TALK: Enterprising Women - Shaping Mid-Century Canberra | Heritage Festival 2026

Twentieth-century Canberra was home to a number of enterprising women who, despite the marriage bar and prevailing attitudes, created businesses that became Canberra institutions. In this talk, author Jenny Horsfield with CMAG Curators, Dr Hannah Paddon and Vanessa Roth, explore the stories and businesses of trailblazing Canberran women.

Verity Hewitt’s bookshop opened in the Sydney Building in April 1938 at a time when Australia’s Federal Capital was still a country town and Burley Griffin’s vision for its future had been defeated by years of war, depression and political indifference. Jenny will share how the bookshop became a meeting place for booklovers as well as scientists, artists, diplomats, servicemen and women, public servants, writers, adventurers and immigrants, and how Hewitt established herself as a champion of arts, literature and free thought.

Hannah and Vanessa will also discuss the general landscape of women's employment in mid-century Canberra and explore key figures such as Heather Paral and Sylvia Parsons . Their talk will conclude with the exclusive launch of their new podcast episode "Mid-Century with a Twist" that explores further stories of mid-Century Canberra.

Jenny Horsfield is a Canberra writer with a special interest in the stories of the region where she lives. Her previous book Voices Beyond the Suburbs was a study of the Soldier Settlers of the Tuggeranong Valley in Canberra. A Bookshop in Wartime is Jenny’s seventh book. She has twice been the recipient of an ACT Writers and Publishers non-fiction Book of the Year.

Jenny will have copies of her book, A Bookshop in Wartime, for sale post talk.