turnbull was born in mosgiel, otago, on 2 may 1885 to catherine armstrong, a milliner, and sydney turnbull, a baker. her parents emigrated from scotland in 1864. turnbull was the youngest of eleven children. she attended east taieri school from the age of 6 to 14. turnbull had aspirations to become a teacher but her family could not afford to keep her in school. her family attended the east taieri presbyterian church.