Harriet Jemima Winifred Clisby was born in St. James's, London, in 1830, and moved with her parents and two siblings to Adelaide, South Australia, when she was eight years old.

[3][4][5][6] Inspired by Elizabeth Blackwell's 1852 book on women's health, Clisby decided to study medicine.

With a friend's financial support, Clisby trained at the New York Medical College and Hospital for Women, graduating in 1865.

In a large building on Boylston Street, women could take English language lessons, learn millinery, dressmaking, and needlework, and obtain free legal advice.

Later the WEIU provided job placement services and training for domestic and retail work, and eventually established a women's credit union.