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Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley
Julia Hendrick was born in 1869 in New Zealand – the daughter of George Hendrick, a labourer, and Elizabeth Constance Holland. (See 140 Mrs Hendrick)
She married Michael Condon, a labourer, in the Oamaru Registrar’s Office in February 1892.
It did not appear to be a happy marriage as when Julia signed the suffrage petition, she was living with her family in Maria St, South Dunedin.
In 1894 Michael was charged with failing to support his wife – he did not appear and was ordered to pay 10s per week.
Shortly after Julia was living with Michael’s family in Oamaru.
In the late 1890’s she moved to Melbourne where she lived with a man named Alfred Hillard until around 1908. When Alfred left her Julia lived ‘anywhere she could get shelter’ and was ‘leading a very dissipated life’.
Julia had a drinking problem as well as consumption and she was frequently before the courts for charges such as vagrancy.
In 1908 Julia, ‘an emaciated woman of middle age’ appeared before the Richmond Court on a charge of being without means of support. A Constable had found her lying on a sofa in an empty house.
Julia was sent to gaol for a month and was immediately admitted to the gaol hospital where she died on January 21st.
She is buried in Fawkner Memorial Park, Melbourne.
Michael remained in North Otago where he worked as a rabbiter. He died in 1938 and is buried with his father in the Old Oamaru Cemetery.