Diamantina, Lady Bowen (; 1832/1833–1893), was a noble from the formerly Venetian Ionian Islands who became the wife of Sir George Bowen, the first Governor of Queensland.
Personal life
The Contessa Diamantina di Roma was born in 1832 or 1833 in the United States of the Ionian Islands, then a British protectorate, today in Greece. Her place of birth was either Zante (Zakynthos), Corfu, or Ithaca.
Her parents were Count and his wife Countess Orsola, née di Balsamo. Diamantina was the tenth of their eleven children. Her aristocratic family were descended from the Venetians who had settled in the Ionian Islands for centuries as part of the Stato da Màr. Her father was the President of the Ionian Senate (1850-1856), titular Head of State of the United States of the Ionian Islands. He was also appointed a Poet Laureate by Queen Victoria.
With such a family, Diamantina had a privileged well-educated upbringing and was familiar with the workings of government, politics and diplomacy.
On 28 April 1856 at the Palace of St Michael and St George in Corfu, Diamantina married Sir George Bowen, an Ulsterman who was political secretary of the British Protectorate, and a former Rector of the Ionian Academy.
Their first two children were born in the Ionian Islands. Their first child, a son, died twelve days old. Their second child, a daughter, was born on 17 August 1858 and was called Adelaide Diamantina Bowen, but was known as Nina.
After their move to Brisbane, they had three more children there: Zoe Caroline Bowen, born 28 August 1860 at Adelaide House (the temporary Government House) Agnes Herbert Bowen, born 26 July 1862 at Government House George William Howard Bowen, born 9 April 1864 at Government House
A final daughter, Alfreda Ernestina Albertina Bowen, was born on 10 April 1869 at Government House, Auckland, New Zealand.
Diamantina was described as "pretty" but tempered perhaps by the remark "her beauty being in her expression rather than her features". She was described as "slender but graceful".
She could play the piano and sing well, even with previously unseen pieces of music.
Living most of her life in English-speaking countries, Diamantina spoke English well but with a slight accent. Although she spoke in English in public, it was claimed she spoke with her husband at home in Italian, her mother tongue. Diamantina was frequently described as "softly spoken".
Her husband's career took the family all over the world, as governor postings were typically for five years. We do not know how Diamantina felt about this frequent upheaval, but she cried copiously as the family departed from Brisbane, suggesting that she had had many close personal connections while there.
Her daughter Nina married Allan Campbell, a Queensland grazier.
Eventually the couple retired to London, England in 1883 accompanied by their two unmarried daughters.
Diamantina worshipped in the Greek Orthodox church during retirement in London, suggesting she maintained her connection to her religious roots throughout her life, despite so many years spent in British colonies.
Diamantina died at Bethnal Green, London, England on 17 November 1893 from acute bronchitis. She is buried in Kensal Green cemetery in London.
Her son George William Howard Bowen married Gertrude Chamberlain (daughter of Richard Chamberlain and niece of Joseph Chamberlain, Colonial Secretary) on 16 January 1896 in Holy Trinity Church, Sloane Street, London, England. His sister Alfreda was a bridesmaid.
Her daughter Alfreda married Robert Lydston Newman in October 1899 at St George's Church, Hanover Square, London, England. Her brother George gave Alfreda away (her father having died earlier that year).
A sculpture of Diamantina was created by sculptor Phillip Piperides in 1989 for the Greek Community Centre, South Brisbane, Queensland. In June 2009, it was moved to Old Government House at Queensland University of Technology.