Nothing speaks more loudly about aspirations of social status and elevated class than the material culture we use – be it the clothes we wear, the houses we live in, or the fancy place settings we bring out when visitors come over for a meal.
This was particularly true of 19th and early 20th century settlers in Queensland, whether it was the ‘Squattocracy’, the well-to-do, or those with political aspirations.
This beautiful Belleek Tea Set belonged to one such couple, Arthur and Ilma Fadden. The handmade tea set was produced around the turn of the 20th century by the Belleek Pottery Company in County Fermanagh, Ireland (now Northern Ireland). Much sought after, Belleek designs have been sold around the world, primarily in Commonwealth countries and have become a symbol of Irish artistry and heritage.
At the time, the ceremony of serving tea with such an elegant set demonstrated a person’s place in society –– conveying status and class. Choosing a Belleek tea set would also have spoken to the owner’s Irish heritage. This particular tea set held pride of place in the home of Sir Arthur and Lady Ilma Fadden.
Sir Arthur Fadden was Prime Minister of Australia from 29 August to 7 October 1941, his tenure lasting only 40 days. Fadden became Prime Minister after Robert Menzies resigned in 1941, but less than six weeks later, their government was defeated on the floor of the House of Representatives.
Arthur Fadden was born in Ingham, Queensland, on 13 April 1895, the first son of Irish-born parents Annie – who raised 10 children – and Richard Fadden, a police constable. The family moved to Mackay around 1900 when Richard was appointed officer in charge of the police station at Walkerston, near Mackay.
After his primary education at Walkerston Public School, Arthur worked as a ‘billy boy’ for a cane-cutting gang, later joining the staff of Pleystowe sugar mill. At 18 he became Assistant Town Clerk of Mackay Town Council and was appointed Town Clerk in 1916, aged 21.
Ilma Thornber, a Mackay local and milliner as well as the daughter of the town mayor, married Arthur in 1916. The couple went on to raise four children. Known for his sporting ability as well as his aptitude with figures, Arthur began studying accountancy after their marriage. From 1918 he practised as an accountant in Townsville, where he later became an alderman on the city council. He entered Queensland state parliament in 1932 but lost his seat at the 1935 general election after one term in office.
Four years later, in 1936, Arthur was elected to federal parliament as the Country Party candidate for the rural seat of Darling Downs. He remained a member of the House of Representatives for 22 years, holding the Darling Downs seat (renamed McPherson after an electoral redistribution) in southern Queensland for the remainder of his parliamentary career. He retired in 1958.
During his career, Fadden served as Treasurer from October 1940-August 1941 and was a member of the War Cabinet and Economic Cabinet from 1940 to 1941. He ascended to the leadership of the Country Party in late 1940 and was appointed as Deputy Prime Minister. In August 1941 then Prime Minister Robert Menzies resigned, and was replaced by Fadden, who served as Prime Minister until 7 October 1941. After his term as Prime Minister, Fadden was elected Leader of the Opposition (1941–43). When the Menzies government regained power in 1949, Fadden became Treasurer and Deputy Prime Minister, holding these positions until his retirement.
Lady Ilma Fadden was an active political wife, working on all nine of her husband’s federal election campaigns. She was also deeply involved in community life, supporting the Country Women’s Association and the Young Women’s Christian Association over many years. She accompanied Arthur Fadden on many official overseas trips while also raising a family and maintaining their home. The Fadden’s established their home in Toowong, Brisbane, in 1932 and remained there for the rest of their married life.
Their precious Belleek tea-ware was displayed in a Silky Oak display cabinet in the living room at Birdwood Terrace before being donated to the museum after Lady Ilma’s death in 1987. The pattern suggests it was made between 1895 and 1923. The Fadden’s may have acquired the set during a visit to Ireland in 1952, undertaken as part of an official trip to Britain. Whether prompted by Sir Arthur’s Irish ancestry or by the set’s elegance as a marker of social standing, this prominent political couple’s choice reflects both personal and public dimensions of taste. Today, we can still appreciate the lustre, glaze, and artistry of this beautiful tea service.
Discover this Belleek tea set in Fragile and Forever: Ceramics from the Queensland Museum Collection, a free exhibition now on at Queensland Museum Kurilpa in Brisbane: museum.qld.gov.au/kurilpa/whats-on/fragile-and-forever.
References:
M.B. Cribb, 1996. ‘Fadden, Sir Arthur William (1894–1973)’, Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, Biography – Sir Arthur William Fadden – Australian Dictionary of Biography
National Archives of Australia Arthur Fadden’s partner: Ilma Fadden | naa.gov.au
T.M. Arklay 2010 Arthur Fadden: a political silhouette Unpublished PhD Thesis, Griffith University
Leave a Reply