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

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

MEYERS, Gwendoline Adelaide

Also known as: Gwen, Gwendolin

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…
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

FREEMAN, Catherine Astrid Salome

Born 16/2/1973

Also known as: Cathy

Catherine Freeman was the first Aboriginal person to win an international track medal at the Commonwealth Games (Auckland, 1990) (at the age of 16) and the first to win Commonwealth…
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

RICHARDSON, Joyce

1961 - First Policewoman (from South Australia) to be seconded to the Northern Territory Police to establish Women Police Section of the Northern Territory Police.
WHEATON, Amy Grace

Born 10/07/1898, Died 12/02/1988

Also known as: née Priest

First Director of South Australian Board of Social Studies (established in 1935 as the Board of Social Service Study and Training). 1946 - Co-Founder of South Australian Council of…
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…
GARLAND, Eva Mabel

Born 30/6/1912

Also known as: née Lawrence, Mable

1990 - Received Advance Australia award. 1992 - Received Australian Day Citizenship award. 1995 - Recipient of Adult Learners’ Award. 1999 - Received Premier’s Seniors Achievement…
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

GILLEN, Amelia Maud

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 wife of…
PENFOLD, Mary

Born 1820, Died 21/12/1895

Also known as: née Holt

Pioneer winemaker of Penfolds Winery (now Southcorp).
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

SPICER, Marcia

Born 1947, Died 10/1999

1966 - Queensland's first woman courier driver.
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

WHITEHEAD, Mary

Born 2/11/1917, Died 1/03/2014

First female state president, Commonwealth Professional Officers Association.
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

MAC KNIGHT, Ella Annie Noble

Born 1904, Died 1/4/1997

30 Nov 1929 - One of the first women to gain flying licence in Victoria.
First woman to serve on Australian Regional Council and also first female Australian president 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

MEIN-BEL, Mabel

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…
BLIGH, Anna Maria

Born 14/7/1960

2007 - 2012: first woman to be appointed Premier of Queensland, the third female Premier of an Australian state, and the sixth female head of government of an Australian state or…
HAINES, Monica Augustine

Born 1897, Died 1996

Also known as: née Minahan, Mona, Mona Minahan

1932 - First barmaid in Central Australia.
1959-60 - First woman to own a Hotel in Alice Springs, 'The Riverside' (now Todd Tavern).
Opened first dress shop in Alice Springs,…
LACEY, Annie Florence

Born 28/10/1893, Died 1960

Also known as: née Rampton, Nance

Opened first hospital for people with Leprosy in Melbourne in early 1950s. Pioneering Bush Nurse in Northern Territory and Far North Queensland.1919 - Trained as nurse, Hobart General…
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

SCHULZ, Rowie

2003 - First Territorian to win the Australian Fitness Leader of the Year Award. Owner/manager of 'Essential Fitness' Fitness Club, 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

SWANTON, Mary Hynes

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…
WATKINS, Rhoda

Born March 1894, Died 1975

Missionary nurse. 1922 - She was a Church of England missionary nurse in the Church Missionary Societies “Way of Life” Hospital, Kweilin, China.1924 - Sister Watkins became Matron of…
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…
TOOLE, Patricia Lyle

Born 11/1928, Died 04/2016

Also known as: née Graham, Pat

Pat was the first female to hold a commercial pilot's license in Papua, New Guinea, 1952. Her license had lapsed when in her seventies she decided to renew it. Her first solo…
VAN PRAAGH, Margaret

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…
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

BENT, Roxxy

Roxxy Bent was the co-founder (with Margie Fischer and Ollie Black) of Vitalstatistix (Adelaide: 1984). There was a two-pronged approach in the early days of the company: creating a…
WARD, Eileen Maxwell

Born 06/03/1918, Died 27/07/2001

Also known as: née Taylor

COLSON of Aileron Station Pioneer of Western Australia. Helped establish Glenayle Station with husband, Henry. Life Member of National Pioneer Women's' Hall of…
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…
JAMES, Kathleen

Worked on the land on stations in Central Australia, while raising five children.
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

TAYLOR, Adelheid Elisabeth Johanne

Born 12/08/1922, Died 12/10/2011

Also known as: Heide, Mother Zonta

First migrant in South Australia to be fully recognised and registered as a medical practitioner.
1968 - Was appointed and the first female to hold the position of Director of…
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FIELD, Michelle

“In September 1988, three trailblazing women - Michelle Field, Jacqui Segger and Virginia Forbes (née Bell) - graduated alongside twenty men from the Victoria Street Training College…
SOUTHCOTT, Heather Joyce

Born 15/11/1928, Died 21/11/2014

1982 - First Australian Democrat woman elected to South Australian House of Assembly and the first woman to lead a parliamentary political party in Australia. June 1991 - She was made…
MILLER, Emma

Born 26 June 1839, Died 22/01/1917

Also known as: née Holmes, Grand Old Woman of Queensland Labour, Mother of the Australian Labor Party, Mother Miller

1890 - Founded a women’s union, advocating equal pay and votes for women.
The first woman and life member of the Brisbane Workers’ Political Organisation.
1894-1905 - Foundation…
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

MUNE, Annie Doreen

Born 6/02/1901, Died 1989

Also known as: née Hensley

In 1924 she was appointed Melbourne City Council's coordinator to combat dyptheria. During this campaign she tested and immunised 11,230 children. Pioneer doctor in Fiji 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

PARSONS, Allyson

Born 1965

1989 - Became Young Achiever of the Year - the 'Prestigious Award' supported by Channel 10. Born profoundly deaf. Her Art is well known in South Australia. She has won…
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

MURPHY, Mary

A handful of European women accompanied their husbands to the mines. Mary Murphy, Betty O'Neil and F Sutherland signed a petition to get a polling booth there.
JAMES, Eileen

Born 1894, Died 1988

Also known as: née Edes, stage name was Ivy DARRELL

1910 - The youngest musician in the first concert party of The Association for the Advancement of the Blind, travelling with them for 18 years. Played in concert halls in 1913-1920s 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

WEBB, Hilary Joy

Also known as: Joy

Stella was an Allowera (Allyawarr) woman, Jane Webb's trusted Allyawarr Aboriginal friend, who lived at Mount Riddock Station with the Webb family for eighteen years.She helped…
BROWN, Mary Elizabeth

Born 1862, Died 1/05/1952

Also known as: Elizabeth

1885 - One of two female Arts graduates, with Isola Thompson, Sydney University.
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

WILKINSON, Ella Vivian

Born 1877, Died 1943

Also known as: née Mould
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

TURNER, Gertrude Mary

Born 1/08/1898, Died 28/01/2000

Also known as: née Elliott, Gertie

She was the governess to her cousin Jane Hayes' children,Mary, Jane, and Lizzie. Correspondence lessons and books were sent by camel from South Australia.She later married…
JONES, Dale Roger

Dale made her first flight in Alice Springs, Northern Territory and went on to fly with other pioneering women, both barnstormers and commercial pilots. She helped co-ordinate 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

JORDAN, Deirdre Francis

Born 18/9/1926

Also known as: Sister Deirdre, Sister Jordan, Sister Mary Campion

First woman in Australia to complete a Masters in Education, University of Adelaide.
1969 - Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to education.
1989 - 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

NAPANGARDI, Dorothy

Born 1958, Died 1/06/2013

Dorothy began painting in 1987. Her artist sister Eunice Napangardi introduced her to it.
1991 - Dorothy won the Best Painting in European Media and 8th Telstra National Aboriginal &…
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.
WHYTE, Margaret

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 brilliantly,…
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

WALLING, Edna Margaret

Born 4/12/1896, Died 8/08/1973

1918 - First female landscape gardener.
STERNE, Elizabeth Anne Valentine

Born 14 /02/1880, Died 17/04/1973

Also known as: née Hanrahan, Chute, E.A.V. “Ev”

Was one of the first women in Queensland to become a justice of the peace.
1924-1944 - She was the Queensland Country Women's Association first State treasurer. 1941 - Awarded…
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

WITT, Edith Miriel

Born 11/10/1905, Died 19/11/2005

Also known as: Miriel

1943 - First woman pharmacist to become a “Pharmacy Academic” in Victoria. 1926 - Graduated Victorian College of Pharmacy.1927 - Registered as a qualified pharmacist.1934 - Joined the…
STOTT DESPOJA, Natasha Jessica

Born 9/09/1969

Also known as: née Stott Despoja, Nat

2001 - Senator Australian Democrat Party. Youngest woman parliamentarian and youngest party leader in Australian history.
BONE, Pamela

Born 1940, Died 26/4/2008

Pamela Bone was The Melbourne Age’s first woman leader writer and first woman Associate Editor; she twice won the Melbourne Press Club's award for best newspaper columnist; 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

ANDREWS, Shirley Aldythea

Born 6/11/1915, Died 15/9/2001

Shirley graduated in Science when women were barely tolerated as students. She went on to work for six years at the Veterinary School of the University of Melbourne. In 1947, she…
RODEN, Ruby

Born 8/07/1871

Also known as: née Barrett, H. Roden

Pioneer of Southern New South Wales and Victoria.
BURGMANN, Meredith Anne

Born 26/7/1947

Also known as: Hon Dr Meredith Burgmann

Meredith Burgmann was the first woman President of the Academics Union of New South Wales. She was also the co-founder of the National Pay Equity Coalition (1988) and of the Ernie…