One hundred years ago, what did children receive for Christmas? A doll, a tin toy, a tiny tea set or that favourite publication, a Christmas Annual…

As a celebration of how Herbert and Florence might have spent Christmas with their daughters, the current house volunteers invite everyone to Christmas with The Porter’s. See how the Porter family celebrated the festive season with cards, recipes, decorations and toys during the early years of the twentieth century. Visit the Christmas Stall, laden with homemade goodies. Read many Edwardian Christmas postcards exchanged between Florence Jolley and Herbert Porter.

Item from Miss Porter’s House collection. Copyright National Trust (NSW)

Postcards were the text messages of the day. See the card Florence Jolley sent to Herbert Porter a few weeks before their marriage. The wedding did not seem to have required extensive planning. On the reverse of the Christmas post card, in a brief few lines, Florence agrees to change the date from 5^th to 12^th and promises to tell Herb the news when she sees him.

Florence Jolley and Herbert Porter married at All Saints Church, Singleton three weeks after the Christmas post card was written. They settled in Newcastle West near Herbert’s family, occupying the newly built 434 King Street. Sadly, it was to be their joint home for only nine years. Herbert’s untimely death in the 1919 influenza epidemic left Florence alone with two small daughters, Ella and Hazel.

Event details

On display at Miss Porter’s House from 1pm – 4pm, Sunday 11 December 2022.

Miss Porter’s House is the only National Trust property in Newcastle. Built by Herbert Porter in 1909, the family lived in this freestanding Edwardian terrace until 1997. It survives with contents intact as a rare living snapshot of life for a female household of modest means.

How to book your tickets

Book via Eventbrite where possible, to guarantee a spot.