Maker: Donna Gush

Panel number: 319

Petition sheet number: 377

Person honouring: M. Stuart

Relationship to maker: None

Mary Pulman was born in Manchester, England in January 1860; she arrived in Auckland in 1861.

Mary was the daughter of George Pulman, of Shortland Street in Auckland, one of Auckland’s earliest photographers.

She was living in Ponsonby when she signed the 1893 petition.

During her long life in the city she was predominantly associated with church work – first as a pupil and teacher in old St Paul’s Church (Prince’s Street), and later as a teacher at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Epiphany and All Saints’ church. In this work, Mary had the constant help of her husband, Charles Stuart. For nearly half a century Charles held the position of a Sunday School superintendent.

Mary died in Epsom, Auckland on 17 April 1937. The Auckland Star of 23 April noted “In the death of Mrs Mary Stuart in her 78th year, Auckland has lost a link with its early history.”

Mary was survived by her husband and two sons: Albert Pulman Stuart (post-master, Opotiki) and Ernest Charles Stuart, (Ponsonby), by one daughter, Mrs Frances M Walker, a sister, Mrs W Matthews (Ponsonby), and two brothers, Fred Pulman (Whangarei), and Walter Pulman (Otahuhu).

Mary’s mother was possibly the first female photographer in New Zealand; she carried on George’s photography work after his death.

Panel materials: A mixture of old and new fabrics, cotton, and buttons.