Louisa Prouse

Biographical information provided for by Agnès for the He Tohu exhibition:

Fanny Louisa Prouse was born 9 Feb 1872 in Wainuiomata. Lou spent the first part of her life looking after her parents in Wainuiomata and then lived on Cuba Street. Her family did a lot for Wellington community. They built a church (still there) it is known as the third oldest church of New Zealand.

The whole Prouse family was musical and artistic. For example, William Prouse, architect, designed the Hotel St Georges in 1929-30 (It played host to The Beatles during their 1964 tour) and co-designed the State Fire Insurance Building in Wellington. Lou’s older brother John Prouse was a leading bass-baritone. He performed internationally and was one of New Zealand’s first commercially recorded artists. Lou was also a trained singer.

Lou married her cousin John William Collier in 1911 at the age of 39 or 40. They were known as Will & Lou by their family. Will was a musician, teacher of piano and violin and prominent in the Christchurch Orchestral Society. He was a solo violinist at the Christchurch Exhibition of 1906. Their grandchildren remember the singing and music in the house. 

Related images:

Louisa with Richard and Jean taken at Wainuiomata

Louisa with Mavis Jean and Richard Vincent

Wedding photo of Will & Lou taken at 205 Lichfield Street, Christchurch, 1911