Eliza Ann Fewings

Eliza Ann Fewings (28 December 1857 – 11 October 1940) was a teacher and school principal in Wales and Australia. She led a pioneer school of secondary education for girls in Wales for a decade. Later in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, she was the head of Brisbane Girls' Grammar School after which she founded her own school, the Brisbane Girls High School (which is now known as Somerville House).

Life Fewings was born in Bristol in south west England in 1857. Her father was in the boot industry but her brother was a teacher and he assisted her to become a teacher too.

In 1876, she became the head of Dr Williams's Endowed High School for Girls in Dolgellau. She was to stay at the school for ten years. The school's motto was "Honour before Honours". The school was a pioneer in Wales because it was a secondary school for girls. One of the pupils in 1880 was Margaret Owen who to be "First Lady" of the UK during the first World War.

In 1896, Fewings became the head of Brisbane Girls' Grammar School which she led for three years until the governors were alerted to accusations that she was inadequate. Two of the governors who were leading barristers interviewed her and they decided that she should be dismissed. Her request for a review of the decision was refused.

Fewings had the support of some of the previous staff At first the school had operated without a uniform but in time a white and yellow uniform was agreed upon. The school motto was the same as Dr Williams' School "Honour before honours". When she returned to Wales she was instrumental in forming the first Young Women's Christian Association building in Wales. She retired in 1914 and she was given an honorary master's degree by Aberystwyth University in 1921.

She died in Bristol, Gloucestershire, in 1940.