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TRAILBLAZINGWOMENSelf-Guided Interpretive Trail

Discover the strengthand resourcefulnessof South Australia’sleading ladies,their varied talentsand their lastingcontributionto the advancementof society.

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South Australia has a longhistory of advancing women’srights - thanks in no small partto the passion, intelligence andcommitment of many of theState’s women.

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More than 160 years ago women were far from equal. They couldn’t go to university, own property, vote, get a divorce or have custody of their own children.

The lot of women desperately needed to be improved. Only through political representation would this be achieved. In 1894, South Australia became the first place in the world to grant women full democratic rights - the right to vote and to stand for parliament.

Securing the right to vote in South Australia came about through the vision and hard work of women from diverse social and economic backgrounds, such as Mary Colton, Rosetta Jane Birks and Augusta Zadow.

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This proud history has bred many strong, resourceful women who, despite preconceived notions about women’s ‘proper’ place in society, overcame numerous barriers and made significant and lasting contributions to the social and political development of the state.

Trailblazing Women explores the personal trials and the inspirational achievement of some of South Australia’s leading ladies. Through their tireless and sometimes thankless work, women in the 21st century can walk through life essentially free to be whoever they want to be.

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Trailblazing Women interpretive trailDuration: 60 minutesDistance: 2 kilometre loop-walkLevel: Easy

Trailblazing Women highlights the courage and passion of a selection of philanthropists, political agitators, artists and leaders who have left their mark on South Australia and beyond.

There are 19 points of interest on this self-guided loop-walk; each is marked with an interpretive panel.

Start your journey at stop one opposite the old curator’s house, just inside the main entrance

The map and red way-finding markers will help guide you through the cemetery.

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Tread lightly

West Terrace Cemetery is an operating cemetery with burials regularly taking place. Please respect the privacy of those visiting graves of their loved ones and keep a respectful distance from funeral proceedings. Stay on the defined paths and roadways and do not walk over unmarked graves, lean or stand on monuments, and avoid disturbing vegetation.

Dress for the conditions, wear sturdy shoes, a hat and sunscreen, and carry sufficient water.

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1. West Terrace Cemetery Main entrance

2. Madeleine Parker (1912-1936) American ballerina RD1S . Path 5 . Plot 17W

3. Augusta Zadow (1846-1896) Trade unionist and inspector of factories RD1N . Path 7 . Plot 62E

Look closer: Augusta Zadow’s headstone was paid for by nearly 1000 threepenny subscriptions raised by the Trades and Labour Council.

4. Rosetta Jane Birks (1856-1911) Christian women’s leader RD4 . Path 5 . Plot 19E

Look closer: Rosetta Birks capably managed the Women’s Suffrage League’s finances from 1888 until the vote was achieved in 1894.

5. Madame Josephine Piazza (ca.1911-1988) Celebrity hairdresser RD5 . Path 8 . Plot 15W

Look closer: Josephine Piazza developed her own personal care products using natural raw materials long before the trend became fashionable worldwide.

6. Madeline Rees George (1851-1931) Headmistress and educational innovator RD4 . Path 14 . Plot 17E

Look closer: Until 1898 most University of Adelaide female graduates were former students of the Advanced School for Girls.

7. Gertrude Ellen Mead (1867-1919) Physician RD3 . Path 14 . Plot 35W

8. Mary Colton (1822-1898) Philanthropist and suffragist RD3 . Path 16 . Plot 22E

Look closer: Along with Caroline Emily Clark (No. 12) and Catherine Helen Spence, Mary Colton supported the end of institutional care for children and the introduction of the Boarding Out System.

9. Matilda Jane Evans (1827-1886) Noted pioneer novelist RD4 . Path 33 . Plot 24E

Look Closer: Matilda Evans’ two sons, Henry and William, were also writers. Henry was Chief of Staff at The Advertiser at age 24, and William collaborated with his mother on some of her works.

10. Barbara Hanrahan (1939-1991) Visual artist and writer RD5 . Path 28 . Plot 7W

Look Closer: West Terrace Cemetery featured strongly in Barbara Hanrahan’s early life with many of her relatives buried there. She once described it as “the most poetic place I know in Adelaide”. She is buried in the same plot as her grandmother.

11. Ethel Sarah Davidson (1872-1939) Distinguished army nurse LO . Path 1AN . Plot 16E

12. Caroline Emily Clark (1825-1911) Philanthropist and reformer Caroline Clark Memorial Garden

13. Dr Ruby Claudia Emily Davy (1883-1949) Australia’s first female doctor of music Barker . Path 2 . Plot 17E

14. Constance Cecily McGrath (1906-1979) Principal of the Women’s Police CAW . Path F . Plot 47

Look closer: Policing was Connie McGrath’s second choice of career - she had originally hoped to become a musician. During the Depression she gave piano recitals to raise money for the unemployed.

15. Elizabeth Rose Hanretty (1881-1967) Labor movement leader CAO . A10 . Plot 64

16. Sisters of St Joseph Smyth Memorial Chapel

17. Blanche McNamara (1858-1900) First female inspector of schools CAE . Path C . Plot 99

Look closer: Alice Hills, buried in the Quaker section (Path H . Plot 89) succeeded Blanche McNamara as female inspector of schools.

18. Julia (Bella) Guerin (1858-1923) Socialist and feminist campaigner CAE . Path F . Plot 67

19. Mary Thomas (1787-1875) Pioneer colonist RD1S . Path 20 . Plot 12W

Look closer: Mary Thomas was mother to five children and had numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Many South Australians can trace their ancestry to the Thomas family.

AIFKendrewOval

AIFLight Oval

Sturt

Flinders

Road5X

LightOval

Eyre North

EyreSouth

CatholicWesternGround

CatholicOld Area

CatholicOld Area

CAE

CatholicOld Area

Entry offSir Donald Bradman Drive

Road CX

Jewish

Quakers

Plan 3

West Terrace

ToiletsOffice & Touch Screen

Main Gate

Plan Z

Road 5

Islamic

Road 5East

Road 4 Road 3 Road 2

South Tce

Gilbert St

Sturt St

Wright St

Wylde R

oad

Anzac Highway

Road 1 South

Road 1North

Wakefield

KingstonAllotments

Druse

EyreRoad CX

BarkerRoadBX

RoadAX

SmythChapel

Maintenanceand workshops

Cremation Reserve

Baby Memorial

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11

12

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Memorial Gardens

Facilities

Burial Grounds

North

Sectional Sign

Interpretive Marker

Navigational Pole

Caroline ClarkMemorial Garden

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Afghan

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5 6

7 8

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Meet the brave and passionate South Australian women - prominent characters and silent achievers - who helped shape society and culture from the beginning of colonisation.

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1. West Terrace Cemetery Main entrance

2. Madeleine Parker (1912-1936) American ballerina RD1S . Path 5 . Plot 17W

3. Augusta Zadow (1846-1896) Trade unionist and inspector of factories RD1N . Path 7 . Plot 62E Look closer: Augusta Zadow’s headstone

was paid for by nearly 1000 threepenny subscriptions raised by the Trades and Labour Council.

4. Rosetta Jane Birks (1856-1911) Christian women’s leader RD4 . Path 5 . Plot 19E Look closer: Rosetta Birks capably managed

the Women’s Suffrage League’s finances from 1888 until the vote was achieved in 1894.

5. Madame Josephine Piazza (ca.1911-1988) Celebrity hairdresser RD5 . Path 8 . Plot 15W Look closer: Josephine Piazza developed her

own personal care products using natural raw materials long before the trend became fashionable worldwide.

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6. Madeline Rees George (1851-1931) Headmistress and educational innovator RD4 . Path 14 . Plot 17E Look closer: Until 1898 most University of

Adelaide female graduates were former students of the Advanced School for Girls.

7. Gertrude Ellen Mead (1867-1919) Physician RD3 . Path 14 . Plot 35W

8. Mary Colton (1822-1898) Philanthropist and suffragist RD3 . Path 16 . Plot 22E Look closer: Along with Caroline Emily

Clark (No. 12) and Catherine Helen Spence, Mary Colton supported the end of institutional care for children and the introduction of the Boarding Out System.

9. Matilda Jane Evans (1827-1886) Noted pioneer novelist RD4 . Path 33 . Plot 24E Look Closer: Matilda Evans’ two sons,

Henry and William, were also writers. Henry was Chief of Staff at The Advertiser at age 24, and William collaborated with his mother on some of her works.

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10. Barbara Hanrahan (1939-1991) Visual artist and writer RD5 . Path 28 . Plot 7W Look Closer: West Terrace Cemetery

featured strongly in Barbara Hanrahan’s early life with many of her relatives buried there. She once described it as “the most poetic place I know in Adelaide”. She is buried in the same plot as her grandmother.

11. Ethel Sarah Davidson (1872-1939) Distinguished army nurse LO . Path 1AN . Plot 16E

12. Caroline Emily Clark (1825-1911) Philanthropist and reformer Caroline Clark Memorial Garden

13. Dr Ruby Claudia Emily Davy (1883-1949) Australia’s first female doctor of music Barker . Path 2 . Plot 17E

14. Constance Cecily McGrath (1906-1979) Principal of the Women’s Police CAW . Path F . Plot 47 Look closer: Policing was Connie McGrath’s

second choice of career - she had originally hoped to become a musician. During the Depression she gave piano recitals to raise money for the unemployed.

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15. Elizabeth Rose Hanretty (1881-1967) Labor movement leader CAO . A10 . Plot 64

16. Sisters of St Joseph Smyth Memorial Chapel

17. Blanche McNamara (1858-1900) First female inspector of schools CAE . Path C . Plot 99 Look closer: Alice Hills, buried in the

Quaker section (Path H . Plot 89) succeeded Blanche McNamara as female inspector of schools.

18. Julia (Bella) Guerin (1858-1923) Socialist and feminist campaigner CAE . Path F . Plot 67

19. Mary Thomas (1787-1875) Pioneer colonist RD1S . Path 20 . Plot 12W Look closer: Mary Thomas was mother

to five children and had numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Many South Australians can trace their ancestry to the Thomas family.

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All images reproducedcourtesy of the State Library

of South Australia.

Adelaide Cemeteries AuthorityBrowning StreetClearview SA 5085PO Box 294Enfield Plaza SA 5085Telephone (08) 8139 7400enquiry@aca.sa.gov.auwww.aca.sa.gov.au