Biography

Miss Isabella Turnbull. Isabella was born on 21 November 1850 in Glasgow, the second daughter of Robert Turnbull, Joiner and Carpeter and Ann Hempseed both from West Lothian. The family emigrated to Melbourne in 1856 and in 1862 came to New Zealand where Isabella completed her primary education at public schools. She trained as a teacher in Dunedin, and obtained a D1 certificate, and a certificate for drawing and singing. Miss Turnbull was subsequently appointed head mistress of the Kaikorai school, and promoted in 1885 to position of Head Mistress of the George Street Public School. She became a member of the Otago Educational Institute on taking up her duties at the George Street School.

She was known to walk through the Town Belt from her home at 22 City Road “with hatpins drawn” for personal protection.

Isabella is buried in the Northern Cemetery with her parents, sisters Margaret and Ann and brother Robert. Her older brother William is buried in the Anderson’s Bay Cemetery. She is remembered with affection as Auntie Bell.

Sources:1.The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts] 1905 [p 166] (NZETC)

2.Turnbull – Calvert family recollections and research compiled by A J Calvert 2009

3.NZ BDM Index

4. IGI Database

5.Dunedin Cemeteries Database

George Street Public School
Source: Andrew Calvert