Visit Saumarez Homestead to enjoy the wonderful 'Travels with Mary' exhibition, in celebration of 100 years of the Armidale Branch of the Country Women's Association.
When Miss Mary White of Saumarez travelled to the United Kingdom as President of the Armidale Branch of the Country Women’s Association (CWA), no one predicted what an epic voyage it would become. She led a local delegation of CWA members to attend the Country Women of the World Conference being held in London in 1939 and later took a Cook’s Grand Tour, collecting an array of stunning art deco travel posters and large railway maps whilst travelling throughout the United Kingdom, Europe and Scandinavia.
The various documents, tickets, brochures, newspaper cuttings and letters of the Mary White Collection have enabled a reconstruction of two overseas journeys made by Mary White in 1939 and in 1947. The timing of these trips provides insights into travel between Australia and Europe before the outbreak of WWII and in the period immediately following the war, giving insights into how the world had changed.
In celebration of 100 years of the CWA in Armidale, Mary’s former home will display her treasured collection of travel paraphernalia, all of which are vibrant reminders of a different world.
After, stroll through the gracefully designed seasonal gardens, pack a picnic to enjoy under the shade of the centenarian trees. Guided tours through the 30-room Edwardian mansion are available, offering the chance to explore a remarkable collection of 19th century furnishings, fashion and historic objects relating to the White family’s life in the house.
