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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 have championed awareness of Alice Anderson's pioneering spirit and remarkable achievements, while leading a successful community fundraising campaign to create a life-sized bronze statue of Alice in Petrie Square, Kew, near the site of her original garage.

Fundraising for this project concluded on 30 June 2026. 

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. The target completion date for the statue is mid-2027.

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.

To learn more, visit the Alice Anderson Memorial Project website.

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.

Community support and fundraising success

Fundraising for this project has now closed.

Thanks to the generosity of donors and supporters, AAMPA raised $165,501 for the project, including:

  • $100,000 from the Victorian Automotive Chamber of Commerce
  • $48,305 from more than 90 individual donors through the Australian Cultural Fund
  • $15,000 from Inner East Community Finance
  • $2,196 from raffle ticket sales at local events

Combined with Council's contribution of $100,000, the total project budget is $265,501.

The letters A, C and F each in a different stylised font, the text Australiancultralfund.org.au on the right.

Events

Join us for a series of exciting events that celebrate Alice Anderson's legacy and lasting impact.
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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. 

A woman at the wheel of a classic, open-top vintage car
Alice Anderson at the wheel of her Hupmobile Touring. Image courtesy of University of Melbourne Archives, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
A woman from the 1910s dressed in a driver's outfit
Alice Anderson wearing chauffeur uniform. Image courtesy of University of Melbourne Archives, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Two Flapper women in a car with leopard print
Alice Anderson and Jessie Webb in an Austin 7 departing for Alice Springs. Image courtesy of University of Melbourne Archives, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Faded sepia photo of a woman in a large, open-top car
Alice Anderson at the wheel of a car. Image courtesy of University of Melbourne Archives, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
A woman in a white shirt and black pants working at a lathe
Alice Anderson in the Kew Garage workshop working at lathe. Image courtesy of University of Melbourne Archives, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
A woman in a chauffeur outfit holds hands with a woman whose hair is in plaits
Alice Anderson and friend. Image courtesy of University of Melbourne Archives, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
The outside of a cement car garage with a sign saying Kew Garage
Alice Anderson’s Kew Garage, 88 Cotham Road, Kew, 1925. Image courtesy of Marie Martin.