescope at Stardome Observatory is named after her. In the
1954 Queen's Birthday Honours The Queen's Birthday Honours 1954 were appointments in many of the Commonwealth realms of Queen Elizabeth II to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of those countries. The appointments were made to celebrate ...
, Blackwell was appointed a
Member of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...
, for social welfare and philanthropic services; her investiture was performed at
Government House, Auckland Government House, Auckland is the secondary official residence of the governor-general of New Zealand located in Auckland, New Zealand. The property is situated in the Auckland suburb of Mount Eden on Mountain Road. The building was erected in t ...
on 25 February 1955 by the governor-general, Sir
Willoughby Norrie Lieutenant-General Charles Willoughby Moke Norrie, 1st Baron Norrie, (26 September 1893 – 25 May 1977), was a senior officer of the British Army who fought in both World Wars, following which he served terms as Governor of South Australia and ...
. She died on 15 September 1956. The Edith Winstone Blackwell Case Room in the Owen G Glenn Building at the
University of Auckland The University of Auckland (; Māori: ''Waipapa Taumata Rau'') is a public research university based in Auckland, New Zealand. The institution was established in 1883 as a constituent college of the University of New Zealand. Initially loc ...
is named after her. In 2008, the
University of Auckland The University of Auckland (; Māori: ''Waipapa Taumata Rau'') is a public research university based in Auckland, New Zealand. The institution was established in 1883 as a constituent college of the University of New Zealand. Initially loc ...
launched a fundraising campaign to redevelop the Leigh Marine Laboratory at Goat Island as the base for the South Pacific Centre for Marine Science - with a $4.5 million donation from the Edith Winstone Blackwell Foundation. In 2011, the Edith Winstone Blackwell Interpretive Centre opened.


See also

*
Stardome Observatory Stardome Observatory & Planetarium (IAU observatory code 467, previously known as Auckland Observatory) is a public astronomical observatory and planetarium situated in Maungakiekie/One Tree Hill Domain in Auckland, New Zealand. Stardome has ...


References


1966 Encyclopaedia of New ZealandUniversity of Auckland News 4 July 2008
{{DEFAULTSORT:Blackwell, Edith Winstone 1877 births 1956 deaths New Zealand philanthropists People from Auckland New Zealand Members of the Order of the British Empire