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

MCMANUS, Mary Anna

Born 7/2/1844, Died 22/7/1933

Also known as: née Spencer

First white child to live where Saint George is now situated. With her mother, they were the first white women to reside in Maranoa District, Roma Queensland. Wrote Reminiscences of…
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

SMITH, Christian Brynhild Ochiltree Jollie

Born 15/03/1885, Died 14/01/1963

Also known as: Christian Jollie Smith

1918 - First woman taxi-driver in Melbourne (under trade name “Pamela Brown”). 1912 - Admitted Solicitor by the Supreme Court of Victoria.1914 - Second woman to be admitted as a…
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

LAWLER, Alma Rita

Born 19/9/1900, Died 13/9/1987

Also known as: née Kennedy

Married Herbert Thomas Lawler of 'Hilldyke,' Michelogo. Raised her family and helped on the property when required. Teacher, St Vincents College, Potts Point, New South…
MCDONALD, Edith Antonia

Also known as: née Bohning, Edie

The two Bohning girls, Elsie and Edie, were famous for their station work.Esther Bohning and her daughters, Elsie and Edith, from Helen Springs Station north of Tennant Creek, were…
SPENCER, Mary Stuart

Born 15/05/1871, Died 19/04/1940

Also known as: née Huntly, Eleanor Huntly, Mary Stuart Cosens, Senora Spencer

1906 - First woman projectionist in Australia.
THOMPSON, Isola Florence

Born 18/11/1861, Died 7/12/1915

Also known as: Florence Isola

1885 - One of two female Arts graduates, with Mary Elizabeth Brown, Sydney University.
1887 - She became the first woman to complete a Master of Arts, Sydney University.
PATTERSON, Kay Christine Lesley

Born 21/11/1944

She was elected as a Liberal Party Senator for Victoria in 1987 and went on to become Minister for Family and Community Services and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for 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

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…
JONES, Rae Rose

Born 9/12/1932, Died 14/7/2010

Squash champion. Played in every Masters Games since 1986. Won gold every year except in 1988, when she won silver.
Safely delivered twins on a ship via radio. Midwife, Alice Springs…
JACKSON, Frances

Also known as: nee Hyatt

1930 - First Tasmanian woman to become a pilot.
First woman to fly from Goulburn to Mascot and return. Born in 1908, as a teenager, Frances Hyatt lived with her family at Dunalley and…
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

SANDERCOCK, Mary

1970s - First female Property Valuer in South Australia.
LYNCH, Mary

Born 1880
HYNES, Inez

Also known as: née Hynes

1938 - Appointed South Australia's first air hostess.
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

MAY, Sandra
TAYLOR, Doris Irene

Born 25/07/1901, Died 23/05/1968

1953 - Founder of first Meals on Wheels organisation in Australia (South Australia). 1959 - Appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire.
The South Australian Electoral district…
ADAM-SMITH, Patsy

Born 31/5/1924, Died 21/9/2001

Also known as: Patricia Jean Smith

First woman Articled on an Australian Merchant Ship (Radio Operator) (1954-60). Popular author of 33 books on history, folklore, and preserving national traditions, plus an…
MARTEL, Ellen Alma

Born 30/9/1855, Died 11/8/1940

Also known as: née Charleston, Nellie

1903 -First woman along with Vida Goldstein, Mary Ann Moore-Bentley and Selina Anderson , in Australia and British Empire, to stand for National Parliament (unsuccessful). Involved 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

OLIFFE, Evelyn

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…
THOMAS, Alice Jean

Born 1900

Also known as: née Bertram, Jean Thomas

1938 - Drove Buick (1936) car across Victoria, New South Wales, Northern Territory into Queensland then back to Tasmania with two women friends and her 7 year old twin sons.
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

MACDONALD, Maxine

Also known as: née Darrow, Mrs Mac

The driving force behind the Kimberley's Fossil Downs Station. When her husband Bill died in 1963, she carried on singlehandedly managing the station. Before marriage, was a…
BEALE, Beryl Ivy

Born 1898, Died 18/03/1979

Also known as: née Laidlaw, Cloudy

Beryl Ivy Beale was known as ‘Cloudy’ because she was a heavy smoker. ‘……an artistic, sensitive, music-loving woman with the down-to-earth determination, fortitude and hard…
BAILEY, Karyn

Born 28/07/1986

2005 - First Northern Territory player in over a decade to be in an Australian 21 and under squad. Also won a scholarship to Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra. 2007 - won the…
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…
LEEBOLD, Nancy Lorna

Born 2/11/1915, Died 13/7/1982

Also known as: née Ellis

October 1952 - First Australian woman to fly a Lockheed Lodestar aircraft. 1959 - She flew a jet aircraft in the USA, the first Australian woman to do so.
Awarded Officer of the Order…
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

KILGARIFF, Eileen Elizabeth

Born 31/12/1891

Also known as: née Minahan

Mona Minahan came to Alice Springs in 1931 to visit her sister, Eileen Kilgariff.
LYNCH, Kate

Born 1882

First all girl timber cutting team in Queensland. In 1900 the Lynch family faced ruin when their cattle were wiped out by fever. Cornelius then taught his daughters the art of…
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

PARKIN, Rosemary

Australia's foremost Lacemaker. Has correspondence courses in lacemaking and written an instruction book.1981 - Vice Chairman of The Australian Lace Guild.Conducts weekly lace…
STONE, Grace Clara

Born 12/01/1860, Died 10/05/1957

Also known as: Clara, Grace

One of the first two women to graduate in Medicine from Melbourne University - Margaret WHYTE was the other.
She was named the first president of the Victorian Medical Women's…
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

SHAW, Mary Turner

Born 14/01/1906, Died 23/04/1990

Also known as: Mollie

1941 - First woman Architect employed by Public Works (Department of the Allied Services).
WATSON, Jessica

Born 1993

At 16 years of age, Jessica was unofficially the youngest person to sail non-stop, unassisted around the world, completing her trip in May 2010. In 2010, Jessica was awarded…
KELLY, Jacqueline Marie

Born 18/2/1964

Also known as: Jackie

2000 - First serving Federal Minister to give birth while in office. Bachelor of Law, University of Queensland.
1996 - Entered Parliament.1998 - She was elected MHR (Lib) for Lindsay,…
PROUDLOVE, Martha Patricia

Died 13/10/1997

Also known as: Patti, Pattie

1930s - First woman to hold a bus driver's licence in Western Australia. Ran a public and tourist bus service with husband and family from Denmark to Albany, Western Australia and…
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

STEWART, Ethel

Born 05/1907

Also known as: née Sinclair, Isa

Winner of the 1985 Australian Jack-Be-Nimble Championships (Knuckle Bone (Jacks) Champion).
JACKSON, Lauren Elizabeth

Born 11/5/1981

Also known as: Jacko, LJ, Loz

Regarded as Australia's greatest ever female basketball player. Led the team to four Olympic silver medals. Chosen to carry the Australian flag in the 2012 Olympics. 2000 - Silver…
MOTTRAM, Elina Emily

Born 1903, Died 1996

Queensland's longest practicing female architect was also the first to establish her own business in this State. She opened an office in Brisbane in 1924, and two years later…
MENUHIN, Hephzibah

Born 20/05/1920, Died 1/01/1981

She made her public debut at age 8 in San Francisco. She was her brother Yehudi’s accompanist as her parents rejected a career in music for her.
1933 - Their recording of Mozart’s…
LEWORTHY, Jean Margaret

Born 22/7/1921, Died 15/4/2008

Also known as: née Fairbairn, Jean Piaggio

First civilian doctor to use Penicillin in Australia.
1954 - She was the first woman in full-time practice; Bundaberg, Queensland.
1995 - Order of Australia, services to medicine and…
CHATFIELD, Irene

First woman awarded the Australian Football League's (AFL's) inaugural Woman of the Year (1998)
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

JOHNS, Noreen

Born 1925, Died 25/4/1997

Also known as: née Maloney

1952-55 - Teacher at Hartley Street School (first primary school in Alice Springs). 1970 - Returned to teaching at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Catholic College, followed by Ross Park…
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

SHADFORTH, Patsy

Northern Territory Pioneer of Seven Emu Station.
TART, Margaret

Born 28/08/1865, Died 27/07/1916

Also known as: née Scarlett

1888 - First European woman to travel up the Sun-Ning River from Canton, China (visiting husband's mother). Margaret was an Australian school teacher married to a Chinese tea…
FINLAYSON, Janet Catherine

Also known as: Jean

In 1915, John Flynn asked Sister Jean Finlayson to do a one-year trial as nursing sister in Stuart (now known as Alice Springs). 1915-1916 - First official Nursing Sister in Stuart…
NOBLE, June

June was named the 2008 Centralian of the Year. She is a volunteer who has served as an Alice Springs Town Council alderperson and deputy mayor.
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…
PETERSON, Gwen

Gwen became C.E.O. of Peterson Industries Pty. Ltd. after her husband Max passed away in 2002.
The Company had its beginnings in 1948, when it was set up in an old stone barn in a…
WRIGLEY, Joycelyn

Born 8/11/1918

Also known as: née Devoy, Joyce

First woman in New South Wales to apply and be granted a Lady Trainer's Licence (horse racing). Has competed in and won just about every type of horse riding competition.
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

MACNAMARA, Annie Jean

Born 1/4/1899, Died 13/10/1968

Also known as: Jean, Jean Connor

First woman Resident Medical Officer at Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne. In May 1923 Jean, with high recommendations, was appointed resident at the (Royal) Children's…
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

PITCHER, Julia

Also known as: Dr Julia Pitcher

Neurophysiologist. She and her team's research was named among the top 10 health and medical research projects in Australia.
RANDELL, Mary Ann Elliot

Born 1799, Died 1874

Also known as: née Beare

Pioneer of Gumeracha in Adelaide Hills, South Australia.Steamship 'Mary Ann' on Murray River was named after her.
DEXTER, Caroline

Born 6/1/1819, Died 19/8/1884

Also known as: née Harper, Caroline Lynch

First woman to publish a magazine in Australia. 1858 - Wrote and published “Ladies Almanack: The Southern Cross or Australian Album and New Years Gift.” It was “The First…