• Entry type: Person
  • Entry ID: IMP0003

Melba, Nellie

  • Dame, DBE, GBE
  • Birth name Mitchell, Helen Porte
(1861 – 1931)
  • Born 19 May 1861, Richmond, Victoria, Australia
  • Died 23 February 1931, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia
  • Occupation Opera singer

Summary

Dame Nellie Melba (née Helen Porter Mitchell) was an internationally renowned opera singer, celebrated for her magnificent coloratura (soprano) voice.

Details

Melba’s musical training began in Melbourne at Presbyterian Ladies’ College, and continued in France under Mathilde Marchesi. Her operatic debut was in Brussels, in 1887.

Melba went on to perform in London, Paris and New York before returning to Australia to tour in 1902. She also toured Australia in 1909, 1911, 1924 and 1928. She founded a women’s singing school in Melbourne and wrote a singing manual and a memoir.

Melba was appointed to The Order of the British Empire, Dame Grand Cross (Civil) on 3 June 1927 for services to Australia. She was also appointed to The Order of the British Empire, Dames Commander, on 15 March 1918 for giving fund-raising concerts to assist war wounded during the First World War.

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Events

  • 2001

    Inducted into the Victorian Honour Roll of Women
  • 1918
  • 1927

Archival resources

  • State Library of Victoria
    • Letters relating to Australia, 1856-1889 [manuscript].
    • Biographical file of information on Dame Nellie Melba, ca. 1961. [manuscript].
    • Scrapbook, ca. 1911-1937. [manuscript].
    • Letters, ca. 1916. [manuscript].
    • Papers, [manuscript].
    • Scrapbook, 1909-1931. [manuscript].
    • Papers, 1845-1870 [manuscript].
  • National Library of Australia, Manuscript Collection
    • Account book, 1902-1903 [manuscript]
    • Miscellaneous papers re Caroline Chisholm and Dame Nellie Melba, c1833-c1953 [microform]
    • Papers of Fritz Bennicke Hart 1898-1951 [manuscript]
    • Collection of papers relating to Dame Nellie Melba, 1911-1928 [manuscript]
    • Family papers, ca. 1869 - ca. 1945 [manuscript]
    • Correspondence, [19--] [manuscript]
    • The discovery of a Nellie Melba archive 1971 [manuscript]
    • Papers of Dame Nellie Melba, circa 1908-1970 [manuscript]
    • Papers of Dame Nellie Melba 1895-1923 [manuscript]
    • Scrapbooks 1924 [manuscript]
    • Letters and diary, 1911-1931 [manuscript]
  • Mitchell and Dixson Libraries Manuscripts Collection
    • Nellie Melba papers, 1901-1903
    • [Collection of pamphlets containing souvenir concert programmes and Australian biographies.]
  • Performing Arts Museum
    • Van Straten Collection
    • Cochran Collection
    • Papers of Lemmone, John, 1861-1949.
  • Grainger Museum
    • Percy Grainger: outgoing correspondence
    • Correspondence: Nellie Melba to Rose and Percy Grainger
    • Correspondence: "Melba letters"
    • Correspondence: Letters between Percy Grainger and Nellie Melba
  • Melba Memorial Conservatorium of Music
    • Records of Melba Memorial Conservatorium of Music

Published resources

  • Resource
  • Resource Section
  • Book
    • Nellie Melba : the first Australian diva, Magee, Adrian, 1995
    • Popular Australian singers from the early years of sound recording [sound recording]. Volume 1., c1988
    • Nellie Melba, a contemporary review, Moran, William R., 1995
    • Nellie Melba : the legend still lives, Vickery, Marian, 1982
    • Red plush and black velvet : the story of Dame Nellie Melba and her times, Wechsberg, Joseph, 1962
    • Melba method, Melba, Nellie, Dame, 1926
    • Melodies and memories, Melba, Nellie, Dame; Beverley Nichols, 1925
    • Papers of Dame Nellie Melba, National Library of Australia
    • 100 great Australians, Macklin, Robert, 1983
    • Evensong, Beverley Nichols, 1932
    • Australian nurses since Nightingale 1860-1990, Burchill, Elizabeth, 1992
    • The Shire of Lilydale and its military heritage : the First World War and its effect on the community, McAleer, A J, c1995
    • Victoria, the first century : an historical survey, compiled by the Historical Sub-committee of the Centenary Celebrations Council, 1934
    • The Complete Book of Great Australian Women: Thirty-six women who changed the course of Australia, De Vries, Susanna, 2003
  • Book Section
    • Melodies and memories; introduction and notes by John Cargher, Melba, Nellie, Dame; Beverley Nichols, 1980
  • Edited Book
    • Dame Nellie Melba, Franklin Peterson, 1915
    • 200 Australian Women: A Redress Anthology, Radi, Heather, 1988
    • Double Time: Women in Victoria - 150 Years, Lake, Marilyn and Kelly, Farley, 1985
  • Souvenir
    • Dame Nellie Melba and J.C. Williamson Ltd. : grand opera season, June-July-August 1924, souvenir, 1924
  • Newspaper Article
  • Site Exhibition

Related entries


  • Related Organisations
    • The Austral Salon of Music, Literature and the Arts (1890 - )
    • Australian Red Cross Victoria (1914 - )
    • Presbyterian Ladies' College, Melbourne (1875 - )
  • Friend
    • Casey, Ethel Marian Sumner (Maie) (1891 - 1983)

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