Three Remarkable Women Who Helped Shape Brisbane
Brisbane’s history is often told through its architects, politicians, and entrepreneurs—but woven through the city’s growth are the extraordinary contributions of women whose courage and creativity changed the cultural and social landscape. Today we highlight three of them: Dr Lilian Cooper, Grace Cossington Smith, and Kathleen McArthur. Each woman transformed Brisbane in her own way—through medicine, art, and the environment—leaving legacies that still shape our city.
Dr Lilian Cooper – Breaking Barriers in Medicine
In the late 19th century, when women were expected to stay far from the world of medicine, Dr Lilian Cooper stepped forward with quiet defiance and extraordinary competence. As Queensland’s first female doctor, she faced opposition from institutions, colleagues, and social norms. Yet she persevered, building a medical practice in Brisbane that became known for compassion, skill, and unshakeable dedication.
Her work during World War I, serving as a surgeon in the Scottish Women’s Hospitals, earned her international recognition—but her influence at home was even greater. Dr Cooper became a force for public health in Queensland, improving the treatment of women and children and advocating for better sanitation and disease prevention. She worked tirelessly in the Herston medical precinct, where her name is still remembered.
Today, Dr Cooper stands as a symbol of possibility—a reminder of what determination can achieve, even in the face of overwhelming resistance.
Grace Cossington Smith – The Modernist Voice of a Changing City
One of Australia’s most important modernist painters, Grace Cossington Smith brought a new way of seeing to Brisbane. While she is known nationwide for her luminous, bold interpretations of city and domestic life, her time in Brisbane shaped much of her early outlook and artistic sensibility.
Her work is celebrated at the Queensland Art Gallery, where visitors can trace her influence on the evolution of modern Australian art. Cossington Smith captured the world around her with a clarity and energy that helped define a uniquely Australian aesthetic—one that embraced colour, form, and the everyday rhythms of life.
Through her eyes, Brisbane becomes not just a place, but a palette: vibrant, shifting, and full of life. Her artistic legacy continues to inspire generations of creators who see our city as a space where art and identity intersect.
Kathleen McArthur – Champion of Queensland’s Wild Places
Few individuals have done more for Queensland’s natural environment than Kathleen McArthur—artist, writer, conservationist, and co-founder of the Wildflowering Queensland movement. While much of her advocacy took place across the state, her influence in Brisbane’s cultural and environmental circles was profound.
McArthur used her botanical art not only to celebrate native flora, but also to fight for its protection. Through exhibitions, lectures, and tireless activism, she helped Brisbane residents appreciate the ecological treasures often hiding in plain sight. Her work contributed to the preservation of key coastal and bushland environments, embedding environmental awareness into Queensland’s cultural consciousness long before conservation became mainstream.
Today, her spirit resonates in the parks, wildflower gardens, and green corridors that Brisbane is increasingly known for.
Three Stories, One Legacy
Dr Lilian Cooper, Grace Cossington Smith, and Kathleen McArthur lived in different worlds—medicine, art, and conservation—but their contributions share a common thread: each woman saw Brisbane not just as it was, but as it could be.
Together, they remind us that the city’s history isn’t just built from buildings and policies, but from passion, courage, and vision. By telling their stories, we continue to honour the women who helped shape Brisbane into the vibrant, creative, and forward-looking city it is today.