Rivett was born on 27 September 1883 in Dover,
Tasmania. Eleanor was the daughter of Elizabeth Mary Ann (née Cherbury) and Reverend
Albert Rivett, a
Congregational pastor and
pacifist. Eleanor's sisters included psychologist
Mary Matheson, medical practitioner and birth control advocate
Christine Rivett, and library advocate Elsie Rivett. After being educated in Melbourne, Rivett traveled to
Calcutta with the
London Missionary Society in 1907. == Missionary work ==