Ella Elgar

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Ella Elgar (1869–1945)

Ella Grace Pharazyn Elgar was a New Zealand socialite and art collector. She was born on 18 June 1869 at Whatarangi, Palliser Bay, New Zealand, into a wealthy farming family. She spent part of her youth in England, where she was educated. Her twin sister Ida died in a railway accident.

In 1890 she married Charles Elgar, a well-known racehorse owner and manager of her father’s farm. They lived at Fernside Homestead near Featherston and hosted grand dinners and balls. Ella traveled to Europe, China, and Japan, buying valuable period furniture and furnishings for Fernside.

Her husband Charles Elgar died in 1930 at Tauherenikau Racecourse. Ella continued living at Fernside until 1940, when she lent the house to the Red Cross to use as a convalescent home during World War II. She then moved to a flat in Victoria Street, Christchurch, where she died on 23 August 1945.

Legacy: Ella bequeathed her collection of furniture and furnishings, known as the Elgar Collection, to the Dominion Museum (now the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa). She planned two display rooms for the collection on the upper floor: The Elgar Rooms, including a Queen Anne and Stuart Room and a Georgian Room. The Elgar Collection is now part of Te Papa’s collection.