Auvergne Mary Doherty was an Australian businesswoman, working in her family's cattle business.
15 Facts About Auvergne Doherty
Auvergne Doherty was one of the first nine women called to the bar in England; Doherty was the first Western Australian woman called to the English Bar; she did not go on to practise law in England or Western Australia.
Auvergne Doherty was born in Perth, Western Australia, the second daughter of Denis and Georgina Doherty.
Auvergne Doherty was raised abroad, attending Convent schools in Belgium and England, one of which included the Convent of Holy Child Jesus in Cavendish Square, London.
In 1916, Auvergne Doherty passed the Responsions exams for Oxford University; she graduated and matriculated on 30 October 1920.
When her father died in 1935, Auvergne Doherty took over his cattle business with Mr Michael Durack, in the Northern Territory.
Four years before the company was wound up in 1950, Auvergne Doherty resigned as the company director.
Auvergne Doherty is buried at Karrakatta Cemetery, Western Australia, in the Roman Catholic portion next to her father.
Auvergne Doherty was educated abroad at Convent schools in Belgium and London, attending the Convent of Holy Child Jesus, 11 Cavendish Square, London.
On 30 October 1920, Auvergne Doherty returned to Oxford to matriculate and graduate; from Michaelmas term 1920, women who had previously passed examinations, which would have qualified a man for a degree, were able to return to matriculate and graduate.
Auvergne Doherty applied for admission to Middle Temple on 5 January 1920.
Auvergne Doherty was among the first cohort of women called to the Bar, along with Theodora Llewellyn-Davis, Helena Normanton, Monica Geikie Cobb, Ethel Bright Ashford, Elsie Wheeler, Beatrice Davy, Sybil Campbell and Dr Ivy Williams.
Auvergne Doherty was the first woman from Western Australia to be called to the English Bar.
Auvergne Doherty was not the first Australian woman to enter the legal profession; this title went to Flos Greig, who was admitted in August 1905.
Auvergne Doherty's call and admission were widely reported in British and Australian newspapers at the time but she is not considered Perth's first woman lawyer.