Where are the Women?

Green tree python by Helena Scott, in Gerard Krefft's The snakes of Australia, 1869.

Although women in 19th century Australia were encouraged to 'participate' in collecting and illustrating natural history specimens, this was principally as a genteel exercise in both education and relaxation. Despite this, women all over the country practiced their craft with increasing frequency as professionals.

In Tasmania, Louisa Anne Meredith self-published her domesticised version of the Australian bush, while in New South Wales the Scott sisters forged a professional reputation working for Gerard Krefft at the Australian Museum. At the same time Martha Berkley and Theresa Walker worked as professional artists in South Australia.

Victoria's vibrant arts community supported many women forging semi-professional careers. However during McCoy's time at the Museum they were all but absent: just one, Theresa Poole (formerly Walker), was commissioned for the Prodromus project.

Green tree python by Helena Scott, in Gerard Krefft's The snakes of Australia, 1869.

This was not for lack of suitable candidates. Jane Tost, the first woman to hold a position in any Australian museum, applied for a role in June 1858. Highly credentialed, she had already worked for both the British Museum in the 1840s and the Hobart Museum, and was known in the Empire's scientific circles as a member of the leading British Taxidermist family - the Wards - whom had strong connections to both John James Audubon and John Gould.1

Despite her background, McCoy responded that he did not need assistance at that time. The museum missed the opportunity to hire a woman whom would go on to work at the Australian Museum and whom, along with her daughter Ada Rohu, was awarded more than twenty medals at exhibitions and world fairs between 1860 and 1893.

Somewhat out of step with contemporaries such as Gerard Krefft, the conservative McCoy preferred the known quantity of working with men.


1Museum Victoria Archive: Inwards Correspondence, 1858.

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