The Contessa Diamantina di Roma was born in 1832 or 1833[2] in the United States of the Ionian Islands, then a British protectorate, today in Greece.

[citation needed] Her parents were Count Giorgio-Candiano Roma [el] and his wife Countess Orsola, née di Balsamo.

After their move to Brisbane, they had three more children there:[5] A final daughter, Alfreda Ernestina Albertina Bowen, was born on 10 April 1869 at Government House, Auckland, New Zealand.

We do not know how Diamantina felt about this frequent upheaval, but she cried copiously as the family departed from Brisbane, suggesting that she had had many close personal connections while there.

Diamantina worshipped in the Greek Orthodox church during retirement in London, suggesting she maintained her connection to her religious roots throughout her life, despite so many years spent in British colonies.

[13][14][15] Her daughter Alfreda married Robert Lydston Newman in October 1899 at St George's Church, Hanover Square, London, England.

A sculpture of Diamantina was created by sculptor Phillip Piperides in 1989 for the Greek Community Centre, South Brisbane, Queensland.

The arrival of the first governor and his family had been eagerly expected a few days earlier, but adverse winds had delayed their trip up from Sydney and so when the news came late on Friday that their vessel was seen entering Moreton Bay, the excitement reached enormous heights.

It was an elegant and spacious building, constructed of sandstone and Brisbane tuff (sometimes incorrectly referred to as porphyry), in the Classic Revival style.

Its grounds were surrounded by thirty acres (twelve hectares) of riverbank land, including the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens which were commenced at the same time under the supervision of Walter Hill.