HALL OF FAME

Miss Fanny E Hunt (1863 - 1941)

2019 Inductee

Principal 1891 - 1901

Fanny Elizaeth Hunt was the eldest of 10 children born to schoolmaster, Edwin Hunt, and his schoolteacher wife, Margaret Morgan in England in 1863. When Miss Hunt was 16, her parents and siblings emigrated to Australia, arriving in Sydney on 27 November 1879.

In 1886, Miss Hunt enrolled at the University of Sydney in the newly established Faculty of Science, and having completed the course, was the first woman to graduate in Science from Sydney University in 1888. Following her graduation, he was made a Life Member of the Linnean Society.

Miss Hunt taught at various schools in Sydney for a year following her graduation before applying for position of Headmistress of Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School. She arrived at the half-completed school in October 1891, accompanied by her sister, Maggie, ready to take up the challenge of starting a new school. The School was officially opened on 1 March 1892 with 31 students enrolled. Miss Hunt’s starting salary was 300 pounds per annum plus residence.

Miss Hunt had the hardest job to do, in laying the foundations of the School, not only in lessons to be taught, but in equipment and furnishings to be purchased, fees to be paid, hours of school each day and the general needs of a school. She was described as having the qualities of intelligence, tenacity and a determination to do what was best for the students in her charge and for the future of secondary education in Ipswich.

On 19 October 1901, Miss Hunt sent in her letter of resignation as Headmistress on the ground of ill-health. By this time the School had 58 students enrolled, it had established a reputation of academic ability, music was flourishing, tennis, croquet and some cricket had been introduced, the founding of an Old Girls’ Association showed the interest of the past students in their old school, and the Trustees were preparing to erect another building. Miss Hunt had laid a good foundation for the future growth of the School. She died on 6 June 1941.