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
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PASPALIS, Chrysamthi
Born 13/07/1913, Died 25/04/1995
Also known as: née Kailis, Chrissie, Chrissy
Received The Order of the British Empire - Officer (Civil) in 1976. Well-known in Darwin social circles. 1942 - Last woman to be evacuated from Darwin area after February bombing…
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MCGOVERN, Josephine
Born 14/1/1924, Died 2/4/2001
Also known as: Josie
1958 - She was appointed female assistant in the Library of the Parliament of Victoria. Josephine was the first female professional appointed to the staff of the Library of the…
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DAVID, Caroline Martha
Born 26/4/1856, Died 25/12/1951
Also known as: née Mallett, Cara, Lady, Caroline Edgeworth David, Caroline Mallett
Wife of Sir Edgeworth David, Professor of Geology.President of Women's National Movement for Social Reform.Spearheaded campaign for Hotels 6 o'clock closing in New South…
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SMITH, Gina
First deputy chairwoman of the Central Land Council. She and Rayleen BROWN founded Kungas Can Cook, Alice Springs, Northern Territory, an indigenous catering company.Ms SMITH opened…
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KEATS, Margaret Gwendoline
Born 1895, Died 6/4/1970
Australia's first woman to qualify as a veterinarian with university training, she was also the first and only woman to graduate from Australia's first veterinary faculty…
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GAGLIARDI, Maria Concetta
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 the first…
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KONG, Marlene
1997-1998 - Marlene and her twin sister Marilyn were the first Indigenous women to graduate with a Bachelor of Medicine from the University of Sydney. 1993 - Inaugural winner of the…
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GREGORY, Metha
Born 27/08/1886, Died 11/08/1958
Also known as: née Zimmerman, Meta, Matha
Pioneer of Alice Springs, Northern Territory and Oodnadatta, South Australia.
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STONE, Emma Constance
Born 4/12/1856, Died 29/12/1902
Also known as: Constance
1890 - First woman to be registered as a Medical Practitioner in Australia by the Medical Board of Victoria.
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ANDRESEN, Brit
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…
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FARRAR, Phoebe Elizabeth
Born 19/12/1862, Died 19/8/1960
Also known as: née Wright, Bush Mother
2003 - Recipient of the 'Tribute to Northern Territory Women' from Northern Territory Office of Women's Policy. Pioneer on cattle stations in Top End Northern…
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MACKINNON, Mary
Born 05/02/1881, Died 19/09/1964
Also known as: née Walsh, Jane
Part of MacKINNON pioneer family of Oodnadatta, South Australia.
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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,… -
VICTORIAN LADIES YACHT CLUB,
First all female Yacht Club in Australia (maybe the world). Later known as the Hampton Sailing Club.
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PERIS, Nova Maree
Born 25/02/1971
Also known as: née Peris, Nova Peris-Kneebone
1996 - First Indigenous Australian to win an Olympic Gold Medal.
1997 - Named Young Australian of the Year.
2000 - First carrier of the Olympic flame on Australia Soil at Uluru,… -
ISAACS, Kim
First Yawuru and Kalapirri person to become a doctor. Kim Isaacs is a Yawuru, Kalapirri and Noongar woman.
Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, University of Western… -
LONGMORE, Lydia
Born 15/7/1874, Died 30/10/1967
1917 - First female Inspector of Schools (Lower Grades).
1957 - Officer of the Order of the British Empire (Civil), “Mother's Clubs in South Australia.” 1918 - Founded… -
ALEXANDER, Stephanie
Born 13/11/1940
Pioneering food writer, first woman to own and manage a world-class restaurant in Australia (Stephanie’s Restaurant: 1976-1997); initiated innovative primary school program, The…
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ARNOLD, Rosemary
Born 18/4/1934
In 1967, Rosemary became Australia's first female commercial helicopter pilot. She achieved commercial ratings in both fixed and rotary wing aircraft. Rosemary was the first and…
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YOUNG, Simone
Born 2/3/1961
First woman to conduct at The Vienna Philharmonic and Paris Opera, La Bastille.
1987 - Young Australian of The Year.
1993 - First female Australian Conductor to achieve International… -
CHEETHAM, Debra
Born 24/11/1964
Australia's first female Indigenous opera singer; in 2007, wrote “Pecan Summer,” Australia's first Indigenous opera, then trained the necessary Indigenous singers; “Pecan…
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O'SHANE, Patricia June
Born 19/6/1941
Also known as: Pat
Pat O'Shane has many firsts to her name. She was the first Aboriginal woman to become a school teacher in Queensland, the first Aboriginal woman to graduate in Law at an…
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LEARMONT, Jennifer Catherine
Head of Lookback Section, Red Cross, who discovered the reason some sufferers of non-virulent strain of AIDS virus did not develop into full blown AIDS. 1996 - She was appointed a…
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BARTON, Emily Mary
Born 3/12/1817, Died 24/08/1909
Also known as: Emily Mary Darvall
Emily wrote poems for most of her life and was still being published at the age of 90. She was the grandmother to A.B (Banjo) Paterson who she was a great inspiration to.
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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… -
MIDDLETON, Doreen
Born 11/03/1912, Died 15/07/1985
Also known as: née Middleton
1931 - First person to ride a bicycle from Melbourne to Adelaide and return (both directions).
Aged 19 years, Doreen rode her bicycle from Melbourne to Adelaide (607 miles) in 4 days,… -
BOHNING, Esther
Born 14/7/1879, Died 2/01/1952
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 Adelaide on the… -
HARRISON, Winsome
One of South Australia's first women “Surfies.” The State's first women surfies surfaced in 1915.
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SARA, Sally Jane
Born 2 March 1971
2000-2005 - First woman to be appointed ABC's Africa correspondent. 1999 - Won the John Douglas Pringle Award.2006 - Presenter of the ABC's Landline.2007 - Awarded the…
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MAC KILLOP, Mary Helen
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. n 1867… -
WOODS, Elizabeth Jean
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 Queensland.
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MCPHERSON, Ola Mary
1940 - First woman graduate from Queensland University Veterinary School. The University of Queensland has a prize named after her, Ola Mary MacPherson Prize.
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LEHMANN, Caroline Wilhelmina
Born 15/3/1873, Died 8/5/1955
Also known as: Minnie, Caroline Dux
Pioneer of Parnaroo and Clare districts of South Australia.Charity worker.
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MORCK, Leah
Born 1881, Died 10/05/1966
Wife of drover, cattleman, bushman of Western Australia and Northern Territory, Tom MORCK. At 15 Mrs MORCK was mother to her seven siblings after their mother's death. Managed…
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LEE, Patsy
Born 1925, Died 20/6/2017
“Grand Old Dame of Fishing” in Gladstone, Queensland and possibly Australia's oldest and most experienced fisherwoman. Won Queensland titles.
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SKINNER, Cornelia
Born 1867, Died 1949
Tryphena Rains married William (Bill) Benstead in 1881. … Bill became manager of Barrow Creek Pastoral Company, setting up home at Stirling Creek near the Barrow Creek Telegraph…
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STREHLOW, Bertha Gwendoline Alexandra
Born 1911, Died 1984
Also known as: née James
Pioneered with husband, Anthropologist, T.G.H. (Ted) STREHLOW.
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THOMPSON, Freda
Born 05/04/1906, Died 11/12/1980
1933 - First female flying instructor in Australia and British Empire.
1934 - First Australian woman to fly solo from England to Australia.
1948 - First woman President of Victorian… -
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…
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RYALL, Rosemary
Also known as: Rose
First female medical scientist of Flinders Medical Centre to be promoted to professor. She is the granddaughter of Dame Enid LYONS.
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FRANKLIN, Miles
Born 14/10/1879, Died 19/09/1954
Also known as: née Franklin, Stella Maria Sarah Miles Franklin, Brent of Bin Bin, Mr and Mrs Ogniblat L’Artsau
Wrote under the name of Miles FRANKLIN; author of “My Brilliant Career” (1901).
1948 - Established Miles Franklin Award for Australian Literature, which she provided for in her will. A… -
GARLICK, Lucy
Also known as: née Johnstone, Sister Lucy Garlick
Lucy Garlick was the first infant welfare sister to work with the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
1950s - She developed a body chart to help doctors diagnose the illnesses of patients… -
ANDREW, Elizabeth
Born 1948, Died 12/4/1993
Also known as: Elizabeth Andrew-Oates
Northern Territory's first woman to hold an executive and Cabinet position. At first, she was the Executive Member for Education and Consumer Services, then for Education and Law…
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MACARTHUR-ONSLOW, Eliza Elizabeth
Born 8/5/1840, Died 2/8/1911
Also known as: née MacArthur
Founded co-operative dairy and creamery for sharefarmers on “Camden Park.”
Planted Mulberry trees to establish silk growing industry for farmer's daughters on “Camden Park… -
BRONHILL, June Mary
Born 26/06/1929, Died 24/01/2005
Also known as: née Gough
Australian National Opera and Sadler's Wells Opera Company Singer. Winner of Sydney Eisteddfod and Sun Aria Prize. 1949 came third in Sydney Eisteddfod behind Joan…
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LEWIS, Ann
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… -
ROSE, Carmel Mary
Born 1923, Died 13/10/1996
Also known as: née Kerrison
Widow of Colonel Lionel Rose, Chief Veterinarian Officer for the Animal Industry Branch. Her contribution to Emergency Home Help Organisation was invaluable.
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REED, Candice Elizabeth
Born 22/06/1980
22 June 1980 - Australia's first test tube baby - Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria.
