Women's Museum of Australia presents the

HerStory Archive

This is a collection of stories which tell of the achievements of over 1,500 pioneering women in various fields. We are proud that our HerStory Archive brings Australian women and their achievements to light, and we hope that you enjoy discovering these inspiring women.

This archive contains more information about some women than others. As a small, not-for-profit museum, our limited resources often prevent us from collecting as much information as we would like. The information we do have, however, brings Australian women and their achievements to light. If you have additional information on any woman who features in our Herstory Archive, please contribute it here.

HerStory Home

Pamela BONE

Born 1940, Died 26/4/2008

Pamela Bone was The Melbourne Age’s first woman leader writer and first woman Associate Editor; she twice won the Melbourne Press Club’s award for best newspaper columnist; and…
Barbara Jean WIESE

Born 14 January 1950

1985 — First woman in Australian Labor Party and Legislative Council of South Australia to hold office of Minister — Portfolios: Tourism, Local Government, Youth Affairs.
Sharyn FITZGERALD

2009 — Attempted first Australian female Antarctic ice marathon.

2011 — In the North Pole Marathon, in the women’s division, she came in second with a time of 6:28:16 3.
For various reasons, it has not been possible to include a photo with this Archive entry. If you’d like to come forward with photos, please see the Contribute page at the bottom left

Judith Arundell WRIGHT

Born 31 May 1915, Died 25 June 2000

Also known as: née Wright, McKinney

Judith Wright has published more than fifty books and was the first Australian poet to receive the Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry (1992). She has also received many other prizes…
Susan DUGDALE

Also known as: Sue

Stuart Highway (Alice Springs, Northern Territory) fence architect.
Marion Lillian ADDISON

Born 21 December 1885, Died 27 November 1982

Also known as: Lily

1919 — First Australian woman to play at Wimbledon.

At the time, Lily was the women’s singles champion of Australia.

She was the South Australian Ladies Tennis Champion in…
Margaret Grace SMITH

Born 1928, Died July 1995

Also known as: née Murray

Wife of first resident surveyor/engineer in Central Australia, David Douglas “D. D.” Smith. Lived on block which is now D. D. Smith Park in Alice Springs Central Business…
For various reasons, it has not been possible to include a photo with this Archive entry. If you’d like to come forward with photos, please see the Contribute page at the bottom left

Mary Cecilia RIDSDALE

Born 1924, Died 2007

Also known as: née Clancy

First Solicitor at Katherine, Northern Territory, Regional Legal Aid Service.

1942 — Winner of Harry Emmerton Exhibition for Articled Clerks.
For various reasons, it has not been possible to include a photo with this Archive entry. If you’d like to come forward with photos, please see the Contribute page at the bottom left

Shelley TAYLOR-SMITH

Born 03/08/1961

1990 — The first West Australian to cross the English Channel solo.

1991 — Won gold medal in open distance 25km event at the FINA World Aquatics Championships, Perth, WA.

1994 -…
For various reasons, it has not been possible to include a photo with this Archive entry. If you’d like to come forward with photos, please see the Contribute page at the bottom left

Jane DAVIS

Died 1800

Also known as: née Reid

Convict who arrived on “Lady Juliana” on 30 July 1790. Married and went to live on Norfolk Island.
Mary Jean GILMORE

Born 16/08/1865, Died 3/12/1962

Also known as: née Cameron, Dame Mary Jean Cameron, Em Jaycey, Sister Jaycey, Rudione Calvert

The first woman executive/member of the Australian Workers’ Union.
1928 — Founder of the Fellowship of Australian Writers.
1937 — Made Dame of the British Empire for her contribution…
Lillian INKAMALA

Born 1966

Artist

Former health worker at Imanpa Health Clinic
Worked for two years as an Anangu education worker at the Imanpa Primary School
Kareena BALLARD

From 1996 – 1998, Kareena Ballard was the first female president of both the Real Estate Institute of WA and the Real Estate Institute of Australia. She was awarded the REIWA Kevin…
Margaret Ella BURTON

Born 2 March 1931, Died 17 February 2020

Also known as: née Hayden

Pioneer of South Australia. An arts and crafts teacher, carrying on family arts and crafts traditions. Taught in England and Canada, where she opened a school for Eskimo children who…
Margaret HEWITT

2009 — Together with David HEWITT, both received the Order of Australia Medal for their work on bush communities and recording oral histories of indigenous people.
Deborah CHEETHAM

Born 24 November 1964

Australia’s first female Indigenous opera singer; in 2007, wrote “Pecan Summer,” Australia’s first Indigenous opera, then trained the necessary Indigenous singers;…
Edythe Ellison HARVIE

Born 18 May 1902, Died 27 September 1984

Also known as: Ellison

Seen in the photo at the rear drawing board, she was the first woman to graduate from the University of Melbourne’s Architectural Atelier, after completing the course in 1928. The…
For various reasons, it has not been possible to include a photo with this Archive entry. If you’d like to come forward with photos, please see the Contribute page at the bottom left

Kathleen Winifred CROOK

Rose (Bertha) Crook and her husband William operated the water whip at Wycliffe Well, a depot for watering travelling stock. As young girls their daughter Doreen and Kathleen did much…
Metha GREGORY

Born 27 August 1886, Died 11 August 1958

Also known as: née Zimmerman, Meta, Matha

Pioneer of Alice Springs, Northern Territory and Oodnadatta, South Australia. Mother of HerStory entry Illma Gregory.
Jacqueline Gail HUGGINS

Born 19 August 1956

Also known as: Jackie

2000 — Received the Queensland Premier’s Millennium Award for Excellence in Indigenous Affairs.
2001 — Appointed a Member of the Order of Australia, service to the indigenous…
Sarah Frances DURACK

Born 27 October 1889, Died 20 March 1956

Also known as: Fanny, Fanny Gately

With Wilhelmina (Mina) Wylie, they were Australia’s first female Olympians, competing in the first ladies’ event — swimming — in 1912. The two girls were only permitted…
Ellen Mary STACK

Born 4/05/1929

Also known as: née Stack, Ella, Ellen Mary "Ella" Lawler

The Northern Territory’s first woman mayor when appointed in 1975, she also became Darwin City Council’s first Lord Mayor from 1979 – 1980, one of the earliest female Lord…
Pauline Lee HANSON

Born 27 May 1954

Also known as: née Seccombe, Pauline Zagorski

First Australian woman to form a political party (One Nation). She was also head of One Nation.
Eileen Mary Florence GOOD

Born 1893, Died 1986

Australia’s first female academic in Architecture, she was the third woman to enter the new Diploma of Architecture course at the University of Melbourne in 1917 and the first…
Sarah Friend WILLOUGHBY

Born 3 August 1861, Died 25 July 1923

Also known as: née Skinner

Pioneer of Mallee District, Victoria. The family spent the first year at Tyntynder Homestead. While the government promised “all the water you wanted,” their home was…
For various reasons, it has not been possible to include a photo with this Archive entry. If you’d like to come forward with photos, please see the Contribute page at the bottom left

Norma Jean FINDLEY

Born 19 September 1921, Died 2 January 2001

1950s — First woman in the Technical’s Schools Division to win a Fulbright Scholarship.

1978 — Honoured with a Life Governorship of Melbourne’s Alfred Hospital.Home…
For various reasons, it has not been possible to include a photo with this Archive entry. If you’d like to come forward with photos, please see the Contribute page at the bottom left

Rosalba CLEMENTE

Rosalba Clemente is a writer, director and actor who became the first woman Artistic Director of State Theatre Company of South Australia from 199‑2004.

She majored in Drama…
For various reasons, it has not been possible to include a photo with this Archive entry. If you’d like to come forward with photos, please see the Contribute page at the bottom left

Mary MURPHY

A handful of European women accompanied their husbands to the mines. Mary Murphy, Betty O’Neil and F Sutherland signed a petition to get a polling booth there.
Helen CALDICOTT

Born 7/8/1938

Also known as: Dr Helen Caldicott

Helen Caldicott is the founder of the Women’s Action for Nuclear Disarmament (1982). In 1985, Helen was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, which was won by the organisation she…
Lillian Daphne DE LISSA

Born 25 October 1885, Died 16 October 1967

Also known as: née de Lissa, Lillian Daphne Turner-Thompson

1906 — Founder of South Australia’s first kindergarten in Franklin Street.
For various reasons, it has not been possible to include a photo with this Archive entry. If you’d like to come forward with photos, please see the Contribute page at the bottom left

Elizabeth Ann DUN

Born 8 April 1866, Died 20 June 1959

Also known as: née Cork

Traditional pioneer of the Gympie District in Queensland.
Lorrae DESMOND

Born 2 October 1932

Also known as: née Beryl Hunt, Sheila Hunt, Beryl Gorshenin, Lorrae Gorshenin

1962 — First female Gold Logie award winner, for her music variety show The Lorrae Desmond Show.

1970 — Awarded Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), for services to the…
Marie Louise Hamilton MACK

Born 10/10/1870, Died 23/11/1935

Also known as: née Mack, registered as Mary Louisa, Louise Creed, Gouli Gouli, Louise Leyland, Mary Mack

1914 — First woman war correspondent, Belgium, reporting for the Evening News and the Daily Mail.

Late 1880s — Contributor to The Bulletin, an Australian magazine, Sydney.1896…
Daisy Fauthrope UNDERDOWN

Born 1883, Died 24/6/1963

Also known as: née Maloney

1933 — Pioneer and builder/owner of Hotel Alice Springs.

1902 — Arrived in Alice Springs from Oodnadatta to assist her sons with their general store “Underdown Bros.”
For various reasons, it has not been possible to include a photo with this Archive entry. If you’d like to come forward with photos, please see the Contribute page at the bottom left

Rosalind MERRIFIELD

1965 — First Australian woman to fly the Pacific solo.
1966 — Awarded the Jean Lennox Bird trophy and the Nancy-Bird trophy.

1962 — She trained at the Royal Aero Club, New…
Fiona SIMPSON

Born 18 April 1965

2012: First female Speaker in the Legislative Assembly of Queensland.

In 1992, youngest woman to be elected to the Legislative Assembly; Deputy Leader of the Queensland…
For various reasons, it has not been possible to include a photo with this Archive entry. If you’d like to come forward with photos, please see the Contribute page at the bottom left

Sandy TAYLOR

Alice Springs first Aboriginal female Alderman.

Daughter of HerStory Archive entry Emmie WEHR.
For various reasons, it has not been possible to include a photo with this Archive entry. If you’d like to come forward with photos, please see the Contribute page at the bottom left

Mary Hynes SWANTON

Born 22/06/1861, Died 25/11/1940

Also known as: Mamie

1907 — First woman president of Tailors and Tailoress’ Union of Western Australia.
First woman awarded honorary life membership of Australian Natives’ Association in Western…
For various reasons, it has not been possible to include a photo with this Archive entry. If you’d like to come forward with photos, please see the Contribute page at the bottom left

Catherine O'SHEA

Also known as: née O'Keeffe

1918- Ran a boarding house at Emungalen (near Katherine, Northern Territory).
1927 — She and husband (Tim) built and ran The Railway Hotel in Katherine, Northern Territory.
1929 -…
Andrea Jane MASON

Born 1968

2004 ‑First ever female Aboriginal Party Leader when she was made National President of Family First.

1988 — Bachelor of Arts degree in Aboriginal Affairs and Public…
For various reasons, it has not been possible to include a photo with this Archive entry. If you’d like to come forward with photos, please see the Contribute page at the bottom left

Caroline Martha DAVID

Born 26/4/1856, Died 25/12/1951

Also known as: née Mallett, Cara, Lady, Caroline Edgeworth David, Caroline Mallett

Wife of Sir Edgeworth David, Professor of Geology.President of Women’s National Movement for Social Reform.Spearheaded campaign for Hotels 6 o’clock closing in New South…
Michelle FIELD

“In September 1988, three trailblazing women — Michelle Field, Jacqui Segger and Virginia Forbes (née Bell) — graduated alongside twenty men from the Victoria Street Training…
Italia FLOREANI

Born 1916, Died 21/09/2012

Also known as: Flo, Ita

On 18 March 1940 Italia Floreani boarded the last but one passenger boat Romola to leave Italy after war was declared in Europe the previous year. With her 18-month-old daughter…
Margaret BATTYE

Born 9 September 1909, Died 16 November 1949

First female lawyer to represent a client in a Western Australia Court of Law.
1939 worked for the Council For Civil Liberties.
1934 joined the Western Australian branch of the…
For various reasons, it has not been possible to include a photo with this Archive entry. If you’d like to come forward with photos, please see the Contribute page at the bottom left

Anne GREEN

Also known as: Dr Anne Green

First woman Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) student in School of Physics at Sydney University since World War II.

Australia’s third woman Radio Astronomer.Director of Molonglo…
Mary READY

Born 1834, Died 06 April 1902

Also known as: née Hayes

First white woman in Mackay area of Queensland.

Pioneer of the Mackay area, Queensland. Wife of bullocky James READY.
For various reasons, it has not been possible to include a photo with this Archive entry. If you’d like to come forward with photos, please see the Contribute page at the bottom left

Fiona COOTE

Born 3 January 1970

8 April 1984 — Australia’s youngest heart transplant recipient.
For various reasons, it has not been possible to include a photo with this Archive entry. If you’d like to come forward with photos, please see the Contribute page at the bottom left

Robyn Wells MAY

Also known as: née Hammond

Began flying between Melbourne and Tasmania.Flew in Papua New Guinea — “Only exceptional pilots survive.” Now flies in South Australia.
Evelyn Maude WEST

Born 14/09/1888, Died 20/06/1969

Also known as: Eva

Along with Miss Bourne, Australia’s first woman licensed auditor, she was the first woman to pass the examinations necessary to gain admission into the Incorporated Institute of…
Doreen MIDDLETON

Born 11/03/1912, Died 15/07/1985

Also known as: née Middleton

1931 — First person to ride a bicycle from Melbourne to Adelaide and return (both directions).
Aged 19 years, Doreen rode her bicycle from Melbourne to Adelaide (607 miles) in 4 days,…