- Born
- 23 April 1858
Williamstown, Victoria, Australia - Died
- 26 July 1923
Norwood, South Australia, Australia - Occupation
- Teacher, political activist and feminist
- Alternative Names
- Halloran, Bella (married name, 29 June 1891 - )
- Lavender, Bella (married name, 1 October 1909 - )
Summary
Bella Guérin became the first woman to graduate from an Australian university when she was awarded her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Melbourne (number 255) in December 1883. She taught first at Loreto Convent, Ballarat then as lady principal of Ballarat School of Mines university classes, resigning upon marriage to Henry Halloran. A civil servant and poet, Halloran married Guérin on 28 June 1891 aged 80. Following his death Guérin married George D'Arcie Lavender.
Bella Guérin was politically active and a member of the suffrage movement. She became vice-president of the Women's Political Association in 1912, and later joined the Labor Party.
