On Christmas Eve 1925, Evelyn Hobson told her parents and siblings that she was going on holiday for a few days to Manly, a favourite destination for Sydneysiders.
Christmas Eve seems an odd time to choose, but Evelyn was 27 years old and gainfully employed as a music teacher. She had a perfect right to make her own decisions and her loving family made no objection. There was no suggestion of any trouble within the family. The Hobsons lived in a modest weatherboard cottage at 125 Wallis Street, Woollahra.
The Hobson family home in Woollahra.
Next day Eveyln’s parents received an undated letter with no address other than ‘Manly’. She said she had arrived safely and was having a great time. Just as she was due to return home, a second letter came; ‘Having a lovely time. The men here are having a fortnight’s holiday, so I am going to have another week. Will be home for sure on Friday. I am in the surf all day and I am very burnt. Had a lovely Christmas. ‘
Were the ‘men’ she mentioned fellow guests where she was staying? If her family had any concerns there was not much they could do, because again there was no address. Friday came and went. In the third letter Evelyn wrote to her family she conceded that her stay was now much longer than originally intended. ‘ Suppose you think I am never coming home. Staying another week. Don’t worry. Having a lovely time.’
At the end of January Evelyn was still at Manly. She said she was going on a boat picnic to celebrate Anniversary day. (January 26) and that she hoped to see them the following evening. However, a fifth letter announced yet another delay to her return home, and somehow sounded a bit strange. ‘Invited to stay at a cousin’s place of the boys for another week. Will not return home until Sunday. Don’t worry. I am staying at a very nice person’s place. I have got very fat. The holiday has done me the world of good. About 13 stone. Goodbye till next week for sure.’
It’s hard to imagine a young woman being happy about gaining a lot of weight. And what was happening with her students? That was last Evelyn Hobson’s family ever heard from her. After three weeks without further word her distraught father contacted the police. He arranged for missing person notices to be published in the NSW Police Gazette. The following was from June 1926. Inquiry is requested at the instance of William Hobson, residing at 125 Wallis Street, Woollahra, with a view to trace EVELYN HOBSON (daughter), 26 years of age, 5 feet 7 or 8 inches high, 11 1/2 stone weight, well built, fair complexion, brown hair semi shingled, grey eyes, small mouth, a tooth in front gold-filled; dressed in a navy-blue silk dress, with broad white stripes, and a dark drown hat trimmed with flowers.
The missing woman’s uncle, William Robertson, was a radio announcer with the Sydney station 2FC. For the next twelve months he made weekly requests on air for listeners in Manly and further afield to report any sightings of his niece, but it was as if she had vanished into thin air. Surprisingly, there were no reports in the press of a police investigation. It seems they took the view that Evelyn had chosen to leave her family voluntarily, and consequently did not consider foul play. But surely silence after a flow of letters was not normal? The emotional toll on the Hobsons was profound, and never lessened as months turned into years. Christmas, meant to be full of joy, would always be especially difficult. In such cases the absence of a loved one is made far worse by the terrible fears of what may have happened.
TOO MUCH TO BEAR
In 1931 there was another tragedy for the family, this time involving the elderly William Hobson. It received publicity around the country and it is difficult to believe that Evelyn, if she were still alive, did not hear of it. What happened was that in the midst of the Great Depression, the Government Savings Bank of NSW collapsed, leaving depositors unable to withdraw their money. Mr Hobson’s entire savings were lodged with the failed bank. 
William wrote to Premier Jack Lang, imploring him to intervene. He was unable to pay his debts and felt that he and his wife were a burden on their children. To his credit Mr Lang did contact the bank, but those in authority felt they could not make an exception in a time of crisis. After receiving their letter of refusal William fatally shot himself with a revolver. His death was viewed as a symbol of the suffering of ordinary, hard working people.
No word came from the missing Evelyn following the tragedy. Four years later her mother died. The death notice included her name, but still the missing woman did not come forward.
The surviving members of the Hobson family faced the glare of publicity again in 1947.
Florence Hobson, who still lived in the Woollahra cottage, sought leave to finally distribute her missing sister’s share of their father’s estate. The five letters written from Manly formed part of the evidence in the case. Mr Justice Roper granted leave for Evelyn to be declared dead and for Florence to settle the estate. Evelyn’s share was to be restored to her if she should ever reappear. Florence declined to be interviewed outside the court, simply stating, ‘There has been enough sorrow in this family already. We have waited 22 years for this probate case, and now that it has been granted the matter is closed.’ (Truth, 26 Oct. 1947)
Florence never married, and lived on at 125 Wallis Street until her death in 1966, aged 78.
R.I.P. WILLIAM HOBSON
