Mrs. Charles Fairbairn, whose death occurred on Wednesday night at her residence, Feenan, Domain Road, South Yarra, says the Melbourne Argus of Saturday last, was widely known in Melbourne society. Mrs. Fairbairn, who was a daughter of the late Mr. James Osborne of Merton, Elsternwick, was the wife of Mr. Charles Fairbairn, one of the well known pastoralists, and their homes at Bannongil, Skipton, and at Feenan, Domain Road, South Yarra, were noted for hospitality. It was Mrs. Fairbairn's pride to give entertainment to young people, and for years her boat-race dinner and theatre party to the Geelong Grammar school crew was one of the functions of the "head of the river" race. Her brothers were old Melburnians, her husband and his brothers were old Geelong Grammarians, but her sons followed in their father's footsteps. Mrs. Fairbairn or her daughter (Mrs. Wheatley) always handed the Fairbairn Challenge Cup to the wining stroke in the "head of the river'' race. Mrs. Fairbairn was, at one time, President of the Quamby Club, and held the position of vice-president at the time of her death. She has left two daughters and two sons.
'Fairbairn, Elizabeth (?–1919)', Obituaries Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://oa.anu.edu.au/obituary/fairbairn-elizabeth-1236/text1226, accessed 8 October 2024.