Australian history holds a rich but largely untapped trove of extraordinary women: women who ran brothels, practised witchcraft, survived slavery, birthed children in the heat of the goldfields, or led tribes in resistance. Maiden Australia uncovers these lives, bringing to light the realities of women’s experiences in Australia before it became the nation we know today. By learning their names and sharing their stories, we move closer to a wider and truer understanding of Australia’s past.