Alice Christina Irvine
Alice Christina Irvine (12 May 1879 – 12 November 1940) was an Australian domestic science teacher and author of the Central Cookery Book. Life Irvine was the third daughter of Peter and Flora (née McLaurin) Irvine. She was born on 12 May 1879 at Mathinna, Tasmania where her father was manager of a gold mine. She completed her schooling at Mangana State School and was employed as a monitor at Mathinna School in April 1897. She moved to West Zeehan State School in 1898 and then Burnie in 1902. In 1906 the Tasmanian education department sent her and fellow teacher Frances A Stevenson to the Continuation School in Melbourne run by Flora Pell to learn the curriculum and teaching methods in readiness for the opening of cookery schools in Hobart and Launceston. Irvine took charge of the Launceston Cookery School from its opening in October 1907. She taught 20 girls from local schools one day a week for six months. Irvine was head of the Launceston Cookery School from 1907 until it was incorporated into Launceston High School in 1921. She did, however, spend 1914 and 1915 at the Hobart Cookery School. In 1925 she was appointed to head teacher