Anne McLaughlin’s life was marked by hardship, resilience and an unexpected rise from Irish immigrant to respected colonial hotelkeeper.
Born around 1834 in Londonderry, Ireland, Anne was the daughter of labourer Michael McLaughlin and Bridget Doherty. Still a young woman, she migrated to the colonies and by 1850 was living in Colac where she married John Bayliss. Together they had four children; Fanny, Bridget, John and George.
But tragedy soon overshadowed the young family. Before the birth of their youngest child, John Bayliss became mentally ill and was sent to Yarra Bend Lunatic Asylum. After six months confinement, he died there in October 1857. Anne was left widowed with four small children.
The following year Anne married George Ball, a labourer and skilled dry stone waller, at St Andrew’s Church, Colac. Seven more children followed, creating a bustling household of eleven sons and daughters.
Life was rarely easy. In 1875 George obtained the licence for the Prince of Wales Hotel, but financial troubles eventually forced him into insolvency. Rather than see the family collapse, Anne stepped forward and purchased the business herself. At a time when few women controlled commercial enterprises, Anne became a licensed victualler, later taking over the Hampden Hotel at Camperdown for six years.
Running colonial hotels brought constant pressures, legal disputes and long hours, yet Anne persevered while raising her large family. Even after returning to Colac, she continued supporting her children’s futures, helping her nineteen-year-old son James secure the licence of the Prince of Wales Hotel by temporarily holding it in her own name.
After years spent raising children, managing hotels and weathering repeated hardships, Anne died in Colac in 1890, leaving behind a large extended family and a life marked by resilience.”
Research by Raye Loughnan
Story by Lynette Genua

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