Lady Edith

Lady Edith Fergusson, the first wife of the 8th Governor of South Australia.  She spent quite a bit of time at Old Government House, and was generally frail in health.  She died aged 32.  Sir James went on to marry twice more.

Anyway, the interest in Lady Edith is because she was responsible for the construction of a permanent kitchen in the Servants' Quarters at OGH.  Prior to that being built, the servants had to cope with a lean-to ramshackle affair.

I don't think she means to look severe in this "Carte de Visite" but she was known for being extremely pious, and was probably trying to reflect that in her look.

That's my theory anyway.  Either that or she had wind.