Miss Wilhelmina Susanna Catherine Allison was born at Richmond Park in November 1860 to William Race Allison and Bessy, formerly Leach.
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WR Allison came to Van Diemen's Land with his parents and siblings in 1822.
Roger Leach brought his family, including Bessy, to Hobart in 1850 where he had been appointed Master of the short-lived Normal School at New Town.
In June 1858 William Allison married 16-year-old Bessy Leach at St George's Church, Battery Point. They had five children of which Wilhelmina was the eldest girl. WR Allison had a political career in the Legislative Council and the House of Assembly and died in September 1865 aged 52.
Bessy did not remarry but became a successful educator at the Cressy School from 1868-71. She then moved to Launceston and set up a private school for young ladies in York Street.
By 1875 she had moved to larger premises in Brisbane Street.
In July 1879 Mrs Allison moved to Victoria Parade, part of the Bennell estate, now 33 Adelaide Street. The previous tenant, Rev. HB Brownrigg, added a school room at the back of the house.
There her school was named the Ladies' Grammar School and was recognised by the Board of Education as one of the superior schools of the Colony.
The curriculum included English, mathematics, German, French, Latin and Italian.
Wilhelmina Allison was educated by her mother, and in 1877 passed the civil service examinations at the Melbourne University.
At the end of 1879 she gained a Tasmanian Associate of Arts Degree (AA), the "first young lady from any school in Launceston or the North who has competed in the examinations" reported The Launceston Examiner.
"She passed with credit in English and French, and fairly in mathematics, and was the only competitor in her class who passed in drawing."
She assisted her mother at the Ladies' Grammar School with a large staff of resident and visiting teachers.
Mrs Allison announced in June 1891 that she was removing to another colony, but "in consequence of a domestic affliction" she decided to remain in Launceston. The school was to resume on July 23, 1891, but there are no more references to it in the newspapers of the time.
In February 1892 Wilhelmina married a farmer, Tasman Blacker von Stieglitz, at St John's Church and moved to Ulverstone. Mrs Bessy Allison died at Adelaide Street on September 18, 1897.
Mrs Wilhelmina von Stieglitz, mother of four children, died at Launceston on August 13, 1910.