#grace fairley robinson

Grace Fairley Robinson (1870-1948) was one of the two first women to graduate in Medicine from the University of Sydney in 1893. University testimonials referred to her ‘zeal, energy and enthusiasm’.

Grace was nominated for a position at the Hospital for Sick Children. Despite excellent references, her application was rejected: the objection was ’not against [Dr Robinson] as an individual but against the female doctor in the abstract’.

She was appointed resident medical officer at the Benevolent Asylum, Pitt Street. In 1909 Grace became assistant medical inspecting officer with the Department of Public Instruction. In 1912 Grace had formed the Professional Women’s Association, dedicated to improving social conditions for women and children. She was convenor (1913-26) of the standing committee on health for the National Council of Women of New South Wales, a founding member (1921) of the State branch of the League of Nations Union and vice-president of the Town Planning Association.  In 1923-26, as medical director of Berlei Ltd, she had responsibility for the health and welfare of nearly six hundred female employees and for collaborating with designers on the ’correct anatomical lines of their garments’.

(State Archives NSW/Australian Dictionary of Biography)