National Pioneer Women’s Hall of Fame 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

HUTTON, Beatrice May

Born 16/07/1893, Died 7/10/1990

Also known as: Bea

She became the chief draftsperson of Hocking and Palmer [Queensland] during Edwin Morton Hockings' war service.
1916 - First woman associate member of Queensland Institute of…
MCCAFFERY, Effie Gwyneth

Also known as: née Downie, Billie

1935- The first female hairdresser in Northern Territory. Apprenticed to a Miss Jockel, who ran a hairdressing salon in Collins Street, Melbourne, Victoria.In Alice Springs, as hostess…
ROLAND, Betty

Born 22/07/1903, Died 12/02/1996

Also known as: née Mary Isabel Maclean/McLean, Betty M. Davies, Mary Isabel Davies

Wrote her first play The Touch of Silk in 1928. Also known for her four volume autobiography. In 1951 she legally changed her name to Betty Roland.
CHILD, Gloria Joan Liles

Born 1921, Died 23/02/2013

Also known as: Joan

First woman Australian Labor Party (ALP) member in the House of Representatives (1974) Australia's first woman Speaker of either House of the Federal Parliament (House of…
NECK, Dorothy Annie

Born 1898

Also known as: née Meyers, Anne

Daughter of Charlie and Annie née Williams Meyers.Dorothy attended Muirden College, Adelaide, South Australia. ”Later she joined the staff of Charles Moore, then the biggest…
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

MORTON, Catherine

1945 - Writer of short stories for magazines while living on Ammaroo Station where her husband was manager.
BUCHANAN, Susan

Born 1946

Susan Buchanan was the first woman head of New South Wales' pre-eminent dental hospital, the United Dental Hospital, Sydney (Director of Dental Services: 1999). Susan graduated…
NEUMANN, Hanna

Born 12/02/1914, Died 14/11/1971

Also known as: née Johanna von Caemmerer

1964 - First female Professor of Pure Mathematics at Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. 1946-63 - Hanna was a Lecturer
and Senior Lecturer in…
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

LEHMANN, Caroline Wilhelmina

Born 15/3/1873, Died 8/5/1955

Also known as: Minnie, Caroline Dux

Pioneer of Parnaroo and Clare districts of South Australia.Charity worker.
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

LAMBERT, Roslyn Marjory

Born 2/4/1943

Believed to be the first woman in the banking industry to be granted male pay rate.
MONRO, Tanya Mary

Born 1973

Winner of The Weekend Australian Magazine's Next 100 Emerging Leaders in Science.
An award-winning Australian physicist known for her work in photonics. Physicist.1995 -…
LAXON, Sheila

First woman to train a Melbourne Cup winner.
2002 - Made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to racing.
VERSTAK, Tania

Also known as: née Verstak

1962 - First and only Australian to win Miss International Beauty competition. 1962 - Crowned Miss New South Wales.1962 - Crowned Miss Australia.
BRYANT, Lexia

Born 24/11/1940, Died 20/5/2015

Lexia Bryant was the first woman President of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (1999). She was also the Chair of the Women in Rural Practice group which developed…
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

O'REILLY, Anna Maria

1825 - One of first women to own and operate a hat shop in their Castlereagh Street residence, Sydney, New South Wales.
STIRLING, Harriet Adelaide

Born 1878, Died 19/05/1943

“Miss Stirling was the first woman president of the old State Children's Council, and member of the Children's Welfare and Public Relief Board until she resigned through ill…
GREGORY, Metha

Born 27/08/1886, Died 11/08/1958

Also known as: née Zimmerman, Meta, Matha

Pioneer of Alice Springs, Northern Territory and Oodnadatta, South Australia.
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

KELL, Elizabeth Mary

Born 1791, Died 22/1/1827

Pioneer of old Sydney Town and the Illawarra district. Elizabeth arrived in Sydney Cove in 1819 aboard the “Minerva” with her husband George and three children (one born on board)…
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

CROOK, Kathleen Winifred

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…
CASWELL, Tricia

First female Executive Director of the Australian Conservation Foundation (1992-1995); first woman General Secretary of the Technical Teachers Union of Victoria (1979-1992); first…
CARDONA, Elna Joy Cardona

Born 18/3/1956

Also known as: Joy Cardona

Joy Cardona is the first woman in Australian Rules to officiate a representative match. This was the Northern Territory versus Hawthorn in 1991, and she still has the score card! She…
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

STOTT, Muriel Millicent

Born 1889, Died 1985

Also known as: Muriel Leech, Muriel Davies

1912 - One of Victoria's first female architects trained as an apprentice in architectural offices.
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

TEUBNER, Jillian Kay

Born 19/10/1941, Died 12/11/2002

First female Woodville High School Student to gain a PhD.
First South Australian woman to gain a PhD in Organic Chemistry. Scientist and Medical Educator.
WICKHAM, Tracey Lee

Born 24/11/1962

Also known as: Tiger

1978 - Wickham was the World Champion for the 400 m and 800 m freestyle.
1978 - Made a Member of the Order of the British Empire.
1978 and 1982 - Won gold in both events at the…
LAWRENCE, Marjorie Florence

Born 17/2/1907, Died 13/1/1979

1946 - Received the cross of the Légion d'honneur, France.
1976 - Appointed Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. Former singer who, after contracting…
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

MOTTEE, Matina

Born 1931

Also known as: née Kassimatis

1994 - Awarded a Member of the Order of Australia, for Community Work with Migrant Women in Sydney. With Beryl Mulder, convened the Association of Non-English Speaking Background…
BROWNLEE, Helen

Helen Brownlee was the first Australian woman to gain international status in canoeing when selected to judge slalom at the Munich Olympics (1972). She was first woman President of…
MCCRAE, Georgiana Huntly

Born 15/3/1804, Died 24/5/1890

Also known as: née Gordon

At age 17 - She won a silver medal for portrait painting, of her grandfather the fourth Duke of Gordon, and it was exhibited at the Royal Academy in London. 1840 - Arrived in Victoria…
MCKAY, Judith

Born 12/06/1949

The first female curator at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra. 1988 - Began working at Queensland Museum.1994 - Co-author, with Donald Watson, of the major reference 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

GAGLIARDI, Maria Concetta

Born 20/10/1911, Died 13/09/1998

Also known as: née Ciccone, Concetta, Connie

Concetta and Giuseppe GAGLIARDI opened the first Alice Springs “night spot,” a dance hall, which was part of their complex opposite Melanka, in which they also sold meals and the first…
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

LUCAS, Sue

2000 - First woman crew and first Victorian to win the Institute of Ambulance Officers (Australia) National Clinical Excellence competition.
2000 - Won Victorian Clinical Excellence…
JARRETT, Patricia Irene

Born 9/3/1911, Died 28/8/1990

Also known as: Pat. Nee Herschell. Her names were registered as Irene Herschell, but she was always known as Patricia.

Grand Old Lady of the Melbourne Herald. Editor of Women's pages in the Daily Sun. Celebrated 25 years of continuous service with the Herald and Weekly Times - the only woman…
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

LICHTENBERG, Anna

Lecturer in Information Technology (IT) (now PhD and consultant at Curtin University. First woman involved in the IT department at the Community College in Alice Springs, Northern…
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

BELLAMY, Evelyn, Nee Oliffe

Born 1907, Died 1984

Also known as: Paddy

1940s - First woman to drive alone between Adelaide and Alice Springs.
1947 - First woman in Alice Springs to actually register a business - the first exclusive womens' store in…
ROLTON, Karen Louise

Born 21/11/1974

2000 - First woman to play Men's Grade cricket in South Australia. Vice Captain Australian women's One Day Cricket team which won the World Cup in India in 1997.early 2018 -…
ALLCHIN, Mary David

Born 17/5/1913

Pioneer of Central Australia. Arrived in Alice Springs in 1941, took her final vows with the Catholic Church in 1942 and helped establish Arltunga mission in 1942. Also worked on…
PRENTICE, Una Gailey

Born 6/11/1913, Died 25/03/1986

Also known as: née Bick, Dr Una Prentice

1938 - First woman to graduate from Law in Queensland University, and the first woman graduate to be admitted to the Queensland Bar.
First woman Barrister to appear as Prosecutor on…
WARREN, Ellen

Ellen was a staunch member of the Tasmanian branch executive of the Australian Women Pilots Association, and celebrated her 70th birthday in 1994 by flying a 172 on Saturday and 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

LAHY, Mary Patricia

Born 24/5/1928, Died 11/5/2004

1979 - Became Sydney University's first woman Dean of Arts.
1992 - She was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia, services to higher education. 1963 - Graduated with…
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

BARTLETT, Faye

One of the first women police in the Northern Territory. All commenced their recruit training (with a number of men) in February 1961, and the course “passed out” on 10 April 1961. All…
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

MCPHERSON, Ola Mary

1940 - First woman graduate from Queensland University Veterinary School. The University of Queensland has a prize named after her, Ola Mary MacPherson Prize.
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

TONER, Pauline

Born 16/03/1935, Died 03/03/1989

Also known as: Hon. Pauline Therese Toner

1982 - First woman State Cabinet Minister in Victoria
(Hon.) 1969 - Joined the Australian Labor Party
1973-1979 - Councillor for the Shire of Diamond Valley.
1977-1988 - First female…
MITCHELL, Roma Flinders

Born 2/10/1913, Died 05/03/2000

1962 - First woman Queen’s Counsel in Australia.
1965 - First female Supreme Court judge in Australia.
1972 - First woman deputy chancellor of a university.
1981-82 – First human…
MCNAMARA, Blanche

Born 1859, Died 1900

1897-1900 - Blanche McNamara was the pioneering first woman school inspector in South Australia and also the first in Australia. She was appointed specifically to pay attention to the…
KIBBLE, Nita Bernice

Born 8/6/1879, Died 4/2/1962

1919-43 — first woman librarian at the State Library of New South Wales. Miss Kibble set up the Library's first research department in 1918. She was appointed the Library's…
PRAED, Annie

Born 4/01/1872, Died 26/12/1948

Also known as: née Spraggs, Hannah

1895-1900 - One of first women to be practicing dentistry in Australia.
1903 - She became the first woman dental graduate in New South Wales to receive the L. D. S.
1905 -…
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

SOUTH, Luna

Also known as: née Everall
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

LAWTON, Margaret Doreen

Born 18/4/1923, Died 18/5/2002

Also known as: Peg, Peggy, Peg Gooden

1998 - Awarded Order of Australia in Australia Day Honours List, community service to the Flinders Medical Centre Volunteer Service. 22 years volunteering at Flinders Medical Centre,…
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

PRESS, Beth

From Yuanduma - Chair of Council Indigenous Advisory Council - to suggest ways to win Indigenous disadvantage.
LITTLEJOHN, Emma Linda Palmer

Born 11/12/1883, Died 21/3/1949

Also known as: née Teece, Linda Littlejohn, Emma Teece, Emma Tilden

Broadcaster and Public Speaker 1929 - Founding member of 'Open Door International' to promote women worker's rights.President of Equal Opportunity Rights International…