Woman of note Julia Margaret (Bella) Guerin was the first woman graduate of The University of Melbourne, B.A. 1883, M.A. 1885.

Guerin entered the University of Melbourne to study a Bachelor of Art in 1881, the first year women were permitted to do so. She became the first woman graduate in 1883, and completed a Master of Arts in 1885. In 1891 she married Henry Halloran with whom she had a son, Henry Marco. After Henry’s death in 1893 Bella returned to teaching, marrying George D'Arcie Lavender in 1909.

She first taught at Loreto Convent, Ballarat, urging the establishment of higher education scholarships to produce ‘a band of noble thoughtful women as a powerful influence for good’. She was then Lady Principal of the Ballarat School of Mines University classes from 1887-1890.

Bella Guerin was a political activist for women and socialism. She was an office bearer in the Bendigo Women's Franchise League and vice-president of the Women's Political Association amongst other groups, and co-authored Vida Goldstein’s 1913 Senate election pamphlet. Regarded as a great public speaker she led an ardent campaign for the Women's Anti-Conscription Fellowship during the 1916 referendum.

Student Accommodation at Federation University Mount Helen Campus has been named Bella Guerin Hall of Residence, as has a Tunnel Boring Machine for the 2023 West Gate extensions. She is a Federation University Distinguished Alumna.

Woman of Note Mary Fogarty: Arts and Crafts at Ballarat Technical Art School.

Mary Fogarty was a student at the School of Mines in the 1920s, studying Arts and Crafts, and teaching at the Ballarat Technical Arts School. In 1945 she was in charge of the Girls' Preparatory Classes (Years 7 and 8). In 1950 she was asked to start the Ballarat Technical School for Girls.

1951 saw 30 Form 1 students taught in the ground floor of the old SMB Secondary School (E J Tippett Library/former Gaol Governor's residence) 1952 saw another 30 students enrolled and two more staff.

As the school grew they were given space in the Art School. Houses along Grant Street were bought with the intention of building a three storey building.

The aims of the Preparatory Technical School of Girls School were: To provide a Technical Training which will prepare girls for their future life's work.

This school provides a continuity of study between the Primary and Senior Technical School (School of Mines) classes. This supplies a long felt want in giving a preliminary training for Technical Art, Craft, Commercial, and Industrial Education. It must, however, be distinctly understood that these Preparatory Classes do not fully qualify girls in any of the subjects, but rather discover their aptitude for some line of technical work and thoroughly prepare to specialise in that particular branch.

Woman of note Mary Egan was one of Ballarat's best-loved and respected educators.

Commencing her teaching career as a student-teacher at Bacchus Marsh, she undertook teacher training at Melbourne Teachers' College (1941-1942).

She taught in the Mildura district before returning to Ballarat in 1953, teaching infant grades at Humffray Street State School. Mary Egan joined the Ballarat Teachers' College (BTC) staff in 1958, starting a 23 year career specialising in language curriculum (ie children's literacy and literature). She was still on staff when all teachers’ colleges became State Colleges during the early 1970s. Along with other members of the State College Victoria, Ballarat (SCVB) staff, Mary's lecturing continued when SCVB merged with the tertiary section of SMB at Mt Helen, later known as the Ballarat College of Advanced Education (BCAE). Mary is known throughout the state for her work in teacher-training, particularly for the teaching of reading and language. A collection of specialist teaching books in the E.J. Barker Library is named as a memorial to her.

Bookplate in one of the lovely children's books, Do you see what I see? by Helen Borten, held at Mt Helen library in the Mary Egan Memorial Collection.

The bookplate reads: Miss Mary Egan, who died on April 4th, 1981, spent 23 years as a greatly-respected lecturer in English curriculum at the Ballarat Teacher's College, the SCV Ballarat, and Ballarat CAE (Centre of Advanced Education).

Woman of note Joan Kirner graduated from Melbourne University in 1958, and was sent to Ballarat where she taught at the Ballarat Girls' Technical College.

Like all women at the time, her marriage to Ron Kirner, a teacher at the Ballarat Junior Technical School in 1960 meant that she was precluded from permanency in the service; an injustice which fueled her activism as an education lobbyist and later, as Minister for Education. 

Joan Kirner's career in politics has two distinctive phases: twelve years in the Victorian Parliament (1982-1994), the remaining decades in community politics. In the Victorian parliament, Joan held the positions of Minister for Conservation, 1985; Minister for Education, 1988; Deputy Premier, 1989; and Victoria's first woman Premier, 1990 to 1992. She retired from parliament in May 1994. She was a co-founder of Emily's List which supports women wishing to enter Parliament.

Joan Kirner introduced the Victorian Certificate of Education. She was awarded a Companion of the Order of Australia in 2012, and a Centenary Medal in 2001.

Teacher Joan Kirner (nee Hood) pictured with the Ballarat Girls’ School Magazine in 1959.

Woman of note Thelma Runghat was Librarian at Ballarat Advanced College of Education.

Runghat was the inaugural Department of Librarianship 'Head of Department'. She was the first female Head of Department appointed at Ballarat College of Advanced Education. She was an advocate for women to be offered superannuation.

The Ballarat Institute of Advanced Education is a predecessor institution of Federation University Australia and in the 1970s was flourishing on the Mt Helen Campus. This was a library guide produced by the Institute c1975-1978.

In 1976, the Ballarat College of Advanced Education (Ballarat CAE) was formed following the merger of the Ballarat Institute of Advanced Education (1967) and the State College of Victoria, Ballarat—that began as Ballarat Teachers' College in 1926. In 1994 the Institute became part of the University of Ballarat, renamed Federation University Australia in 2013.

Inside these library guides are some great photos. This page shows information on using the library catalogue and how the Mt Helen library shelves looked in 1975.

Some of the library staff at Mt Helen in the 1970s. Note the pre-computer catalogue card system.

Woman of Note Monica Miller was a Music Educator at the Ballarat Teachers' College.

Monica Miller was a legendary teacher of music and speech at the Ballarat Teachers’ College between 1946 and 1965. Loved by her students, she influenced generations of teachers, who in turn inspired their own students.

She was taught to sing by Madame Warburton, and in her youth competed as a singer in Ballarat, Bendigo and Geelong, coming second in the Sun Aria.

Woman of note Margaret Young was a Wood Carving Teacher at the Ballarat Technical Art School.

Margaret Young studied at the Ballarat West Art School in 1894, a forerunner school of the Ballarat Technical Art School. She taught wood carving at the Ballarat Technical Art School.

Woman of Note Nornie Gude was an artist at the Ballarat Technical Art School.

Eleanor Constance (Nornie) Gude was accepted into the Ballarat Technical Art School at 15 because of her advanced skill in painting, and trained there from 1931-1936.

She won the esteemed MacRobertson Scholarship in art worth £100 a year, and later studied at the National Gallery School from 1936-1939, and became the first woman to win the National Gallery Students Travelling Scholarship.

'Everybody's Favourite', by Nornie Gude, c1935 features the popular Robur tea brand of the time.

Nornie Gude won many art competitions, including first prize at the 1936 Melbourne Royal Agricultural Show for still life drawing. As an artist Nornie Gude held no theories and was once heard to say, “You spend your first 20 years learning technique and the next 20 years losing it”.

This item is part of the Federation University Art Collection. The Art Collection features over 1000 works and was listed as a 'Ballarat Treasure' in 2007.

Gude's painting 'Ballarat - The Garden City' c1934.

This large, original gouache poster was produced for one of the regular poster competitions held during the 1930s (the exhibition stickers are still evident on the lower left hand side). It depicts a scene in the Ballarat Botanical Gardens.

In the 1936 Ballarat School of Mines Annual Report it was stated: "It is my pleasure to report a most successful year in the Technical Art School. The Annual Poster Competition for Technical Schools, organised by Wiltshires Pty Limited, 16 prized valued at 33 pounds 8 shillings - out of 23 prizes valued at 56 pounds - were won by our students.

This item is part of the Federation University Art Collection. The Art Collection features over 1000 works and was listed as a 'Ballarat Treasure' in 2007.

'The Artist's Wife' painted by Nornie's husband, artist Laurence Scott Pendlebury. This work was a finalist in the 1978 Archibald Prize. As a violinist Nornie Gude played for more than a decade with the Zelman Orchestra.

Woman of note Sylvia Williams taught Dressmaking at the Ballarat Technical Art School.

Throughout the Great Depression to the 1950s Dressmaking was a very popular course at the Ballarat Technical Art School due to the expertise of Syliva Williams, Head of the Dressmaking Department from 1945 to 1960. Previously she had worked for E. Lucas and Co, Ballarat Clothing manufacturers. 

These calico samples are thought to have been made by students of Dressmaking at the Ballarat Technical Art School.

1) sample collar with looped buttonholes, bodice includes gathering and smocking.

2) sample Peter Pan collar

Woman of Note Alice Watson studied at the Ballarat Technical Art School (at the School of Mines, Ballarat) from 1930 until 1933.

These works from Watson's Art School Folio include commercial art, advertising and catalogue illustrations as well as figure construction and fashion-plate designs.

Watson sat several departmental exams, including drawing and painting plant forms from nature, lettering, Composition of Form and Colour and advanced General Design, as well as dressmaking and embossed leatherwork. Her folio applies many Australian native floral elements to design. Upon graduating, Watson taught at the Murtoa High School, living with her parents until their deaths in 1972 and 1988.

Alice Watson died in Ballarat, aged 95, having conserved her beautiful student folio, which was generously gifted to the Federation University permanent Historical Collection by the Watson family.

Some more of Alice Watson's designs from the 1930s.

Alice Watson's wonderful artist box donated to Federation University along with her folios.

Woman of Note Val D’Angri: Craft Teacher and Conservator of the Eureka Flag.

Valda D’Angri followed in her mother’s footsteps as Teacher of Craft at her alma mater, the Ballarat Technical Art School. Val D’Angri was skilled in dressmaking and other forms of textile arts. She was the first to stabilise and conserve the Eureka Flag ensuring its longevity into the future.

D'Angri's work shown here on a hand appliqued crest of the Ballarat School of Mines on dark green background and gold fringe.

Woman of Note Ellie Campbell: an early graduate in Telegraphy from the Ballarat School of Mines.

Emily (Ellie) Campbell (nee Martin) was one of ten children born to James Martin and Bridget Hyde at Spring Hill near Creswick. This farmland was allotted to James c1849.

When her mother died James moved them into Ballarat. All the children attended Ballarat School of Mines. Ellie studied Telegraphy at SMB in 1874 and 1875. In 1889 she married Cosby Stockford Mangin Campbell. He had also studied Telegraphy at SMB at the same time as Ellie.

This document in the collection features definitions and terms used in astronomy.

Woman of note Euphemia Eleanor (Effie) Baker was a pioneer photographer and keen astronomer. She studied at the Ballarat West Art School in 1894, and had a close association with the Ballarat Observatory from a very early age. Effie Baker acted as observatory manager in 1902, and took photographs of lunar eclipses.

As a young woman, she studied photography and art at the Ballarat Technical Art School, and went on to become one of Australia’s leading female photographers in the 20^th century.

Her toughest assignment came in 1930, when she photographed historic sites in Palestine and Persia as a member of the Bahá'í Faith. She spent eight months disguising her No1 A Kodak camera, and her half plate clamp camera with triple extension, under the flowing black robe she was required to wear in the Middle East. At night she developed her film. Altogether she produced over 1,000 fine prints of her travels.

These images from slides were possibly taken by Effie Baker in her association with the Ballarat Observatory.

Woman of note Jeanette Watson (Perkins) was the first female Geologist trained at the Ballarat School of Mines.

Perkins wanted to become a geologist, but was ineligible for university when she failed Leaving Certificate maths. She was interviewed by the principal at the Ballarat School of Mines and announced that she wanted to be a geologist. Mr Heseltine was, according to Perkins, aghast: he informed her that there had never been a female geologist at SMB and they didn't want one. But Perkins persisted.

Only then did Heseltine reluctantly enrol her in the School's Applied Chemistry Course which offered the most geological subjects, moreover, it was the only one he considered available to a 'mere' female. After graduating Perkins was employed as a metallurgical chemist with M.B. Johns Valves, Ballarat. In 1949 she married Alfred Watson, and in 1951 they moved to Melbourne where she commenced work as a metallurgical chemist at the Maribyrnong Ordnance Factory while becoming the first woman to study geology part time at the Melbourne Technical College. With increasing demands brought about by her growing family she turned to part-time lecturing second and third year stratigraphy and palaeontology at RMIT. In 1957 the Watsons moved to the Mary Kathleen Uranium Mine in NW Queensland. After their return to Melbourne in 1960, Jeanette taught herself to SCUBA dive and quickly developed a passion for the sport and the marine environment. She taught senior science to secondary students for 10 years whilst working towards a Masters degree. In 1991 Jeanette Watson was awarded a Doctorate from Deakin University, and is a Federation University Distinguished Alumna.

Photos of Ballarat School of Mines studies and excursions. The album belonged to Jeanette Perkins (later Watson).

Woman of note Heather Pitmann was an Engineering Pioneer.

Heather studied at the School of Mines and Ballarat College of Advanced Education and was awarded the Civil Engineering Scholarship in 1977. She graduated in 1978.

Heather broke down barriers in engineering with an integrity that earned her tremendous respect and led to her becoming the first female Head of Engineering for the City of Ballarat. Heather pioneered sustainable design and was the first of a new breed of engineers to consider the urban water cycle in its entirety and not in isolated parts, a radical approach at the time.

In her honour, the Pitman Benjamin Engineering Prize was founded, to recognise students like Heather, who have chosen not to accept the status quo, but instead to change the world to make it better for all.