Mrs A. Johnston

Surname:

Johnston

Given names:

Mrs A.

Given address:

Cameron Street

Sheet No: 62

Town/Suburb:

South Dunedin

City/Region:

Dunedin

Notes:

Also signed as 39 Mrs Allan Johnson

Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley

Elizabeth/Bessie Johnston was born about 1869 in Christchurch – the daughter of Donald Munro and Isabella.

She married Allan Johnston, a contractor, at St Luke’s Church, Christchurch on 2 January 1892 – they had no children.

When Bessie signed the suffrage petition they were living in Cameron St, South Dunedin.

In the 1909 Bessie started the Bangor Tea Gardens 'at Company Bay, and it was largely as a result of her efforts that a jetty was erected so that the ferry steamers running between Dunedin and Port Chalmers could call at Company Bay.'

Allan died in 1917 and after this the Bangor was moved into town & became a tea rooms in Princes St above the 'Everybody’s Theatre'.

In 1918 Bessie, helped by her sister Mary, moved to the Arcadia Tea Rooms in Dowling St.

This was followed by the Garrick Restaurant in George St then, in 1928, the 'Café Vedic directly opposite the New Empire Theate. Suppers a specialty.'

Bessie died on 23 June 1943, she is buried with Allan in the Andersons Bay Cemetery.