Estelle leaves her legacy at OCAV

Estelle de Boshier gained fame for many things in her life, including dancing and singing with the stars. But perhaps her greatest legacy can be found in suburban Melbourne. Estelle, along with several others, contributed to an extension at Liscombe House, OCAV’s aged care facility in St Helena, in 1990. Estelle was once a resident at the Leith Park village, also at St Helena.

Journalist Tom Prior recorded Estelle’s colourful life in The Sun newspaper article in 1986. The article covered her early years in France where she was born in 1902, her ballet scholarship in Russia in 1920 and her dancing on the same Covent Garden stage in London as the great Anna Pavlova. She was 83 at the time of the interview.

Her life was one of drama, adventure, romance, glamor and hard work. Estelle ended up coming to Australia to a family property in Yass, NSW. In the Second World War she served in the Women’s Land Army in Victoria.

Liscombe House had many additions and renovations over the years, and the 1990 extension provided another 25 beds. This extension was financed by funds from the estate of Estelle de Boshier, the Department of Community Services and donations from residents and friends of OCAV.

Estelle is just one of the many artists who have been housed and supported by OCAV over its 150 year history.