Pioneering nurse and Indigenous activist Emma Jane Callaghan honoured with Blue Plaque
The life and legacy of Emma Jane Callaghan will be honoured with a Blue Plaque in the Sydney suburb of La Perouse, in a new round of the heritage program.
Callaghan was an Aboriginal midwife, nurse, activist, and Indigenous culture recorder who lived from 1884 to 1979. She dedicated her life to breaking barriers in healthcare and advocating for the rights of Aboriginal people.
During an era when some hospitals refused admission to Aboriginal patients, Callaghan emerged as a trailblazer, serving as a nurse, midwife, missionary, and primary healthcare worker on Aboriginal reserves in La Perouse, Bellbrook, and Armidale.
Callaghan was mother to 11 children and worked for the Aborigines' Protection Board and lobbied for the dole and civil rights for Aboriginal people.
Blue Plaques NSW celebrates well-known characters many of us are familiar with, but also brings attention to lesser-known stories of people and events that shaped a particular community, town, or field of work or study.
This Blue Plaque was chosen from 117 nominations made by the public and assessed by independent historians in the second round of the Blue Plaques NSW program. 14 new plaques will be installed in coming months, joining 35 already in place.
Heritage NSW is working with experts and potential property owners to finalise the plaque’s location and once installed it will be listed on the Blue Plaques NSW website.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Heritage Penny Sharpe:
“These Blue Plaques recognise the diverse individuals, events and perspectives that make the history of NSW so intriguing.
“Whether you’re exploring the Sydney suburb of La Perouse or taking a drive off the beaten track to regional towns like Grafton and Pambula, there’s a Blue Plaque for you to discover.
“The installation of each new plaque brings added interest to the heritage of an area, encouraging locals to explore their backyards, and inviting those from further afield to learn more about the history of these communities.”
Quotes attributable to Member for Maroubra, Attorney General Michael Daley:
“Emma Jane Callaghan was more than a nurse. She was a pioneer in healthcare. This Blue Plaque is a testament to a woman who fearlessly brought healthcare right into the heart of the community.
“She was a force, a tireless advocate and a community leader who fought for civil rights and left an enduring legacy in La Perouse.
“This Blue Plaque honours a woman who helped to preserve a rich tapestry of Aboriginal tradition.”
Full list of round two Blue Plaques
| Subject | Recognition | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Kathleen Butler | A woman without formal engineering qualifications who had a central role in the development of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. | Sydney CBD |
| Emma Jane Callaghan | Aboriginal midwife, activist, nurse, and Indigenous Culture Recorder. | Phillip Bay, Sydney |
| Susan Katherina Schardt | Born blind, Schardt established the Commonwealth Home for Destitute Invalids, now known as Royal Rehab. | Ryde |
| Dorothy Simpson McGregor Drain | One of the first Australian female war correspondents, who reported on the Korean and Vietnam Wars. She was also a poet, columnist, and Editor of the Australian Women’s Weekly. | Glebe |
| Establishment of the first recorded life savers club | Founded in February 1907, the Bondi Surf Life Saving Club was the first recorded Surf Lifesaving Club in Australia. | Bondi |
| Sir William Dobell | A portrait and landscape artist and three-time winner of the Archibald Prize. | Wangi Wangi |
| Syms Covington | A cabin boy on the HMS Beagle who became assistant to Charles Darwin. Syms later worked as a businessman and postmaster in Pambula. | Pambula |
| Charmian Clift | A prolific writer and essayist. | Kiama |
| Pearl Mary Gibbs | A prominent female activist in the Aboriginal rights movement, Gibbs was heavily involved in the development of the Day of Mourning and the establishment of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy. | Sydney CBD |
| Ioannis (Jack) and Antonios (Tony) Notaras | Greek immigrant businessmen known for establishing Grafton’s still-thriving Saraton Theatre. | Grafton |
| Beryl Mary McLaughlin | One of the first three women graduates of the University of Sydney’s Faculty of Architecture. | Wentworth Falls |
| Ken Thomas | Trucker and entrepreneur known for establishing the TNT transport empire and for his contributions to road safety. | Murrumburrah |
| Grace Emily Munro | Co-founder and first president of the Country Women’s Association. | Bingara |
| First release of myxomatosis | The CSIRO released myxomatosis in Balldale in 1950, to combat a severe rabbit problem. It was the world’s first successful biological program for control of a mammalian pest. | Balldale |