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To make a tax deductible donation to the community fundraising campaign to create a meaningful public artwork of Alice Anderson in Kew, visit the fundraising page.
When 22-year-old Alice Anderson set up her all-female mechanics business in Kew in 1919 she was blazing a trail through a man’s world. The first Australian woman to run a garage, she offered repairs, vehicle sales and driving lessons, and employed only women as mechanics and chauffeurs.
The Alice Anderson Memorial Project
A group of dedicated locals have formed the Alice Anderson Memorial Project Association (AAMPA). They are now fundraising to build a life-sized bronze statue of Alice in Petrie Square in Kew, near her original garage.
We’re working with the AAMPA by providing the site for the statue, along with $60,000 for landscaping and $40,000 towards the statue artwork.
We acknowledge and thank the AAMPA for their work championing the project and raising community awareness of Alice Anderson as an important local figure. We also thank the Anderson family representatives for their support and endorsement.
Alice Anderson’s connection to Boroondara
Alice has a strong connection to Boroondara. She lived here, worked here and is buried here.
This proposed public artwork offers an opportunity to honour Alice’s legacy in the community she helped shape. It will also help to inspire future generations through public recognition of Alice’s pioneering achievements.
Join the community fundraising
We support community efforts to achieve the $120,000 fundraising goal to create this meaningful public artwork in Boroondara. The target completion date for the statue is mid-2027.
To make a tax deductible donation to the community fundraising campaign, visit Artist Project: Alice Anderson Public Art Project in Kew.
To find out more, visit the Alice Anderson Memorial Project.
About Alice Anderson's life
Alice Elizabeth Foley Anderson (1897–1926) was a pioneering Australian mechanic, entrepreneur and adventurer who broke barriers for women in the early 20th century. Raised on the outskirts of Melbourne, Alice obtained her driver’s licence at age 18 and began conducting countryside tours in a Hupmobile luxury tourer, showcasing her independence and mechanical skills.
In 1919, at just 22 years old and without financial backing from her family or a spouse, Alice established Alice Anderson’s Motor Service. It was Australia’s first motor garage operated entirely by women.
Located at 88 Cotham Road Kew, now part of Trinity Grammar School, the garage became a hub of innovation and empowerment. Her team, affectionately known as the ‘Garage Girls’, performed a wide range of services including tyre changes, engine repairs, car washing, driving instruction and guided tours. The garage also offered mechanical classes tailored to women drivers, promoting technical education and self-sufficiency.
Shortly after returning from a historic journey to Alice Springs, Alice tragically died at age 29 from an accidental gunshot wound sustained in the back of her garage. Her funeral was held at Boroondara Cemetery. Her ‘Garage Girls’ served as pallbearers in uniform as a tribute to her legacy.
Alice’s ongoing legacy
Alice Anderson and her contributions have continued to be recognised in recent years:
- 2019: Loretta Smith published a biography of Alice, titled A Spanner in the Works: The Extraordinary Story of Alice Anderson and Australia’s First All-Girl Garage.
- 2020: Alice was inducted into the Victorian Honour Roll of Women, in the Trailblazer category.
- 2023: Alice’s story inspired the theatrical production ‘Garage Girls’, a collaboration between The Shift Theatre and Three Birds Theatre.
- 2025: City of Boroondara endorses support for the Alice Anderson Memorial Project.
- 2025: AAMPA begin a community fundraising campaign to build a life-sized statue of Alice at Petrie Square.
Artwork location
The proposed location for the statue is Petrie Square, Kew.
