| Brief Description |
This black and white photograph is of the house that belonged to Mrs Ellen Ballance, née Anderson, the second wife and later the widow of Premier John Ballance. The house was in Wicksteed Street, Whanganui, and was a small weatherboard cottage painted in white or cream, with the facings and roof painted a dark colour. Two women look out of the two front left windows towards the photographer. The older woman on the right is Ellen Ballance and the younger woman on the left is identified as Miss Vine; this name is written on the back of the original backing board. The photograph is encased in a black wooden glazed frame.
Ellen Ballance was prominent in the feminist movement in New Zealand and was vice president of the Women's Progressive Society, an international organisation. An intelligent and politically astute woman, Ellen shared her husband's political interests.
After the death of John Ballance, Ellen Ballance remained active in community organisations in Whanganui, including the Anglican Church, the Wanganui Orphanage and the Plunket Society. She died in Whanganui on 14 June 1935.
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