Kate Ogston

Signed family name

Ogston

Signed given name

Kate

Given address

High St Dunedin

Sheet number

175

Town/Suburb

Central Dunedin

City/Region

Dunedin

Notes

Biographical information provided by Briar Barry for the He Tohu exhibition:

Kate is recorded in New Zealand art history books as a Dunedin flower painter. She exhibited several times in both New Zealand and Australia, under both her married and maiden name, and gained placings for her landscapes and studies of native flowers. A woman of many talents, she also had a taste for golf and was the first elected President of the Dunedin Ladies Golf Club, who met for the first time at her house on 22 June 1892.

Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley.

Kate Mary Ridings was born on 21 August 1852 at Pyrmont, New South Wales – the daughter of George Ridings, an auctioneer and importer, and Catherine Williamson.

The family came to New Zealand in the mid 1850’s and settled in Nelson.

Kate married Dr Francis Ogston, originally from Aberdeen, Scotland, who lectured at the University of Otago, on 7 December 1887 at Bishop’s Court, Auckland.

Kate and Francis had one daughter in 1890 and when Kate signed the suffrage petition they were living in High St, Dunedin.

Kate died at her home on 27 September 1916 and Francis died the following year – they are buried with Kate’s mother in the Anderson’s Bay Cemetery.