1. 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.
15 Facts About Diamantina Bowen
1. 2.
Diamantina Bowen's parents were Count Giorgio-Candiano Roma and his wife Countess Orsola, nee di Balsamo.
3.
Diamantina Bowen was appointed a Poet Laureate by Queen Victoria.
4.
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.
5.
Diamantina Bowen was described as "pretty" but tempered perhaps by the remark "her beauty being in her expression rather than her features".
6.
We do not know how Diamantina Bowen 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.
7.
Diamantina Bowen 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.
8.
Diamantina Bowen died at Bethnal Green, London, England on 17 November 1893 from acute bronchitis.
9.
Diamantina Bowen is buried in Kensal Green cemetery in London.
10.
Diamantina Bowen participated in the public life in Queensland in a number of ways:.
11.
Diamantina Bowen personally supervised the layout of the gardens of the house, which included lawns, tennis courts as well as flower and vegetable gardens.
12.
In 1864 at Ipswich, Queensland, Diamantina Bowen turned the first sod for Queensland's first railway-line between Ipswich and Bigge's Camp using with a silver spade and a cedar wheelbarrow.
13.
Diamantina Bowen was involved in establishing the first Sunday School for children.
14.
Diamantina Bowen was very popular in Queensland and many places were named after her:.
15.
In 1898 a statue of Lady Diamantina Bowen was commissioned by Angelo Efstathis and sculptured by Brisbane artist Peter Piperides for the Greek Community Centre in South Brisbane.