Eleanor Constance Greenham (15 April 1874 – 31 December 1957) was the first woman born in

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , established_ ...

, Australia, to be a registered physician.

Early life

Greenham was born in

Ipswich, Queensland Ipswich () is a city in South East Queensland, Australia. Situated on the Bremer River, it is approximately west of the Brisbane central business district. The city is renowned for its architectural, natural and cultural heritage. Ipswich pre ...

on 15 April 1874, the daughter of John Greenham and Eleanor (née Johnstone). Her father was a draper and later ran a general store in Ipswich. Greenham attended Ipswich Central Girls’ and Infants School and from 1889 to 1890 she attended

Brisbane Girls Grammar School , motto_translation = Nothing without labour , address = Gregory Terrace , city = Spring Hill , state = Queensland , postcode = 4000 , country = Australia , coordinates = , type = Independent secondary d ...

. She won prizes in English and natural history. Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School opened in 1892, and Greenham became the first pupil of this school. She won prizes in science and completed her senior public examination, in anticipation of undertaking studies toward university entrance. She moved to Sydney in 1895, to study at the

University of Sydney The University of Sydney (USYD), also known as Sydney University, or informally Sydney Uni, is a public research university located in Sydney, Australia. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and is one of the country's si ...

where she resided at The Women's College. After studying toward a B.A. for the first year, Greenham was then able to proceed toward medical studies, taking her M.B. and Ch.M. in 1901. She was the first Queensland-born woman to graduate in medicine.

Medical career

Greenham was registered to practise medicine in Queensland in 1901, working at the

Lady Bowen Hospital Lady Bowen Hospital is a heritage-listed former maternity hospital and now social housing and office complex at 497-535 Wickham Terrace, Spring Hill, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by John H. Buckeridge and built fro ...

, Brisbane. She moved into private practice in Brisbane from 1903, near Dr Lillian Cooper. Despite opposition from male colleagues, Greenham was a successful doctor, mainly treating women. When the

University of Queensland , mottoeng = By means of knowledge and hard work , established = , endowment = A$224.3 million , budget = A$2.1 billion , type = Public research university , chancellor = Peter Varghese , vice_chancellor = Deborah Terry , city = B ...

was opened in 1911, Greenham was able to present her qualifications to the Registrar and be awarded a M.B. B.S ad eundum gradum. Greenham was one of the first women in Queensland to own a car. She became a shareholder in the

Hupmobile Hupmobile was an automobile built from 1909 through 1939 by the Hupp Motor Car Company of Detroit. The prototype was developed in 1908. History Founding In 1909, Bobby Hupp co-founded Hupp Motor Car Company, with Charles Hastings, for ...

agency, Evers Motor Co. She was also a chairman of Greenhams Pty Ltd. In 1945, the Queensland Medical Women's Society recognised her contributions to the medical profession of Queensland, with honorary membership. She was similarly recognised by the Queensland branch of the

British Medical Association The British Medical Association (BMA) is a registered trade union for doctors in the United Kingdom. The association does not regulate or certify doctors, a responsibility which lies with the General Medical Council. The association's headquar ...

in 1953, of which she was a member for over 50 years.

Later life

Greenham retired from practice in 1950. She did not marry, but was a generous aunt to many of her nieces and nephews. She died on 31 December 1957 at

New Farm New Farm is an inner northern riverside suburb in the City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. In the , New Farm had a population of 12,542 people. Geography The suburb is located 2 kilometres east of the Brisbane CBD on a large bend of the ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Greenham, Eleanor 1874 births 1957 deaths People from Ipswich, Queensland University of Sydney alumni 19th-century Australian women 20th-century Australian women