Elizabeth Raikes

Elizabeth Raikes, originally known as Elizabeth Fulloon, was a pioneering Australian educator and official who played a significant role in the early education of girls in New South Wales. Arriving in Australia in 1823, she became the first superintendent of the Parramatta Female Factory, a facility established to house and employ female convicts. Her leadership was marked by efficiency and discipline, earning her recognition from the governor as a woman of extraordinary strength and character. Following the death of her first husband during their voyage, she remarried and continued her work in education, becoming a notable figure in the community.