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Jane Mathews

1940 – 2019

Australian judge

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About Jane Mathews

Lived 1940 – 2019 (aged 78). Jane Mathews was an Australian judge, barrister, solicitor, articled clerk and author.

Jane Hamilton Mathews (19 December 1940 – 31 August 2019) was a judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, a judge of the Federal Court of Australia and President of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

Federal Court of Australia In 1994 the Attorney-General Michael Lavarch offered Mathews the role of President of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal which involved being appointed to the Federal Court. Mathews was also appointed, at her request, to the Native Title Tribunal. Mathews was not the first woman appointed to the Federal Court, that being Deirdre O'Connor who was appointed in 1990.

In 1996 Mathews was appointed to prepare a report on Aboriginal Heritage issues in relation to the Hindmarsh Island bridge controversy. The High Court held that her appointment, even though conferred on Mathews personally (referred to as persona designata), was incompatible with her role as a federal judge. Mathews resigned from the Federal Court in 2001 to return as an acting judge of the Supreme Court of NSW. but they later divorced.

Death Mathews died on 31 August 2019. A State Memorial Service was held at the Playhouse, Sydney Opera House, on 18 October 2019.

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Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Education
Frensham School, Sydney Law School, University of Sydney
Positions held
Justice of the Federal Court of Australia
Awards
Officer of the Order of Australia
Also known as
Jane Hamilton Mathews

People in Jane Mathews's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Jane Mathews's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Jane Mathews?

Australian judge

When was Jane Mathews born?

Jane Mathews was born on 19 December 1940 in Wollongong.

When did Jane Mathews die?

Jane Mathews died on 31 August 2019 in Sydney.

What was Jane Mathews's occupation?

Jane Mathews was a judge, barrister, solicitor, articled clerk and author.

What nationality was Jane Mathews?

Jane Mathews was Australian.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Jane Mathews

· Wikidata: Q42497555

· DBpedia: Jane Mathews

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Jane Mathews. https://biography.guide/jane-mathews/

MLA: "Jane Mathews." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/jane-mathews/.

Chicago: "Jane Mathews." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/jane-mathews/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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