This Women’s History Month, explore the lives and legacies of remarkable Australian women whose collections have been preserved and digitised for everyone to discover. From trailblazing politicians and fearless aviators to acclaimed performers, artists and writers, these women shaped Australia’s cultural, political and creative history. Thanks to the generous support of Library Patrons and donors, their stories are now available to browse online in Trove. 

Performing artists

Joan Hammond

Dame Joan Hammond was a New Zealand-born opera singer who gained international acclaim during the 1940s and 1950s. After her retirement in 1965 she taught singing at the Victorian College of the Arts and was artistic director of the Victorian Opera Company, 1971-1976. Hammond was also a talented golfer who was three times New South Wales ladies golf champion. Her collection contains diaries, scrapbooks, correspondence, programs, photos, music scores, and teaching material.  

Explore Joan Hammond’s papers

Miriam Hyde

Miriam Hyde was a composer, musician, teacher and poet. Throughout her career, she was awarded multiple scholarships and prizes, and composed more than 150 pieces. Her collection includes original music scores, 166 detailed letters to her family while studying at the Royal College of Music in London, drafts of her poems and more.  

See Miriam Hyde’s papers

Nellie Melba

Dame Nellie Melba was born in Melbourne in 1861 and took her stage name from that city. A year's study in Paris with the famous Mathilde Marchesi transformed her from a gifted beginner into a brilliant vocalist, soon to be regarded as the most accomplished and most famous soprano of her time. Between 1904 and 1926 Melba made some 150 records. Her papers include letters she wrote to her mother and sister, photos, programs and an embroidered silk evening bag with her name on it.

Discover the papers of Nellie Melba

Rose Quong

Born in Melbourne, Rose Quong was a public servant who performed in amateur theatre in her spare time. In 1924, Rose was awarded a scholarship to study drama in London and found a new career and a new life overseas. In 1929 and 1931, she appeared with Laurence Olivier and the Chinese-American film star Anna May Wong in the play The Circle of Chalk. Her papers include her 1924 travel diary documenting her journey to begin a new life in London as well as programs, newspaper cuttings and photographs.

Browse Rose Quong’s collection

Winifred Atwell

Born in Trinidad and finding fame in Britain and Australia, Winifred Atwell wowed Australian crowds with ragtime and honkytonk piano performances in the 1950s and 1960s, before settling here in the 1970s. She became the first women to perform on the Sydney Opera House stage, playing Waltzing Matilda for construction workers who were still completing the building. Her papers include photographs, press clippings, musical scores, and her own compositions.  

Explore Winifred Atwell’s papers

Writers and historians

Miles Franklin

Miles Franklin was a pioneer of Australian literary fiction, in both her own work and supporting the development of the genre. Her books include My Brilliant Career, Old Blastus of Bandicoot and All That Swagger. One of her most known legacies is the Miles Franklin Literary Award for novels that depict Australian life. The papers of Miles Franklin, which include drafts, manuscripts and photographs, are currently being made available on Trove as they are scanned.  

Explore Miles Franklin’s papers

Hazel de Berg  

Hazel de Berg was a photographer and radiographer who dedicated her life to recording a unique collection of oral histories of people who have contributed to the culture and wealth of Australia in the 20th century. Made up of 1,301 tapes, the Hazel de Berg oral history collection captures the voices of 1,290 Australians, including artists, writers, composers, scientists, librarians, actors and more.

Listen to the Hazel de Berg oral history collection

Aviators

Nancy Bird Walton

In 1933 Nancy Bird Walton AO OBE was aged just 19 when she became the then youngest female commercial pilot in Australia – beginning her career and a lifetime in the air. Among her many achievements, she was the founder of the Australian Women Pilots’ Association which was formed in 1950. Her collection includes photographs and memorabilia relating to her aviation career and the manuscript to her unpublished book World Tour and Air Race.  

Go to Nancy Bird Walton’s collection

Australian Women Pilots' Association

The Australian Women’s Pilot’s Association was formed in 1950 with the aim of breaking down barriers for women in aviation. This involved promoting training, fostering connections and networks between pilots, and generating public interest in their accomplishments. The records of this association include 10 scrapbooks of newspaper cuttings collected by the Australian Women Pilots' Association about women fliers, particularly in Australia during the twentieth century.

Dive into the records of the Australian Women Pilots' Association 

Freda Thompson

In 1934 Freda Thompson (1909–1980) became the first woman to fly from England to Australia, completing her feat in 39 days (19 days’ flying time). Three years later, she qualified as a pilot instructor, becoming the only woman in the British Commonwealth to hold this qualification at the time. Thompson was awarded an OBE in 1937 and was a founding member of the Australian Women Pilots’ Association. Her collection includes diaries, logbooks, correspondence, newspaper cuttings, flight maps, aircraft manuals and her flight cap and goggles.  

Explore Freda Thompson’s collection

Helen Blackburn

Lady Helen Blackburn gained her commercial pilot’s licence in 1945, and went on to be a significant member of the Australian Women Pilot's Association and international female pilot’s organisation The Ninety-Nines Inc. Her collection comprises of papers and records documenting her career as a pilot and her involvement in these groups, including correspondence, pilot logbooks, newsletters, and photos.  

See Helen Blackburn’s papers

Visual artists

Olive Cotton

Olive Cotton was one of Australia’s most significant photographers of the twentieth century. The subjects of her photos varied from portraits and landscapes to explorations of interiors and geometric shapes, often exploring light and shadow. In the collection are more than 50 of her photos from the 1920s to 1990s.  

See Olive Cotton’s photos

Lilian Medland  

Lilian Medland was a nurse and bird illustrator who was born in London and moved to Australia in her early 40s. She created the artwork for many books, including those of her husband Tome Iredale. Her work in the collection includes sketchbooks and paintings created for published and unpublished books.  

Browse Lilian Medland’s artwork

Politicians and activists

Dr Lowitja O’Donoghue

Dr Lowitja O'Donoghue AC CBE DSG was a deeply respected Yankunytjatjara woman, nurse, senior public servant and one of the nation's most influential First Nations leaders. We are honoured to care for the personal papers, among which are the dozens of speeches, addresses and lectures Dr O’Donoghue presented over her long career. These speeches reflect Dr O’Donoghue’s role as an advocate for First Nations rights, with a focus on improving health, housing, education and overall welfare outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Read Dr O’Donoghue’s speeches

Australian Federation of Women Voters

Founded in 1921, the Australian Federation of Women Voters was a leading voice in progressing the cause of equality for women in Australia and across the globe. The records of this organisation include correspondence, minutes, conference papers, reports, newsletters, brochures, newspaper cuttings, photographs and more.

Explore the records of the Australian Federation of Women Voters

Dorothy Tangney

In 1943, Dame Dorothy Tangney became the first woman elected to the Senate and the first woman from the Australian Labor Party to be elected to the Australian Parliament. She served as a Senator for Western Australia from 1943 to 1968. Among her collection are papers relating to the Australian Labor Party, the development of Canberra, bank nationalisation, social services and development projects in Western Australia.

View Dorothy Tangney’s papers

Enid Lyons  

Dame Enid Lyons was the first woman elected to the House of Representatives and the first woman to serve in Federal Cabinet. Wife of former Prime Minister, Joseph Lyons, Dame Enid was one of the first of two women to stand for the Labor Party in the Tasmanian State Election and later joined the United Australian Party when it split from the Labor party in the 1930s. Records of her career, including correspondence, photographs, newspaper cuttings, speeches, manuscripts and invitations, can be found in her personal papers.

See the papers of Enid Lyons

Ivy Wedgwood

Dame Ivy Wedgwood was the first woman elected to the Senate for Victoria and served as senator for Victoria 1950-1971. Throughout her career, she held influential positions in various organisations including president of the Australian Women’s Liberal Club and Women’s Justices’ Association, special magistrate of the Children’s Court, Melbourne and executive of the National Council of Women of Victoria among others. Her papers include correspondence, diaries, subject files, speeches, minutes, reports, photographs and publications relating to her political career.

Browse the personal papers of Ivy Wedgwood

National Council of Women of Australia  

The National Council of Women of Australia was founded in 1931 as a non-profit organisation promoting women's issues and social welfare. Among the records of this organisation are correspondence, meeting minutes, reports, newsletters and more, capture much of their work both in Australia and internationally.

See the records of the National Council of Women of Australia

Bessie Rischbieth  

Bessie Rischbieth was a key figure in women’s rights movements both in Australia and internationally. Among her many achievements, she was the founder and first president of the Australian Federation of Women Voters and successfully championed the Women's Legal Status Act in Western Australia. Her personal papers include correspondence, reports and meeting minutes, photographs, newspaper cuttings and pamphlets.

Browse the papers of Bessie Rischbieth

Ruby Rich

Ruby Rich was an Australian feminist and concert pianist in London and Sydney. She joined the Feminist Club in Sydney in 1923 and in the next 50 years was a member and officeholder in numerous feminist, family planning, peace, international and Jewish organisations. Her personal papers contain correspondence, manuscript, minutes, speeches, broadcasts, cuttings and publications, mainly relating to her work with these groups.

Explore Ruby Rich’s collection

Find more stories

Head over to the catalogue or Trove to keep exploring the incredible work and legacies of Australian women, including those actively breaking down barriers today.