Pioneering Women of Yarra Valley was developed on the traditional lands of Gundungurra and Tharawal people. This fertile region is well known for its genteel English-style estates and fine wines, yet has produced several strong female figures who have contributed significantly to society.
Coombe, once home to opera legend Dame Nellie Melba, is now open to the public as she passed on.
Stella Franklin
Stella Franklin stands out among Yarra Valley women as an exceptional individual and intellectual. Her influential, poetic, and socially aware work ‘My Brilliant Career’ represents an essential contribution to Australian literature.
One might find it surprising that a woman from Monaro and Tumut districts spent her early ten years living an isolated rural environment should choose a distinguished literary career, yet the bold and assertive style evident in her early writing came directly from a sense of purpose and independence that existed within herself.
As a young woman she wrote with passion and worked tirelessly in her chosen profession of Stenographer – serving on its union board but also attending concerts, art exhibitions and dramatic and operatic performances as part of an active cultural life.
As soon as she arrived in Melbourne in 1904, her life took a dramatic turn for the better. No longer did she work as a maid but rather found work as a stenographer for the Trade Union League both domestically and overseas, fighting tirelessly for women’s rights.
She was an outspoken feminist and fierce anti-colonialist who detested both traditional British society and Australia’s patriarchal family farm culture, particularly when paired with its patriarchal social structure. She campaigned for women and children’s rights, was active in anti-fascism efforts, was critical of sectarian politics of her day, detested censorship and parochial pomposities surrounding her life, campaigned for Australian literature that wasn’t simply historical documentation and eventually died near Talbingo near Tumut before having had her ashes scattered amongst its mountains she so loved before her passing in 1954.
Marion Mahony Griffin
Marion Mahony Griffin was an internationally acclaimed architect who pioneered her craft in the Yarra Valley. Her designs for Mueller family homes in Decatur and Mason City in Iowa remain elegant examples of Prairie style architecture; her original drawings show an architectural sophistication with expressive flourishes unique to her designs.
Marion brought with her to Melbourne, in 1913, innovative rendering techniques and her flair for design whimsy which had made her such a successful partner with Walter. Marion was driven throughout her life to showcase nature’s beauty through buildings and landscapes she designed.
Marion was an exceptional individual; she developed an intimate friendship with Frank Lloyd Wright and frequently visited his Oak Park office – known as the Mecca of Prairie School design. Marion wasn’t afraid to debate issues and question ideas – an invaluable quality when designing Canberra.
After her husband’s death in India in 1937, Marion closed up their Indian and Australian affairs, retiring to Chicago where she lived out the remainder of her years relatively oblivion. Recently however, Marion’s work has begun rekindling interest in its legacy and the impact she had on modern design.
Connections: Stories People Place is organized by Yarra Ranges Council Community Links in collaboration with Healesville Aboriginal Cooperative and Swinburne University of Technology’s Oona. The project is funded by the Victorian Gender Equality Grants Program. Balit Bagurrk collects photographs, writing, poetry and visual artwork by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have played an influential role in shaping Yarra Valley communities – thus building awareness within and beyond communities, shifting historical narratives and encouraging emerging leaders.
Eirene Mor
The Yarra Valley has long been recognized for producing world-class wines, such as Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, but more recently also producing Savignon Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling Viognier Nebbiolo varieties.
Yarra Valley boasts not only an incredible wine industry but also boasts an outstanding food producer community. Here you’ll find cafes, restaurants and markets serving delicious produce; not forgetting our many food and wine events hosted here!
The area offers numerous recreational activities, from hiking and biking to boating and water skiing. Accommodation ranges from boutique hotels and self-contained cottages to larger resorts and luxurious retreats – something to suit everyone!
Are You A Foodie? Check Out Local Restaurants & Cafes or Visit Markets For Fresh Seafood And Cheese
International Women’s Day serves as an opportunity to acknowledge and thank those women who make our communities run efficiently, as well as work toward gender equality. Are you eager to gain more knowledge on the role women play in society? Look no further than Yarra Ranges Regional Museum’s ‘Code Breakers’ exhibition! Deliver pizzas, take on bullies, join an animal clan in Armello or race hot rods; all this and more can be experienced during this interactive exhibition! Plus discover incredible stories of pioneering women of Yarra Valley with Balit Bagurrk book! This inspiring book was produced jointly by Yarra Ranges Council and Oonah Health and Community Services Aboriginal Corporation (formerly HICSA) under VicHealth’s Gender Equity for the Arts Program, with funding provided through VicHealth’s Gender Equity for the Arts Fund. Copies can be purchased at Community Links of Yarra Ranges Council; The Memo in Healesville or Tarra Warra Museum of Art.
Nora Weston
The Yarra Valley’s unique terroir, or sense of place, is at the core of its world-class wines. This term encompasses everything from soil types and climate to topography and altitude fluctuations – everything that contributes to its unique flavours and styles. A seven month growing season, an average rainfall range between 750mm-950mm each year and vineyard elevation that ranges between 50m to 400m above sea level all play their parts in creating these distinctive wines from this region.
Beechworth and Melbourne are well known for their winemaking industry, yet this region also hosts an inspiring collection of women who are making waves within it. From cellar doors in Beechworth to cellar doors in Melbourne, women are making waves and breaking barriers in an industry still dominated by men – including Theodora Lee of Theopolis Wines; Robin and Andrea McBride of McBride Sisters; Tara Gomez from Kita Wines; Shalini Sekhar of Ottavino; Darjean Jones from Star Lane Winery who all contribute exceptional wines that break barriers while breaking down barriers and breaking trends to craft outstanding wines that standout amongst all competition.
Nora Weston is an author and poet whose writing falls between science fiction, fantasy, and horror genres. Her works have appeared in James Gunn’s Ad Astra, Green Ink Poetry, and Crow Toes Quarterly; her pieces explore humankind’s place within this vast universe. Nora currently resides in Michigan with her husband, large dog, two skunks and two muskrats!
Nellie Melba was one of Australia’s most beloved opera singers, yet you don’t have to be an opera buff in order to appreciate Coombe – her former estate in Yarra Valley near Melbourne. With breathtaking gardens and grounds to explore and a glimpse into an Australian woman at the turn of the 20th century’s life story this is sure to leave an impressionful lasting memory for visitors from Melbourne or anywhere nearby.
Amy ‘Starkie’ Caldwell
Yarra Valley lies just outside Melbourne and features rolling hills, beautiful vineyards, charming villages and world-class wines. It makes an excellent destination for day trips, girls’ trips or weeklong exploration. Plus it is filled with incredible nature and wildlife – not to mention delectable wine, gin, gourmet foods and tasty local gourmet delights!
Yarra Valley wine-growing began with the planting of its first vines in 1838 and quickly flourished into Victoria’s first wine-growing district, becoming Victoria’s inaugural exporting region during the 1860s and 1870s. Women pioneers worked tirelessly behind-the-scenes to make this happen – many are forgotten today but were instrumental in its success.
Amy Gwendoline ‘Starkie’ Caldwell (nee Stark), was one such trailblazing women. Born in Sydney in 1910 and educated at St Mary’s High School. Additionally she became involved with Girl Guides Association before beginning flying lessons at Mascot Airport – eventually earning an A pilot’s licence by 1940. Additionally she became part of WAAAF branch in Sydney as well as helping with the establishment of Malcolm Clubs that assisted airmen stationed abroad during Cold War times.
She retired to Bowral and pursued her love of horticulture while serving as Girl Guides district commissioner and giving talks about Girl Guides. Additionally, she took up animal breeding and actively contributed to the community by volunteering as a firefighter.
Though Yarra Ranges Regional Museum’s “Code Breakers” exhibition only runs until March 15, there’s still much to do in the region. Hubert Estate offers a cellar door and boutique that sells contemporary Australian art; Tarra Warra and Coombe Yarra Valley both host art galleries that exhibit changing exhibits; as well as Hubert Estate there is always plenty to see and do in these cities!