Lady Esther Jacobs

JACOBS, Lady Esther, OBE

(1900-27 Jan 1991)

Lady Jacobs was the first woman Member of the Adelaide City Council and the first female Deputy Lord Mayor. She was born at Medindie, the daughter of the Honourable V.L. Solomon, M. P. and grand-daughter of J. M. Solomon, Mayor of Adelaide 1869-71. She was educated at Clarendon College, Ballarat, returning to Adelaide at the time of her marriage to Mr. H. J. Lipman in 1919. As Esther Lipman, she was actively involved in a wide range of community groups before her election as Councillor, serving Hindmarsh Ward 1956-69. From 1969-78 she served as Alderman, and as Deputy Lord Mayor of the City of Adelaide for two terms (1974-75 and 1976-77). In 1965 she remarried, being then known as Councillor Cook until in 1970, after her marriage to Sir Roland Jacobs, she became Alderman Lady Jacobs. Lady Jacobs was Chairman of the Parks and Gardens Committee (1960-73) and she represented the Council on the Board of Governors of the Adelaide Festival of Arts (1962-72). She founded the Local Government Women's Association and served as President and member of a variety of other organisations. During the war years, she was a member of the Auxiliary of Women Police (1943-46). She was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for services to Community and Local Government. In 1990 Lady Jacobs was recognised for her outstanding contribution to the City of Adelaide, and in particular its Park Lands, by the naming of a significant portion of Park 12 as "Esther Lipman Gardens". Lady Jacobs was told of Council's decision on her 90th birthday. The media release stated that this dedication stands as a testament to a woman who has become a legend in her own lifetime.

My grandfather was a mayor of Adelaide but none of that had any influence on me, only when I used to go to parliament to hear father. It was a comfortable seat and I always got ginger-nuts given to me and then I went to sleep, and that was my only introduction as far as anything to do with government was concerned. (p. 1)

I always seemed to be first somewhere, you know; always start off. I can't keep on carrying the torch. When I start the jolly things - you light a fire, you can't keep fanning it, somebody else has to. (p. 13)

You see, this was a - not a bone of contention - on occasions it might have been - but the wives of the Councillors and of the Aldermen and even the Lady Mayoress, were there because their husbands had the positions. I was one, like the husbands - I had that position so that with the Lady Mayoress's Committee, I, on occasion, went to their meetings but otherwise it was nothing to do with me. You can't, you know, run with the hares and hunt with the hounds…I was a different category altogether. (p. 52)

This second longer interview with Lady Jacobs is a companion to the initial interview conducted in 1978. It deals in more depth with her upbringing and movement into public life. It then focuses on her service with the Council as Ward Councillor, Alderman and Deputy Lord Mayor.

Lady Jacobs provides many impressions of, and stories related to, Councillors and staff members with whom she worked. The interview also gives insight into some of the issues faced by women in public life. Lady Jacobs forthright, self assured nature and her sense of humour shine throughout the recording.

Interviewer: Bruce Edwards
16 & 24 October, 1 November 1985
4 hours (5 x 60 min tapes)
Full Transcript (57 p.) Open Access

Extract from 'City Memory' written and prepared by Oral Historian Dr. Karen George for the City of Adelaide © Corporation of the City of Adelaide 1999