Mary Gaudron, the first woman appointed to the high court of Australia, has died at the age of 83. Her death was confirmed through multiple online tributes on Sunday, 13 September 2026, honouring her contributions to the legal landscape.
Gaudron was appointed to the high court in 1987 when she was 44 years old, serving until 2003. During her tenure, she contributed to decisions that shaped Australian law, including the landmark native title case, Mabo v Queensland. In this decision, Gaudron and fellow High Court judge William Deane described Aboriginal dispossession as “the darkest aspect of the history of this country”.
Born on 5 January 1943, in Moree, New South Wales, Gaudron was a trailblazer in a male-dominated profession. After studying law at the University of Sydney, she became the first woman appointed to the NSW Bar Council in 1972. That same year, she successfully argued the equal pay case before the conciliation and arbitration commission.
The governor general, Sam Mostyn, stated that Gaudron's legacy endures in those who follow the path she helped forge. Mostyn noted that Gaudron, as the only woman justice in the court’s first century, broke new ground and inspired generations of Australians. The minister for social services, Tanya Plibersek, also commented that Gaudron's intellect, integrity, and courage made Australia fairer and opened doors for women.