Helen Hart

Helen Hart (10 October 1839 – 16 July 1908), was a British born Australian suffragist, lecturer, nurse, and journalist who was well known in Melbourne, Australia in the late 19th century and early 20th century for giving public lectures on women's rights, temperance, and Christianity. Hart participated in anti-slavery and temperance movements since childhood. She also began preaching in the open air when she was 19.

Schooling It is unknown where Hart undertook her schooling, however, in later years she stated she experienced abuses such as starvation and whippings as encouragement to study while she was at school.

New Zealand 1879 - 1880 In 1879 Hart travelled to New Zealand by taking a role as matron on a migrant ship. She brought letters of recommendation from English clergyman.

While Hart experienced popularity, and her lectures often received positive reception, she was also subject to derision, physical and sexual assault, including on one occasion having fireworks thrown at her.

On 31 March 2009, an autobiography of Hart by Author Helen D. Harris was launched by Anna Burke, and at the same time, a plaque was placed on Hart's unmarked grave at Boroondara Cemetery.

In 2024, researchers at Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse were preparing for an exhibition titled "Making the Rounds: Stories of Workhouse Nurses Told in Textiles". They came across records of a nurse called Helen Hart who had worked at a variety of workhouses in the United Kingdom between 1875 and 1877. This nurse had raised concerns about the management and conditions of the workhouses she worked at. Through further research they discovered this was the same Helen Hart who later became a women's rights activist in Australia.