Unley Park School

Catherine Maria Thornber (c. 1813 – 15 May 1894) was the founder of a school for girls in Unley Park, South Australia.

Catherine Maria Thornber née Rowland (c. 1813 – 15 May 1894) was born in Rodd, Herefordshire. She and her husband Robert Thornber ( – 28 December 1854), and their four children lived in Harpurhey, near Manchester, then emigrated to South Australia on the Superb, arriving in November 1840. They settled first at Port Adelaide, then Kensington, finally a house later known as "Peliatt Villa" in Mitcham. Also on the Superb were Mrs. Thornber's parents Jane (c. 1790–1867) and Charles Rowland (c. 1790–1881), and her sister Mary Ellen Rowland (c. 1824–1911). Charles lost a fortune in some speculations, but managed to stay in business, trading as Thornber and Rowland until at least 1876, perhaps with one of his sons-in-law.

Robert Thornber, who was in business with his father-in-law, initially prospered, and in 1848 was able to donate an acre of land for St. Michael's Anglican Church, Mitcham, then suffered some severe financial setbacks, was declared insolvent and their home was put up for auction. He took a fatal dose of laudanum while suffering from delirium tremens. To make ends meet, Catherine started a school for girls in her home. "Mrs. Thornber's School", as it was popularly known, was successful and she was able to move to a larger house on 2 acres (0.81 ha) on Gover Street, Unley Park. Sometime before 1879 the street name was changed to Thornber Street.

Her two older daughters assisted in the operation of the school. The youngest, Ellen Thornber (1851–1947), trained as a teacher, and assisted in running the Grote Street teacher training college, then in 1880 was appointed assistant head of the Advanced School for Girls. She left in 1886 to become partner in her mother's school and helped prepare students for Adelaide University's matriculation exams. Students at the school were predominantly daughters of the clergy and professional men, attracted by its high standards in the teaching of science and languages, and by its liberal teaching methods, influenced by Fröbel and Montessori. The school building was enlarged with the addition of an upper storey.

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