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

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

Rachel WESTAWAY
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

Anita TURNER

Died 29/01/2006

Awarded gold Badge and Certificate of Merit for dedicated service to Returned & Services League (RSL) (highest award to a non-RSL member).

Life Member of Alice Springs…
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-Marie PRIESTLEY

1999 — Northern Territory’s first female Anglican Priest. First woman to have responsibility for a parish.

She “was ordained a priest in Alice Springs on Sunday, May 30,…
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

Gladys Ruth GIBSON

Born 29 December 1901, Died 23 August 1972

Also known as: Ruth

Educator, Community Leader.
1919 — Began as a student-teacher, Goodwood.1921 — Appointed to Westbourne Park Public School.1937 — Obtained Bachelor of Arts, University of Adelaide.1940…
Lorna Verdun SISELY

Born 14/03/1916, Died 27/01/2004

Also known as: Dr Lorna Sisely

1947 — First woman in Victoria to be admitted to Fellowship of The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (FRACS), and the second person in Australia to gain that recognition).…
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

Roma BLAIR

Born 1923, Died 5 November 2013

Also known as: née Blair, Swami Nirmalananda

First Australian Bride to be married by Proxy.

Author of six (6) books on yoga.Established Roma Blair Yoga Clubs in Sydney, New South Wales.1959 — Established television…
Louisa Ann MEREDITH

Born 20/07/1812, Died 21/10/1895

Also known as: née Twamley

1880 — First women in Australia to design a postage stamp. She sketched the platypus on a Tasmanian Duty Stamp. Two years later these stamps were authorised for postal use.…
Benita Kaye BITTNER

Born 9 May 1982

August 1999 — Received accreditation as a Level I tennis coach, Northern Territory’s youngest woman to gain the certificate, and one of the youngest in Australia.

Gained…
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

Juliet E M STAWELL

1916 — One of the first women (along with Annie Littlejohn) to enroll in Architecture at Melbourne University — did not complete course.
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

Alma Jean POOLE

Born 1920

Also known as: née Kuhn, Jean
Martha Patricia PROUDLOVE

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…
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

June Rosalie BAKER

Born 27 June 1937

The first and only WRANS Officer to attend Royal Naval Staff College in Greenwich, England — 1976 – 1977 -

The only WRANS officer to serve an exchange posting with the RN.
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

Eugenta Mabel Humphris JONES

Also known as: née McPHERSON, Mabel, formerly LAMPE

MRS JONES’ STORYOriginally arriving in Stuart in 1911 as Mrs Jeffrey Lampe, Mabel and her husband took over the license of the Stuart Arms which within a few months she was running…
Jane Eliza Boynton CURRIE

Born 11 July 1797, Died 17 May 1876

Also known as: née Wood

Jane Elizabeth Currie, the wife of Western Australia’s first postmaster, has been claimed as Australia’s first-named female artist for her watercolour Our First Hut on Garden…
Evonne Fay CAWLEY

Born 31/07/1951

Also known as: née Goolagong

First Aboriginal Australian to win the prestigious Wimbledon tennis singles title (1971)

Tennis — Australian Open — won 4 times. French Open — won 1. Wimbledon — won 1971…
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

Nellie Veir CAREY

Born 1890, Died 15/06/1973

Also known as: née Scott, Nellie Veir Scott

Only female in Victoria to become a soldier settler, in Red Cliffs, Victoria and became a successful grape grower.

1911 — Began training as a nursing sister. During the early…
Mary David ALLCHIN

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…
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 Mary KELL

Born 1791, Died 22 January 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…
Alline Dawn LAWRIE

Born 3/11/1938

Also known as: Dawn

2003 — A recipient of the Tribute to Northern Territory.

Northern Territory Independent for Nightcliff for 12 years focussing on human rights.
Roma Flinders MITCHELL

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

The first woman to “take silk”, when promoted to Queen’s Counsel in 1962, she is Australia’s first female Judge when appointed to the Supreme Court of South…
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

Rae COLSON

Cook, pensioner.
1957 — Began working as a cook at the Aileron pub, Northern Territory.
Maria DUN

Born 1798, Died 27 June 1878

Also known as: née Burdett

Pioneer of the Hunter region of New South Wales.
Phyllis Jean BENJAMIN

Born 30 August 1907, Died 9 April 1996

Also known as: née Allsopp, Hon. Phyllis Benjamin

1968 – 1969 — First woman Leader of the Government in Legislative Council (Upper House), Tasmania. She was the first woman to hold the position in any Australian legislative council.…
Anna STEWART

Born 11/03/1947, Died 12/04/1983

1979 — First woman to achieve maternity leave for women in the private sector.

A former journalist and active Victorian Union official from 1974 to 1983.
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

Nellie Grace IBBOTT

Born 20 June 1889, Died 25 June 1970

Also known as: née Pugh

1943 — She was Victoria’s first mayor, apppointed to Heidelberg City Council.
2001 — Inducted into the Victorian Honour Roll of Women.
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

Deborah CLARKE

Artist. Teaches Fine Arts at the university level (Tafe, New South Wales and Charles Darwin University, Northern Territory). She creates using a variety of media (creative writing,…
Margaret VAN PRAAGH

Born 1/09/1910, Died 15/01/1990

Also known as: Peggy

1962 — First Artistic Director of The Australian Ballet Company.
1966 — Appointed Order of the British Empire.
1970 — Appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
2012…
Maud Margaret MOLESWORTH

Born 18 October 1894, Died 9 July 1985

Also known as: née Mutch, Mall, Malla

Molesworth was the first Australian woman tennis player to be listed in the world’s top ten rankings. A. Wallis Myer of the Daily Telegraph rated her No. 10 in 1922 and 1923.…
Rosemary YOUNG

1999 — First woman and first lay person to head the Uniting Church of Australia’s Frontier Services, formerly the Australian Inland Mission (AIM) when appointed as Director.…
Fiona Melanie WOOD

Born 2/02/1958

Also known as: née Wood

1992 — Established Perth, Western Australia, first human skin tissue culture laboratory.
In 2003, she was awarded The Order of Australia Member of the Order (AM) and the Australian…
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

Dido COOPER

Born 1897

When Adelaide House was opened in 1926, it was run by nurses … with the help of Aboriginal women like Dido Cooper.
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

Jeanette WORMALD

Composer and singer. Debut tape “Male Bride,” 1994.

Three Top Ten Hits from the album Opal Blue.Golden Guitar nominee 2007 for Opal Blue.South Australian Great…
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

Sylvia WILSON

Born 30 December 1918, Died 6 February 2012

Also known as: née Roach

1942 — Lieutenant/Nurse Sylvia Roach was stationed at Alice Springs, Northern Territory.
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

Shane GOULD

Only woman in swimming to hold records for every freestyle distance simultaneously — 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m and 1500m.
First woman to swim 1500m in under 17 minutes

1972 -…
Marita MUNRO

Born 1955

Marita Munro was the Baptist Church’s first woman minister when ordained in Victoria in 1978.
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

Agnes DUBOIS

Born 17 August 1914, Died 9 January 2009

Also known as: née Draper, Aunty Agnes

Born at Hamilton Downs and arrived in Alice Springs when one (1) week old. Lived in the children’s home behind the Stuart Arms Hotel and Jay Creek before settling at the Old…
Judith Mary ROBERTS

Born 17 December 1936

1978 — First Representative from South Australia to National Women’s Advisory Council.

1980s — Appointed to the National Health and Medical Research Council and later…
Amelia Maud GILLEN

Born 26/05/1869, Died 16/11/1928

Also known as: née Besley, Minnie, Amelia Maude

Amelia “Minnie” Gillen was an accomplished singer and pianist. As a twenty-two-year-old bride, she travelled from Mount Gambier to her new home at Alice Springs in 1891.The…
Mary Hyacinthe Petronel WHITE

Born 4 October 1900, Died 01 June 1984

Also known as: née Groom, Petronel

The first woman to represent a capital city council in Australia, she was elected alderman to the Hamilton ward of the Brisbane City Council in 1949.
Esther BOHNING

Born 14 July 1879, Died 2 January 1952

Also known as: née Jenkins

First lady on Tennant Creek goldfields.
She, with her daughter Elsie, became known as “The Petticoat Drovers” and took the first mob of cattle between Alice Springs and…
Marie MAHOOD

Died 03/2009

Co-founder, with husband, of property “Mongrel Downs” Northern Territory near Western Australian border in Tanami Desert.
Journalist.
Author of “Bleating Around The…
Jill KER CONWAY

Born 9 October 1934, Died 06 June 2018

Also known as: Jill Ker Conway

1975 — First female President of Smith College (United States of America).

1975 — named as one of Time Magazine’s Women of the Year. As a writer, particularly known…
Jessie Goldie YOUNG

Born 25/5/1911, Died 23/9/1988

Also known as: née Matheson

First arrived at Ernabella 4 August 1938. Second visit 1942 – 1944. Her husband Len accredited with finding water at Ernabella.
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

Elsie ELIAS

First Honorary Secretary of the Dawson Highway Brigalow Settler’s Association.

Pioneer of central Queensland on cattle property at Moura, Queensland.
Isobel WILLIAMS

Also known as: Dr Isobel Wiilliams, Constance Isabel Arundel

In 1967, Dr Isoblel Williams became the first woman President of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP).

Few records remain of Dr…
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

Sally CHIRNSIDE

First female committee member of the Victorian Racing Club (VRC). Appointed in July 1991 — retired in 2002.
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

Essie STUART

Born 1904

Also known as: née Simpson

With camel driver husband, brought goods from Maree and Oodnadatta to Alice Springs, Northern Territory.
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

Jill LAMONT

Pioneer road train driver. Only female on construction site at Yulara — delivering freight.
Jean BEATSON

Born 1904, Died 1983

Also known as: Jean Robertson

1928 — Broke the Perth to Melbourne record with Kathleen GARDINER née Howell.
1932 — Motor racing — Monte Carlo Rally — placed 17^th out of 150.

Councilor of the Victorian…
Winifred Marie Narelle BULLARD

Born 1900, Died 1 May 1983

Also known as: Narelle

1937 — Began first Girl Guides Association in Tanganyika, Africa.

1953 — First Australian Deaconess to receive Imperial Honours, when appointed a Member of the British Empire (MBE)…