Elina Emily Mottram was one of the earliest female Queensland architects. She was born in England in 1903 and came to Queensland in her childhood. She taught building construction at the Brisbane Central Technical College until 1926, when she went to Longreach to practise as an architect. The buildings she designed in Longreach include the Masonic Temple, and Longreach Motors. She also was responsible for the renovations to AWU Hall and the School of Arts. She registered as an architect in Queensland in 1930. She was employed by the US Army Engineering Office in North Rockhampton during the Second World War. Afterwards, in 1924, she opened her own office in 1924 in Brisbane. In Brisbane, she worked with the Queensland Railways, and designed the station at Eagle Junction. Of her other work in Brisbane, only a set of flats in Scott Street and a residence in Corinda are the only remaining buildings. In later years, she moved to Scarborough, and founded the firm Peninsula Architects with Mike Kearney in 1970.