Ellen Ida Benham

Ellen Ida Benham

  On March 12th 1871, just outside Kapunda, in the town of Allen's Creek, was born Ellen Ida Benham.
  The third of eleven children born to Aimie and William Huggins Benham (Solicitor).
Ellens father, William was a solicitor and could afford a better than average education for his children.
  Ellen was sent to Kapunda Model School for her education, and later to The Adelaide Advanced School For Girls, where she was under the tutelage of the headmistress, Rees George.
Ellen then went on to study at The University of Adelaide in 1889 and graduated with a B.Sc in 1892. She returned to Kapunda to teach, as headmistress for the Anglican Christ Church Parish for two years, before traveling to Europe in 1895 to continue her studies.
On her return, Ellen taught science at the Dryburgh House School from 1896 until 1900, then at Tormore House School in North Adelaide.

In 1901 Ellen was approached by the University of Adelaide Professor, Ralph Tate, to take over his botany lectures as he was unwell, later the same year he died. Ellen held the position of lecturer at the University from 1902 until 1911. She also, at times, held the roles of “Head Of Department”, “Sole Lecturer” and “Keeper Of the Herbarium”
Ellen visited England in 1908 to attend Oxford and complete a Diploma of Education, returning the following year to Adelaide to continue at the University.



In 1906, The South Australian government appointed her to reorganise the botany curriculum and to classify a major collection of flora of fauna presented to the Herbarium

In 1912 Ellen bought Walford School in Malvern, a turned it into one of the most successful schools in the state, the school thrived under her leadership and became the Walford Church Of England Girls Grammar School.
Her aim was to educate girls to “become a useful and effective woman in whatever position she may have to fill”. Ellen achieved this by offering a well-balanced education that included hockey, tennis and cricket matches for the girls a prefect system, and the willingness to communicate with the parents of children into how to effectively teach each child using “the right adjustment of work to the physical and mental powers of the children”.
Ellen also gave the school it's motto “Virtute et Veritate.” - “With Truth And Courage”



Ellens Achievements were vast indeed., helping to found “The Women's Student Club”, “The Women's Graduate Club”, Being the first recognised female Academic in South Australia and earning a Bachelor of Science degree.
She has been honoured by Adelaide University by the naming of the “Benham Building” which houses the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, and with the Benham Lecture Theatre.
Also being honoured at the Walford Church of England Girls' Grammar School with the “Benham Wing”

Benham Building, University of Adelaide

Miss Ellen Benham died on April 27th 1917 of a hepatic abscess (an abdominal infection caused by appendicitis) in Adelaide and was interred in Christ Church Cemetery Kapunda.

Please note, this post was originally made on a short-lived blog I wrote about Kapunda, due to the amount of time spent researching the paranormal, the Kapunda blog suffered a severe lack of posts - rather than lose the blog into the depths of Internet obscurity, I am reposting some of the research back onto this blog as much of it contains, History, Mystery and the Paranormal.

© 2012 Allen Tiller

www.eidolonparanormal.com.au