Edward Charles Stirling had four daughters, he introduced a formal bill for women's suffrage and he was chairman of the New Zealand Museum committee.
He was chairman of the South Australian Museum committee in 18845 and in 1889 became honorary director of the museum. His own five daughters benefited from an excellent education, and Harriet (18781943) went on to earn an OBE for her work with mothers and children, and Jane (18811966) earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Adelaide University and later played viola in the South Australian Orchestra. 
