Caroline Hodgson - Life

Life

Hodgson was born in Potsdam, Prussia; a daughter of John and Frederica Lohman. She married the well connected Studholme George Hodgson in London on 18 February 1871 and the couple immediately migrated to Australia, arriving in Melbourne on the ship Melmerby on 24 June 1871. In November 1872, Studholme joined the Victoria Police and was placed in country Mansfield, leaving his 25 year old wife alone in Melbourne. By the end of 1874, Caroline, using the name 'Madame Brussels', was running a number of brothels, an occupation she continued successfully until 1907. When her husband became ill with tuberculosis in late 1892, Hodgson arranged for him to be nursed in at "Gnarwin," a property she owned on Beaconsfield Parade, St Kilda. He died in 1893. In 1895, Hodgson married German Engineer Jacob Pohl, who was at least 15 years her junior. However, Pohl suddenly disappeared to South Africa while they were on a trip to visit relatives in Germany in 1896. Despite a reconciliation in 1898, they were finally divorced in February 1907. Hodgson died the following year at her Lonsdale Street home suffering from diabetes and chronic pancreatitis. She was buried at St Kilda Cemetery beside her first husband. She was survived by an adopted daughter, Irene