Louisa Macdonald

Louisa Macdonald (10 December 1858 – 28 November 1949) was an educationist and women's suffragist.

Early life and education Louisa Macdonald was born in 1858 in Arbroath, Scotland, the eleventh child of Ann (née Kid) and John Macdonald, town clerk and lawyer. Louisa and her sister Isabella enrolled at the University College, London, where they were among the first residents in College Hall.

Professional career By 1891 Macdonald had become a Fellow of the University College, London. Macdonald was chosen from a field of 65 applicants to be the founding principal of the Women's College at the University of Sydney, and took up her position in rented premises at 'Strathmore' in Glebe in March 1892, with four students.

Macdonald worked tirelessly to establish prosperity for the college, both economically and culturally, at a time when women's education was a low priority and in limited demand. She was involved in the Sydney University Women's Association, the University Women's Society and the Women's Club, as well as the Womanhood Suffrage League of New South Wales, and the Women's Literary Society. Macdonald died in 1949 in London.