Elizabeth Whitby

Elizabeth Whitby ( – 12 November 1888) was founder and principal of a school for girls in Carrington Street, Adelaide, one of the first in the Colony of South Australia, founded in 1848. History Elizabeth Whitby (née Castleden) was a daughter of (Baptist) Rev. James Castleden (c. 1778 – 5 June 1854), of Hampstead, London, born . She married Joseph Whitby (after 1851), lived for a time in Yorkshire, and had a small family. Joseph Whitby, Elizabeth and their four sons emigrated to Australia, arriving in Adelaide aboard Competitor in October 1848. She founded a school for girls in Carrington Street in that year. The fate of Joseph Whitby is as yet not known. Whitby advertised that she was prepared "to receive and instruct Young Ladies in every branch of mental and elegant education. Vacancies for one or two Boarders." A year later her advertisements were more informative: CARRINGTON HOUSE ESTABLISHMENT, South Adelaide.—Conducted by Mrs. WHITBY and qualified Assistants. In this long-established Seminary the various improved systems of Education are combined and modified, in order to unite the comforts of home with the strictest discipline in the development of the mental faculties. Terms, 40 guineas per annum. One or two Vacancies for Boarders. The Course of Instruction comprises—Ancient and Modern History, Grammar; Geography, Physical and Moral, with the use of the Globes; Composition, Writing and Arithmetic, Fancy Work in general. Drawing in Chalk and Pencil; Watercolour, Landscape, and Flower Painting; Music, Singing, Dancing, and the French and German Languages. In William Wyatt's 1851 survey of Government-approved and subsidised schools, of which there were 79 in South Australia, Whitby was receiving grants for 4 boys and 22 girls, and on the day of inspection she had 27 girls under instruction. The school operated continuously from 1848 to 1878.