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

Ann LEWIS

Born 1926

1948 — First woman com­mer­cial pilot in West­ern Aus­tralia. Award­ed the Coro­na­tion Medal for rep­re­sent­ing the wom­en’s fly­ing branch of the R.A.F.
First female pilot to fly for the…

Senja Raymond ROBEY

Born 25/01/1927, Died 14/4/2020

Also known as: née Havard

A foun­da­tion mem­ber of the Aus­tralian Women Pilots Asso­ci­a­tion Sen­ja learned to fly in a Tiger Moth in 1949. She has taught hun­dreds of stu­dents to fly and fer­ried many air­craft to…

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

Helen DANN

At 17, first woman in Vic­to­ria to get semi-trail­er licence.
2015 — Induct­ed into Shell Rim­u­la Hall of Fame at Nation­al Road Trans­port Hall of Fame.

Bought her own TK Bedford…

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

Janie FINLAY

Also known as: née Dickenson

Aged 27 years — Aus­trali­a’s youngest female may­or (Launce­s­ton, Tasmania).

Fiona Caroline GRAHAM

Also known as: Dr Fiona Graham, Sayuki

2007 — First for­eign geisha in Japan.

Social anthro­pol­o­gist; doc­u­men­tary film mak­er; author; and finan­cial journalist.

Debbie KILROY

Born 1961

Also known as: née Harding

Deb­bie is a prison reformer and founder and Chief Exec­u­tive Offi­cer of Sis­ters Inside Inc.

In 2007, Deb­bie was the first per­son in Aus­tralian with seri­ous con­vic­tions to be admitted…

Mary HARGRAVE

Born 27 January 1916, Died 24 January 1987

Also known as: née Minto

Writ­ten on the back of the draw­ing: Hus­band a solicitor.

Ruth Sabina HEATHCOCK

Born 11 January 1901, Died 7 May 1995

Also known as: née Rayney, Sister Ruth

First white woman to be tak­en by the Abo­rig­ines into ​‘Ruined City’ in Arn­hem Land, North­ern Territory.

1951 — Award­ed Order of the British Empire (OBE), for row­ing 145…

Helen Australia GREGORY

Born 10 December 1863, Died 22 October 1950

Also known as: née Gregory, Nellie, Helen Australia Donnan

8 March 1886 — Bendi­go, Vic­to­ria — The first offi­cial organ­ised women’s crick­et match was cap­tained by sis­ters Lily and Nel­lie GRE­GO­RY at a match in Syd­ney, which includ­ed player…

Nancy-Bird WALTON, OBE, AO

Born 16/10/1915, Died 13/1/2009

Also known as: Nancy Bird, Nancy Bird Walton, Nancy Bird-Walton

Nan­cy-Bird was a pio­neer­ing Avi­a­trix who in 1932, at the age of 17, was the youngest female Aus­tralian to gain a pilot’s license. Two years lat­er she became the first female…

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

Margaret Elizabeth HALL

Born 11/06/1910, Died 01/09/1993

Also known as: née Nicker

Helped set up first School of the Air in Cen­tral Aus­tralia. Pres­i­dent of Coun­try Wom­en’s Asso­ci­a­tion (CWA). Pres­i­dent of Roy­al Fly­ing Doc­tor Ser­vice Wom­en’s Auxiliary.…

Linda Marion BERLOWITZ

Born 1903, Died July 1998

Also known as: née Cave, Lyn

1960 – 63 — First woman to suc­cess­ful­ly stand for elec­tion to the North­ern Ter­ri­to­ry Leg­isla­tive Coun­cil — won seat of Fan­ny Bay.

Busi­ness­woman in Darwin.

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 DILLON

In 1843, Mary Dil­lon, daugh­ter of a pub­li­can from Bathurst, New South Wales, was grant­ed a license to open her pub in Bris­bane, then a rather rough and ready fron­tier town. In her…

Gladys REYNELL

Born 4 September 1881, Died 16 November 1956

Also known as: née Reynell, Gladys Osborne

Gladys Reynell was South Aus­trali­a’s first stu­dio pot­ter and the first Aus­tralian artist to apply mod­ernist prin­ci­ples to the crafts.

She was also an accom­plished painter…

Shirley Lorraine KNOWLES

Also known as: née Knowles, Shirley Morris

First woman Fire Con­trol Offi­cer and Rur­al Watch Area Co-ordi­na­tor, Woodridge area, Gin­gin Shire, West­ern Australia. 
1986 — First woman in Gin­gin West, West­ern Aus­tralia, Bush Fire…

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

Jillian Kay TEUBNER

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.

Ruth Isabel HODGES

Died 18 June 1974

Set the first record, under inter­na­tion­al rules, by a woman pilot in Aus­tralia — a dis­tance of 1,360.69 km in a Cess­na 210 air­craft at a speed of 312.18 km/​hr in 4 hours 26 min­utes 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

Mabel MEIN-BEL

Born 1934, Died 5/06/2016

Also known as: Mabel Jimarin

First Abo­rig­i­nal woman to have quadru­plets (all girls) in 1968, as well as the first North­ern Ter­ri­to­ry quads. Then, in 1969, gave birth to twin girls.

Nanagu group; Brinkin…

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

Irene Selina DEAN-WILLIAMS

Born 12/7/1903, Died 3/7/1946

Also known as: née Schmidt, Selina Irene Schmidt, Rene

1932 — Flew her Gip­sy Moth from Perth to Syd­ney via Ade­laide and Mel­bourne, and returned to Perth, becom­ing the first avi­a­trix to fly across Aus­tralia East to West. She set 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

Frances Mary KILGARIFF

Born 1951

Also known as: Fran

May­or of Alice Springs, North­ern Territory

2011 — Fran received a Mem­ber of the Order of Aus­tralia for ser­vices to local gov­ern­ment in the North­ern Ter­ri­to­ry and the economic…

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

Barbara JAMES

Born 8 November 1943, Died 2003

Also known as: née Johnson

His­to­ri­an of the North­ern Territory.
1999- Chief Min­is­ter’s Wom­en’s Achieve­ment Award for her con­tri­bu­tion to the North­ern Ter­ri­to­ry as a jour­nal­ist, his­to­ri­an, author,…

Jean Margaret LEWORTHY

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…

Charlotte Morrison ANDERSON

Born 12/3/1915, Died 15/4/2002

Char­lotte Ander­son was an Aus­tralian pio­neer of pae­di­atric gas­troen­terol­o­gy. She devel­oped a clin­i­cal research pro­gram at the Roy­al Chil­dren’s Hos­pi­tal in Mel­bourne, where 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

Tracey MOFFATT

Born 12/11/1960

1990s — First suc­cess­ful Indige­nous Aus­tralian woman pho­tog­ra­ph­er and film mak­er. Mof­fatt is a con­tem­po­rary artist using a vari­ety of tech­niques, such as col­lage, set design, 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

Barbara Rosemary HARDY

Born 31 March 1927

Also known as: née Begg

1981 – 82 — First female board mem­ber of South Aus­tralian Board of Advice, AMP Society.
26 Jan­u­ary 1987 — Appoint­ed Offi­cer of the Order of Aus­tralia, for ser­vice to con­ser­va­tion 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

Linda WATSON

Founder of Lin­da’s House of Hope — help­ing women get out of prostitution.

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

Margaret Keitha FINDLAY

Born 1916

1940s — Tas­ma­ni­a’s first known woman stu­dent of architecture.

Monica Teresa KENNEDY

Born 1892, Died 28/12/1970

Also known as: nee Sheeran

Mar­ried Michael Fred­er­ick Kennedy (“Fred”) in 1929 and moved to Elke­dra Sta­tion in the North­ern Ter­ri­to­ry. Moth­er of five chil­dren who she super­vised with their schooling…

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

Jean MILLS

1897 — 1938 — First Hon­orary Matron of Girl’s Club for under-priv­i­leged girls and women. 

Emilie DAVIS

Also known as: Babs

Writ­ten on the back of the draw­ing: Short-term member.

Annie MEYERS

Also known as: nee Williams

Annie Williams arrived in Alice Springs in the late 1890s. Here she mar­ried Char­lie Mey­ers (aka Aaron Schun­ke), the local sad­dler. They had four chil­dren: Dorothy Annie, Her­man John…

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

Emily Louisa McGOWAN

Also known as: nee Roberts

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

Lily Isabel Maude ADDISON

Born 1887, Died 1968

1906 — First woman to do tech­ni­cal work in archi­tec­tur­al office in Queens­land. Lily assist­ed in her father’s office from about 1906. In 1914 she passed Build­ing Con­struc­tion and…

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.…

Evelyn Beatrice MacKENZIE

Also known as: Eveline

1894 — Won the first Aus­tralian wom­en’s golf cham­pi­onship — Gee­long, Victoria.

1895, 1896, 1898 — She won the state champion.

Carla Maria ZAMPATTI

Born 19 May 1942

Car­la Zam­pat­ti is a promi­nent Aus­tralian fash­ion design­er who was the first woman appoint­ed as Chair­per­son of SBS tele­vi­sion in 1999.

1965 — Pro­duced her first collection.…

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

Bronwyn Nancy DONAGHY

Born 21/12/1948, Died 23/07/2002

Also known as: née Simeon, Frances Storm

Journalist/​Author of books on youth sui­cide and sex edu­ca­tion. Wrote Anna’s Sto­ry (Anna Wood died after tak­ing an Ecsta­sy tablet at a ​“Rave’ Par­ty.” Anna’s…

Cora BARCLAY

Born 22/02/1923, Died 07/11/2009

Also known as: Cora Michalk

1969 Award­ed the Order of the British Empire

1986 Life mem­ber of Aus­tralian Asso­ci­a­tion of Teach­ers of the Deaf for ser­vices to the edu­ca­tion of hear­ing impaired children.…

Olive May DONNELLAN

Born 24 February 1901

Also known as: née Ramsey

Writ­ten on the back of the draw­ing: Ex Pres­i­dent or group Pres­i­dent. Foun­da­tion mem­ber. A sis­ter in AIM. Met hus­band at Ood­na­dat­ta (lived in Alice). First group pres­i­dent 1946 – 49.…

Harriet Adelaide STIRLING

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…

Helen WILLIAMS

Born 1945

First woman to head a Com­mon­wealth gov­ern­ment depart­ment when she was appoint­ed Sec­re­tary of the Dep­tart­ment of Edu­ca­tion in 1985.

1979: Ear­ly in her pub­lic ser­vice career,…

Margaret BLACKWOOD

Born 26 April 1909, Died 1 June 1986

Also known as: Dame Margaret Blackwood

First woman Deputy Can­cel­lor at Mel­bourne Uni­ver­si­ty. First woman appoint­ed Hon­orary Life Mem­ber by the Asso­ci­a­tion of Women on Cam­pus Mel­bourne Uni­ver­si­ty. OBE 1981. First constructor…

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 TUZEWSKI

Also known as: née Bozzini

2000 — Award­ed Order of Aus­tralia for ser­vices to the wel­fare of women and fam­i­lies, The Brown­ies, and the Wom­en’s Advi­so­ry Council.

Mary Jeanette ROBISON

Born 19 April 1858, Died 20 October 1942

Also known as: May Robson

Known as May Rob­son, she was one of the first Aus­tralian actress­es to receive Oscar nom­i­na­tions, hers for Best Actress in Lady for a Day, 1933.

Sallyanne ATKINSON

Born 23 July 1942

Also known as: née Kerr

1985 – 1991 — First female Lord May­or of Bris­bane, Queens­land. First Lib­er­al mem­ber to become 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

Faye BARTLETT

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…

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

Margaret Cecilia CAIRNS

Born 1905

Also known as: née Egar, Margaret Sawyer

Cen­tral Aus­tralian pio­neer when mar­ried to Con SAWYER (died 1947).Pioneer of Kurun­di Cat­tle Sta­tion with sec­ond hus­band Bill CAIRNS.

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

Vicki TAYLOR

2009 — Tel­stra North­ern Ter­ri­to­ry Busi­ness Woman of the Year.

Gen­er­al Man­ag­er — Alice Springs Hos­pi­tal (2004- ).

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 Jean WOODS

Born 18/10/1955

Also known as: Beth

Aus­trali­a’s first female Rhodes Schol­ar, Queens­land Rhodes Schol­ar 1977.

As of 2018, she is the Direc­tor-Gen­er­al of the Depart­ment of Agri­cul­ture and Fish­eries in…

Beverley Louise BOLIN

Born 23 January 1923

Also known as: Beverley Carter

The first known woman archi­tect to qual­i­fy in South Aus­tralia was Bev­er­ley Bolin, who grad­u­at­ed in 1948. She reg­is­tered in 1950 in South Aus­tralia but moved per­ma­nent­ly to the United…