Delve into this webinar on Aussie sporting heroes and learn how you can use the Library’s eResources to discover some talking points around women in sport in Australia.

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The book cover for 'The Matilda Effect' by Fiona Crawford. The image on the cover shows 7 women in Australian team soccer uniforms jumping, cheering and hugging one another.
Fiona Crawford. (2023). The Matilda effect. Carlton: Melbourne Univ Press, https://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn8854334.
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Image of a gold medal

Historically, Australian women have made their mark in the sports record books worldwide. Despite this, women’s sport has traditionally played a minor role in Australia’s national identity, coming in a distance third behind sportsmen and racehorses.

For several centuries Australian women have struggled against direct resistance to their participation in sport. But as the struggle for equality continues, undeniable achievements and unwavering determination are now gaining more recognition than even the most impressive horses.

Secondary sources on the history of women in sport are scarce. However, you can find a wide range of relevant material at the Library, including books, journals, newspapers, pictures, oral history interviews and online databases.

Using the catalogue

Quick search

Use the catalogue standard search to find titles, authors, or subjects.

  • If you get too many results, use the Limit your search options (at the right of the results page) to display only the items of interest. e.g. audio (oral histories) or manuscripts
  • If you need to widen your search, click on subject headings in an item’s catalogue record to find other material related to that subject.

Examples of subject searches you can try include:

Women athletes – Australia

Sports for women - Australia

Sports for women – Australia – [geographical place] (e.g. New South Wales)

Sports for women – social aspects - Australia

Sex discrimination in sports - Australia

Sports – sex differences

Women athletes – social aspects

Selected works

You can also search for women in a particular sport either by individual names or by using different sports and places e.g. 

Women – [sport players] – [geographical place]

Geographical place can include both State and city/town e.g. New South Wales – Sydney.

You can also add terms such as Biography, Portraits, Photographs, Interviews.

Examples of subject searches and items in our collections for a selection of sports can be found below.

Women football players

AFL Women’s (AFLW)

Women football players – Australia - biography

Women football players – Australia - history

Selected works

Women swimmers

Women swimmers – Australia – Biography

Women swimmers – Australia – Interviews

Women swimmers – Australia – [Photographs] or [Portraits]

Swimmers – Australia - Portraits

Women swimmers – [geographical place e.g. New South Wales] – [geographical place e.g. Sydney] – [Photographs/Portraits]

Selected items

Women tennis players

Women tennis players – Australia - Biography

Women tennis players – Australia - Interviews

Women tennis players – Australia - Photographs or [portraits]

Tennis players – Australia – [Biography]

Selected items

Women field and track athletes

Women athletes – [Geographical place] – [Biography] or [Interviews] or [Photographs] or [Portraits]

Women track and field athletes – [Geographical place] – [Biography] or [Interviews] etc.

Selected items

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Female swimmer posing for a photograph
Exchange Studios. (1912). Portrait of Fanny Durack, 1912, https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-140681122
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Betty Cuthbert running a race
Australian Information Service. (). [Portrait of Betty Cuthbert] https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-136738143

During the second half of the 20th century women won an astonishing 80 per cent of Australia’s gold medals in Olympic track and field competition. Find out more statistics from the Australian Olympic Team statistics website.

Not sure where to start?

Access to library materials

If you are a registered reader, you can request items to read and photocopy in the reading rooms of the National Library of Australia.  

Registered readers can also search selected subscription databases via our eResources portal.

If you can't visit the Library, you can use the National Library's Copies Direct service to request copies and have them sent to you via mail or email. Please note there may be copyright restrictions when using this service.

You can also search Trove to find a library closer to you which has the item in their collection.

If there is no library near you with the item, you may be able to arrange an interlibrary loan through your local public or institutional library. Please ask staff at your local library for assistance with this.