Princess King

Princess King (~1861–1955) was an Indigenous Australian woman, likely Bigambul or Barunggam, that towards the end of her life was presented in the media as a "real, live aboriginal tribal "Princess"".

Early life
Princess King was born sometime in the early 1860s in Cattle Creek, a town about 70 kilometres south-west of Dalby. In an interview with local newspaper Truth, Princess stated "I don't remember my parents; they died when I was young, and I was looked after by other coloured people." She also spoke of her name and how it'd just been what other people always called her. She said that these people would tell her that she was her "people's Princess".

She wasn't formally educated and as of 1952 she was illiterate. Instead, from an early age she worked on stations and at hotels, mostly farming and gardening. After her marriage to Albert King likely in the 1870s, she worked as a cook.

Family
According to a family tree on genealogy website Ancestry, Princess had six children with Albert (four girls and two boys) from 1880 to 1902. There was Elizabeth Bessie born in 1880, John Charles born in 1883, Jesse Lillian Beatrice born in 1886, Charles Richard born in 1894, Molly born in 1898, and Alice born in 1902.

Life in Brisbane
Princess King appears from 1912 to 1937 on the federal electoral roll living in Dunwich on North Stradbroke Island working as a laundress.

In 1943, Princess' address is listed on the federal electoral roll as Green Street, Wynnum. Her occupation was listed as home duties. Green Street, Wynnum appears to have been her address until her death in 1955.

Death
Princess King died on July 6, 1955 in Brisbane. She was buried at Hemmant Cemetery and Crematorium in the Memorial Place section (1-A-11).