Madame Rens - Settlement in New South Wales

Settlement in New South Wales

The widowed Madame Rens and her daughter, Jeanette, departed the Dutch colony of Batavia on the ship Phillip Dundas on 30 November 1826, arriving in Sydney on 30 January 1827. She had planned ahead for her survival in the colony, bringing with her enough capital to set up business and purchase property. She placed the following advertisement in The Australian newspaper of 10 February 1827:

"Madame Rens has the honour to acquaint the ladies and gentlemen of Sydney that she has just arrived with a choice assortment of fashionable articles from Paris. Evening dresses, ribbons, cambrics, imitation cashmere dresses, festoons, embroidered gauze, black crepe, artificial flowers, Brussels and French lace dresses, fine and coarse French laces, perfumery, toys, confectionery, coats, waistcoats and gloves. The goods will be exposed for sale on Monday, the 12th instant at Mrs Jones, George Street. Madame Rens flatters herself that her mode of conducting business will secure her the confidence of those who may honour her with their demands."

Two months later, an advertisement in the Sydney Gazette published on Wednesday, 25 April 1827 read:

MADAME RENS has the Honour to inform the Ladies of Sydney and its Environs, that she has now on SALE very elegant BALL DRESSES, which she can offer at very moderate Prices. Madame Rens has also a superb Robe of Brussels Lace, (warranted) which she Offers for a RAFFLE. 50 Tickets at £5 each. The Robe cost £200.

In the 1828 census, Rens was listed as "Coymanos Vidonia Rens" and described herself as a milliner.

In her application for naturalisation in 1831, she stated that she had brought with her property amounting to 6000 pounds sterling, and it is known that by 10 June 1827 she had bought an allotment on the corner of George and what is now Bridge Street, Sydney.

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