Catherine Helen Spence

Catherine Helen Spence was born on October 31, 1825, in Melrose, Scotland, and immigrated with her family to South Australia in 1839. In 1854, she published Clara Morison: A Tale of South Australia During the Gold Fever, the first novel about Australian life written by a woman residing in the colony.

Spence was a passionate advocate for proportional representation (effective voting), public education, foster homes for orphaned children, and women's suffrage. In 1897, South Australia having granted women voting rights, Spence stood for the Federal Convention, becoming Australia's first female candidate for political office. Her portrait was featured on the 2001 centenary five-dollar note.