She was born Catherine Eliza Somerville Field on board the "Luilyl", in Encounter Bay, in South Australia, and grew up on her father's property at Marra Station in Northern New South Wales.
She was born Catherine Eliza Somerville Field on board the "Luilyl", in Encounter Bay, in South Australia, daughter of Henry Field, pastoralist, and his wife Sophia, daughter of Rev. Ridgway Newland. She grew up on her father's property at Marra Station in Northern New South Wales.