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

Margaret Gwen HARDY

Born 5 August 1926, Died 7 December 2001

Also known as: née Sutcliffe

First woman shire president of Lilydale, Victoria.
First and only woman commissioner of the then Melbourne Metropolitan Board of Works, Victoria.

1977 — Awarded the Queen’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

Julia PITCHER

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.
Nellie Elizabeth ROBINSON

Born 1915, Died 19 September 1992

1967 — Nellie was Queensland’s first female mayor, in Toowoomba, serving for 14 years.
1979 — Awarded Officer of the Order of the British Empire, for distinguished service 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

E. J. M. MacKENZIE

1876 — First female Superintendent of Children’s Hospital, King William Street, Adelaide 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

Faith BANDLER

Born 27 September 1920, Died 13 February 2015

Also known as: Ida Lessing Faith Mussing

1976 appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire but declined1984 appointed Member of the Order of Australia in recognition of service to Aboriginal welfare1994 awarded an…
Stella Annette JOHNSON

Born 14/2/1925

Also known as: nee Dunn

Despite her handicap, she was a community worker and taught handicraft on the Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.

Community worker — Eyre Peninsula, South Australia
Clara SOUTHERN

Born 3 October 1860, Died 15 December 1940

Also known as: Panther

First woman member and committee member of the Australian Art Association.

Her work is held by the National Gallery of Victoria and the Ballarat Fine Art Gallery.
Grata Flos Matilda GREIG

Born 7 November 1880, Died 31 December 1958

Also known as: Flos

Graduatiing from the University of Melbourne 28 March 1903 becoming Victoria’s first female law graduate, she was the first woman in Australia to enter the legal profession 1…
Millicent Maude BRYANT

Born 8 January 1878, Died 3 November 1927

Also known as: née Harvey

On March 28, 1927, Millicent Bryant became the first Australian woman in to obtain a pilot’s licence. She drowned eight months later in a Sydney ferry accident.
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 Josephine DE BRENNI

Born 27 April 1922, Died 20 March 2006

Pioneer of Central Australia stations and nursing.
1955 – 1985 — Career at the Alice Springs Hospital as an enrolled nurse and the Child Health Unit, Northern Territory.
Margaret Edgeworth McINTYRE

Born 28/11/1886, Died 2/09/1948

Also known as: née David

First woman to enter Tasmanian State Government.

1 January 1948 — Appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (Civil) for services to education.
Ellen Sarah KETTLE

Born 21/4/1922, Died 2/8/1999

Also known as: Sister Kettle, "hook and eye sister"

Nurse of remote Australia, Papua New Guinea, Queensland and Timor.

Foundation member of northern Territory Chapter of the College of Nursing of Australia.1967 — Author of Gone…
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.
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 Gardiner CUTHBERTSON

Born 6 September 1864, Died 17 November 1944

March 1894 – 1920 — First female inspector of factories in Australia.
1901-02
— First president of the Victorian Women’s Public Service Association.

1913
– “With Henrietta…
Rosemary Irene FOOT

Born 2 April 1936

Also known as: née Ashton

First woman to become Deputy Leader of Opposition at either state or federal level.

Awarded Order of Australia for services to the community in areas of health, visual arts,…
Joan SUTHERLAND

Born 1926, Died 2010

Also known as: Dame Joan Sutherland, La Stupenda

Joan Sutherland was a world famous soprano, one of the greatest voices of the twentieth century. Joan studied at the Royal College of Music in London, making a successful debut at…
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

Lucy SKOSS

Born 1966

Also known as: née Lisle

First Northern Territory woman to win “Best Yarn Spinner” at Adelaide festival organised by Story Telling Guild of South Australia.
Winner of the first-time entrant award at…
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

Mavis HOARE

Born 1927

Also known as: née Winn

1951 — First women in the South African province of Natal to gain a commercial pilot’s licence.

Flew for the Onassis and Niarchos families for four (4) years. Moved to…
Ruby TILMOUTH

Born 11/1915, Died 09/2005

Also known as: née Schaber

Pioneer and Activist of Central Australia.1950s — Led and organized a protest march against a racist curfew in Alice Springs, Northern Territory.
Diana Roselyn TRASK

Born 23/06/1940

Also known as: née Trask

1985 — First woman to sing at the Victorian Football League Grand Final.
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 Carlisle RALSTON

Born 10/11/1900, Died 1/09/1990

Married World War I veteran in Scotland then sailed to Australia to take up soldier settlement block at Urangeline, near Bulgandra, New South Wales. Was first woman on the settlement…
Margaret WHYTE

1891 — One of the first two women to graduate in Medicine from Melbourne University — the other was Clara STONE.
“When the final results appeared Margaret Whyte had done…
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…
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

Glenys SIMPSON

1975 — First woman promoted to Sergeant in Northern Territory Police Force.
Brit ANDRESEN

In 2002, Brit was the first woman to be awarded the prestigious Royal Australian Institute of Architects (RAIA) Gold Medal, honouring her contribution to the architecture field and…
Edith Dircksey COWAN

Born 2 August 1861, Died 9 June 1932

Also known as: née Brown

An early pioneer for women and children’s rights, she became the first woman member of any Australian Parliament; when aged 60, she won the seat of West Perth, taking her place in…
Florence Ann GAYLARD

Born 1888

Mother of Kathleen Sneddon’s mother. She was artistic and made all manner of things including emus out of sea shells. She eventually returned to Dunedin, New Zealand to live.
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

Gail KELLY

Born 25/4/1956

Also known as: nee Currer

2001 — First woman to be Chief Executive of a major bank (St George Bank).
The only CEO of an Australian bank to have given birth to triplets.

Only female Chief Executive 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

Maria Concetta GAGLIARDI

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…
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…
Lauren Chantel BURNS

Born 8 June 1974

2000 — Gold Medalist at the Sydney Olympic Games, Taekwondo, 49kg Class.
26 January 2001 – Awarded Order of Australia (OAM), services to sport.
2017 — Inducted into the Sport Australia…
Daisy SHEARER

Also known as: née Swan

Written on the back of the drawing: Excellent cook. Husband in government service. Mrs Shearer was a former sister at the hospital.Came to Alice Springs after war to wok as nursing…
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 Elizabeth ARCHDALE

Born 21 August 1907, Died 11 January 2000

Also known as: Betty Archdale

Headmistress of Abbotsleigh Girls School, Sydney. Officer in W.R.E.N.s during World War II. Became Principal of Women’s College at Sydney University. After her tenure at the…
Florence Isabel BJELKE-PETERSEN

Born 11 August 1920, Died 20 December 2017

Also known as: née Gilmour, Lady Bjelke-Petersen, Lady Flo, Lady Florence, Senator Bjelke-Petersen

Possibly first woman senator.

1980 — Queensland Senator (National Party), Australian Parliament Senate.1985 – 1990 — Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Senate.1993 — Retired from…
Karen Louise ROLTON

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…
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

Marilyn May WEBB

Born 1 June 1951, Died 2000

Daughter of Pioneer WEBB family of Mt Riddock Station. Nurse at Granite gold mine for 9 years.Foundation Life Member of NPWHF. Member of Northern Territory Women’s Advisory…
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
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

Amy LEVAI

Born 1930, Died 29/3/2013

Also known as: née O'Donoghue

First Indigenous teacher in South Australia.
1989 — Awarded NAIDOC Aboriginal of the Year; 1998 NAIDOC Aboriginal Elder of the Year.
2010 – Received award for Outstanding Service from…
Mary Helen MAC KILLOP

Born 15/1/1842, Died 8/8/1909

17 Oct 2010 — Australia’s first Catholic saint — Saint Mary MacKillop of the Cross — Canonized in Vatican City by Pope Benedict XVI.
2001 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

Ann CALDWELL

Born 1820, Died 1890

Also known as: née Mooney, Annie

In 1864, aged 44, widowed, with seven of her children, she travelled in a covered wagon for eight weeks 900 kilometres overland from Gumeracha (northeast of Adelaide), 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

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

Lynette THORSTENSEN

First female Chief Executive Officer of Greenpeace 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

Dorothy BUCKLAND-FULLER

Born 21 January 1922, Died 5 July 2019

Also known as: née Dorothea Dimitropoulos, Dorothy Buckland, Dorothy Buckland Fuller

1974 — First woman to establish an Australian Migrant Women’s Association.
1977 – Awarded Member of the British Empire (MBE), for services to the community.
1977 — Queen…
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 M'ILWAIN

Jane M’Ilwain, first female telephonist, was appointed by accident at Gladstone, Queensland, in 1882.
Joyce Anne CUMMINGS

Born 23 December 1923, Died 1 July 2003

Also known as: née Plumbe, Joy

Australia’s first female Lord Mayor, Alderman Cummings headed New South Wales’ Newcastle City Council from 1974 – 1976 and then again from 1978 – 1983.

1975 — Appointed a…
Florence Kathleen BERKERY

Born 24 August 1889, Died 1974

Also known as: née Fitzgerald, Catherine Florence Berkery

Pioneer of Box Hill, Victoria.
Susan DUGDALE

Also known as: Sue

Stuart Highway (Alice Springs, Northern Territory) fence architect.
Kathleen GARDINER

Also known as: née Howell

1920s — With close friend Jean Beatson née ROBERTSON, motored from Victoria to Darwin and Back — an endurance run — first females to do so.

1927 — Came second in RACV…
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 Margaret McGUIRE

Born 1900, Died 1995

Also known as: née Cheadle

1922 — First Biochemist, outside Canada, to produce insulin (University of Adelaide). Decorated for public service by the Australian and Italian governments.
1995 — Awarded Order 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

Erica Charlotte WOLFF

Born 1916

1948 — First woman in Australia to gain a Ph.D., Melbourne University, Arts.

In 1938 she migrated to Australia and became a citizen in 1944.1944 — Received Bachelor of Arts…