Book  (2007)  Page(s) 260.  
 
HT, mp, 1939, Fitzhardinge; bud long, pointed; flowers malmaison rose shaded soft pink, large, dbl., open, moderate fragrance; foliage glossy; vigorous growth
[seedling × Betty Uprichard]

Magazine  (2006)  Page(s) 25. Vol 28, No. 3.  
 
Peter Cox. Australian Roses. ‘Lady Edgeworth-David’. This rose was given to me by Graeme Johnston some twenty years ago and some are prepared to claim that this plant is ‘Souvenir de la Malmaison’ (Bourbon Béluze 1843) ‘Mme. Desprez’ x a Tea rose; whereas the Lady is an unnamed seedling x ‘Betty Uprichard’ and is classified HT and described (Modern Roses 8) ‘....large double, open, fragrant. Malmaison rose shaded soft pink’. The Bourbon is described ‘....very large double, often quartered, very fragrant (spicy), creamy flesh, centre rosy shaded. Dwarf bush...’ all somewhat similar, except one is HT and the other Bourbon. I should add that the bud of the Bourbon is round and the flowers tend to ball; the bud of the HT is tall and the flowers do not ball. I have been told by my informant that there is another plant of the Lady in Victoria – this could all be very interesting.

Website/Catalog  (2004)  Page(s) 17.  
 
'Lady Edgeworth David' (Hybrid Tea). 1939. An Australian rose bred by Fitzhardinge. Long pointed buds open to large, malmaison rose-shaded soft-pink flowers, double, fragrant. Recurrent.

Website/Catalog  (2004)  Page(s) 13.  
 
'Lady Edgeworth David' (H. Tea 1939). An Australian rose bred by Fitzhardinge. The long pointed buds open to large malmaison rose, shaded soft pink blooms which are double and fragrant. The shrub is recurrent. Old Fashioned. Grafted only.

Magazine  (2003)  
 
Heritage Roses in Australia. 7th National Conference, Hay, NSW, Proceedings.
p37 John Nieuwesteeg. Australian Roses. Mrs. Fitzhardinge of NSW bred several varieties in the 1920s and 30s. ...I believe I have ‘Lady Edgeworth David’....

Magazine  (2002)  Page(s) 7. Vol 24, No. 3.  
 
Coverpicture.

p7 The story behind the cover Rose – ‘Lady Edgeworth David’.
This rose was bred by Mrs C.H. Fitzhardinge of Warrawee in NSW in 1939 and is an unnamed seedling crossed with 'Betty Uprichard'. For me it was always a small bush growing to around 800mm, although modern roses describes the rose as 'vigorous'. This could have something to do with the different soil types between Warrawee on the coast and Thirlmere in the hills. The flowers are exquisite, if not very frequently produced, being flat and quartered, of 'Malmaison rose' and softer pink and somewhat similar to Souvenir de la Malmaison and also very fragrant with around 50 petals and being 80mm across......
Of her 8 roses there are known to be only 3 left in cultivation, the other two being Warrawee 1935 and Lubra 1938. The Lady after whom the rose was named, was well known in her day as the Chief Commissioner for Guides in NSW from 1928 to 1938. She was also a great social reformer, campaigning for the 6pm closing of pubs in WW1 and being the President of the Women's National Movement for Social Reform. She was born Caroline Martha Mallet in 1856, married July 1885, Tannant William Edgeworth David (1858-1934) and she died at Hornsby NSW in 1951. Her husband was appointed KBE in 1920 and they were known as Sir and Lady Edgeworth David. Her husband was perhaps better known as Professor of Geology at Sydney University and the man, who on the Shackleton British Antarctic Expedition of 1907-09 led the climb to the top of Mount Erebus and also led the party with Mawson and MacKay to the South Magnetic pole. He was then 50 years old, which even in those days was considered extreme for such arduous work and Mawson had to eventually take over the magnetic pole leadership due the suffering experienced by Edgeworth David. Due to his systematic geological survey of the Hunter Valley NSW, David was responsible for the establishment of the Hunter Valley coalmines and also the School of Mining at Sydney University. He also, in 1932, published the geological map of Australia and was very active in NSW scientific bodies. The rose appears to be unavailable today, although we sold it from our nursery at Thirlmere in the late '80s. The original plant was given to us by Graeme Johnston of the NSW Central Coast in the 1980s, who had previously asked Roy Rumsey if he was interested in growing the rose. Roy had not been impressed by the rose and this led to Graeme to present the plant to me. As far as is known the original rose is still in our old Thirlmere garden. Peter Cox

Book  (19 Apr 2000)  Page(s) 297.  
 
'Lady Edgeworth David', HT, mp, 1939 ... description

Magazine  (1990)  Page(s) 16. Vol 12, No. 4.  
 
‘Lady Edgeworth David’: Classic Australian Rose Rediscovered. Val Johnson, NSW
Trevor Nottle's book Growing Old Fashioned Roses has been a constant reference work for me, ever since I thoughtfully bought it for my husband's birthday a few years ago, Recently, it also provided me with the essential clue to identifying one of Mrs Fitzhardinge's roses. My husband, Graeme, used to work in an office quite close to Rookwood Cemetery and he often used to take cuttings from roses as he tidied up some of the old graves there, I spent many hours over a period of months trying to identify these cuttings. As we all know, it is a fascinating yet infuriating pursuit. One of these cuttings has grown into a splendid short bush. Nothing in the reference books quite described it, until in the early hours some weeks ago, I read the republished description of Mrs Fitzhardinge's ‘Lady Edgeworth David’, with the magic words "Malmaison pink". Eureka! I was so certain that this must be it that we took a cutting down to Roy Rumsey the next day. As soon as I told him this, and he examined the bud and leaves, he shouted "Of course!" and ran to check his Hazlewood's catalogue and other references. Graeme explained how the clue had been the "Malmaison" in Trevor's book and how this caused the light to dawn in the dimness of my mind.
I said to Roy that I couldn't understand how such a beautiful rose could have been allowed to drop into obscurity for so long, Some HRA members around here already have cuttings but Roy has asked for budwood so that the variety could be made more widely available. It is a very great pleasure to think that this piece of Australia's heritage will once more show us how proud we can be of Mrs Fitzhardinge and her work. If Growing Old Fashioned Roses had not provided the clue, who can tell how long it might have remained an unnamed beauty? Val Johnson, NSW

Dear Val, You have done an exemplary job with this identification. I sincerely hope it will stand the close scrutiny such a find will deservedly attract. If authority on this kind of rose exists, it is surely in Roy and Heather Rumsey. I am so impressed by your letter for severa1 reasons. Firstly, you seek out and preserve old roses. Secondly, you further propagate them that they may be more widely grown. Thirdly, you research and compare, Fourthly, you seek confirmation of your research ideas from such authorities as exist, Fifthly, you have arranged for your best finds to get back into commerce, And sixthly, and probably most importantly, you have ultimately exceeded your back fence and published your findings to inform and inspire all Old Rose enthusiasts. Congratulations, and may many fine old roses line your path in the future. Robert Peace, Ed,

Magazine  (1980)  Page(s) 17. Vol 2, No. 2.  
 
From Charles Walker, Auburn, Alabama, USA comes the following information gleaned from Modern Roses 5, 6 & 7. Roses bred by Mrs. H. C. Fitzhardinge of Warrawee, N.S.W. So far as is known all are HTs: Lady Edgeworth David 1939 and ....were introduced locally by Hazelwoods Nursery, Epping, N.S.W.

Book  (1947)  
 
p108. Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, refer to size and habit of growth.

p118. ‘Lady Edgeworth David’. (Garden and Exhibition) Malmaison rose shaded suffused soft pink. an exquisite Australian raised rose for garden and can produce flowers of show quality as well. Buds are delightful. A good grower and free flowerer. F3. (HT).