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

RIACH, Margaret

Born 07/03/1846, Died 29/12/1935

Also known as: née Oprey, Granny Riach, Grannie Riach

Organiser of the World War I War Memorial at Thirroul, New South Wales, the first memorial in New South Wales.
POLLOCK, Agnes Jean

Born 13/07/1909, Died 13/02/1996

Also known as: Jean

1952 - Founding Principal of 'Larnook 'Teacher Training College. Pioneered education for women.Trained in Domestic Arts (later known as Home Economics).
CASWELL, Tricia

First female Executive Director of the Australian Conservation Foundation (1992-1995); first woman General Secretary of the Technical Teachers Union of Victoria (1979-1992); first…
WALKER, Robyn Margaret

Born 1/07/1959

2011 - Robyn Walker became the first female in the Royal Australian Navy to attain the rank of Rear Admiral. This made her the first Australian woman to reach “two-star” rank in 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

HEASLIP, Janice Eileen

Born 03/04/1939

Also known as: née Parnell

Founding Member Alice Springs Branch and Inaugural State President of Isolated Children's Parents Association.
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

LEVAI, Amy

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…
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, Vicki

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

OWEN, Thelma Dawn

Also known as: Dawn

Proprietor of Polka Dot Fabric Shop in Alice Springs for 33 years. She opened the shop, with Edna Maskell, 20 February 1964.
JULL, Roberta Henrietta

Born 1872, Died 1961

Also known as: Roberta Ferguson-Stewart and Roberta Stewart

1897 - Western Australia's first woman doctor .
1897/8 - Foundation member of the British Medical Association, Western Australian Branch, Perth.
1918 - First medical Officer 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

SIMPSON, Glenys

1975 - First woman promoted to Sergeant in Northern Territory Police Force.
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

LESTER, Nellie

1938 - Nellie Lester was the first Aborigine to attend High School at Quorn, South Australia.
First Aboriginal, triple certified, nursing sister. First Matron of Aboriginal descent,…
PAYNE, Michelle

Born 29/9/1985

In 2015, Michelle Payne was the first female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup in its 155-year history, riding Prince of Penzance. In her winning ride, Michelle was, coincidentally,…
BLACKBURN, Elizabeth

Born 1948

Elizabeth Blackburn describes her journey of discovery as starting from basic biological research on the nature of telomeres. Telomeres cap the end of chromosomes and have a very…
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…
DENNIS, Sarah

Born 24/12/1841, Died 9/8/1910

Also known as: née Marks

Pioneer of Bendigo area of Victoria.
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

SMITH, Topsy

Born 1875, Died 1960

Topsy, born about 1875, was the daughter of Mary Kemp, of Arabana Aboriginal descent, and Arthur Evans, an Oodnadatta policeman. In the early 1890s she married William (Bill) Smith, a…
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

SUTHERLAND, Mary

Co-Founder of 'Tambo Teddies'.
CURRIE, Anne Nicole

Born 13/7/1970

Also known as: Anne Brunell (married name)

Youngest athlete to win an Olympic Medal (aged 13). Paralympian. Captain of Barcelona Paralympic Swim Team.
Has won over 100 Gold Medals. 1992 - Barcelona Games, won three gold…
HOLMAN, Mary Alice

Born 18/07/1893, Died 20/03/1939

Also known as: May

Australia's first female Labor Parliamentarian (Western Australia) who served more than ten years.
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

WRIGHT, Judith Arundell

Born 31/5/1915, Died 25/06/2000

Also known as: McKinney

Judith Wright has published more than fifty books and was the first Australian poet to receive the Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry (1992). She has also received many other prizes…
REIBEY, Mary

Born 12/05/1777, Died 30/05/1855

Also known as: née Haydock, Molly, James Burrow, Mary Raby, Mary Raiby

1811 - First known successful Australian business woman. Mary REIBEY's image is displayed on the Australian $20 note. She was a former convict.
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

BART, Nikki

Nikki along with her mother are the first women to complete the Explorer's Grand Slam, the Seven Summits which includes Mt Everest. May 2008. Together with her mother, Cheryl,…
LOWENSTEIN, Katherin Wendy

Born 25/6/1927, Died 16/10/2006

Also known as: née Robertson, Wendy

1974 - Her first [self-]published book Shocking, Shocking: the improper play rhymes of Australian Children.
1977 - Co-author of The Immigrants, with Morag Loh.
1978 - Author of Weevils…
GRENVILLE, Kate

Born 14/10/1950

Also known as: Katherine Gee

Kate Grenville is an Australian author. She has published widely , including fiction, non-fiction, biography, and books about the writing process. Her books have been awarded many…
HERBERT, Dorothy

Born 09/1922, Died 08/2014

Also known as: Dr Dorothy Herbert

Dorothy Herbert worked for the Royal Flying Doctor Service for 20 years attending outback clinics and emergencies. She was a wireless operator in the Women's Auxiliary…
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

SOUTH, Luna

Also known as: née Everall
POWELL, Pearl Ruth

Born 14/12/1909, Died 2004

Also known as: née Price, formerly Bird

Daughter of Fred and Isobelle PRICE.Author of By Packhorse and Buggie with daughter Eileen McRAE. Fred PRICE was Telegraph Master at Old Telegraph Station, Alice Springs (1916-24).
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

DAVIS, Jane

Died 1800

Also known as: née Reid

Convict who arrived on “Lady Juliana” on 30 July 1790. Married and went to live on Norfolk Island.
LEE, Suzanne

1992 - First Alice Springs' Miss Australia.
CHIKAROVSKI, Kerry

First woman to lead a major political party in New South Wales when elected Leader of the NSW Parliamentary Liberal Party (1998)
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…
KUBISCH, Doris Margaret

Born 2/10/1939

In 1987 , Doris set up “The Remote Women's Health Service” in Alice Springs and the Barkly. She also worked as a nursing sister at Hermannsburg (from 1966), Papunya (from 1975),…
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

DOUDY, Jane Sarah

Born 28/09/1846, Died 17/08/1932

Also known as: née Stanes, Jeanne

1879 - First Headmistress, Advanced School for Girls, the first government secondary school for girls in Adelaide.
WRIGHT, Ethel Daffodil

Born 10/8/1900, Died 1981

Also known as: née Sandford, Daff, Daffodil, Daphne

Daffodil Wright was a pioneer woman on cattle stations in South Australia and Northern Territory. She lived remotely and in rudimentary conditions at Mount Dare with her parents in a…
ROBERTSON, Agnes Robertson

Born 31/07/1882, Died 29/01/1968

Also known as: née Keay, Aggie

December 1949 - Elected to the Senate of the Australian Parliament.
1955 - Joined the Country and Democratic League, and became the first Country Party's female senator.
1962 -…
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

HARRISON, Winsome

One of South Australia's first women “Surfies.” The State's first women surfies surfaced in 1915.
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…
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

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.
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

PRICE, Isobelle Violet

Born 25/04/1876, Died 29/10/1957

Also known as: née Hesketh, Isobel

First lone woman (with her four children) to run a station in Central Australia - Harper Springs near Ti Tree (1924-1930s). Widow of Telegraph Master of Old Telegraph Station, Alice…
SIMPSON, Sarah Lester

Born 04/1843

Also known as: née Mills

1873 - She was one of the first women teachers to be placed on the roll of the Education Department.
Pioneer educator of Victoria.
Established Mentone High School or “Simpson'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

O'BRIEN, Moyia

Born 29/11/1923, Died 4/05/2017

Twin sister of Dorothy O'BRIEN who, together, were pioneer Occupational Therapists in Queensland. Their legacy to Queensland “The Sunshine Welfare and Remedial…
SUTHERLAND, Joan

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…
PRAED, Annie

Born 4/01/1872, Died 26/12/1948

Also known as: née Spraggs, Hannah

1895-1900 - One of first women to be practicing dentistry in Australia.
1903 - She became the first woman dental graduate in New South Wales to receive the L. D. S.
1905 -…
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

REIS, Dorothy Edna

Also known as: née Bishop

1928 - First Queensland woman to obtain a pilot's licence. She learned to
drive a car at the age of 12 years, being
one of the first woman motorists in
Queensland.
When little…
PERKINS, Rachel

Born 1970

Circa 1991 she became the youngest female Executive Producer at SBS Television. In 1995, Rachel won the first Indigenous Program Scholarship to the Australian Film Television and Radio…
O'SULLIVAN, Bridget

Also known as: Bid

Bid O'Sullivan was the first teacher at the Cloncurry School of the Air in Queensland, 1960.
In 1963, she was awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire for her…
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…
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…
PRIOR, Marina

Born 18/10/1963

2006 - She was inducted into the list of Australia’s top 100 Entertainers of the Century. Opera singer and Australia's First Lady of musical theatre.