Historical information

Anne Clarke was born in Devon around 1814 and arrived in Portland in 1854 aboard the "Francis Henty". She opened Portland's first "Ladies School" which she operated until 1891. Many young ladies from the Western District passed through the school, and in some cases, two generations of girls.
It is thought that before coming to Australia, Anne taught at a school for the daughters of clergymen at Cowan Bridge, Lancashire, aptly named the Clergy Daughters' School. It was attended by the Bronte sisters and is said to have inspired the Lowood School in Charlotte Bronte's "Jane Eyre".

Anne Clarke never married and died in Portland in 1892.

Physical description

Photographic print of a rephotographed photograph. Image of single storey building, front view, verandah, wooden shingle roof. A number of girls of various ages and some adults, standing on verandah. Annie Clarke's ladies school, 52 Gawler Street.