Eulalie Hardy Hanton Burnard was born at the schoolhouse, Unley, 21 December 1883. Her mother was Alice Hardy Burnard née Hanton. Her father was Richard Thomas Burnard, Methodist lay preacher and teacher at Thebarton 1874–1881; head master of Unley School 1881–1889, Moonta Mines 1889–1891, Gawler 1891–1895, Flinders Street 1895–1912, and Unley again, 1912–1918. He was prominent in the boards of management of Our Boys' Institute and the League of Empire.[1]
Dawson attended her fathers' schools until 1896 when, having won a bursary, she commenced in the fourth class at the Advanced School for Girls, and after a highly successful scholastic career, matriculated in 1899. She studied science and medicine at the University of Adelaide, and graduated MB BS with first-class honours in December 1905.