Florence Mary Taylor
Florence Mary Taylor
Architect & Engineer
By: Keyshla Gonzalez Lorenzo
Florence Mary Taylor was a pioneering architect, engineer, editor, and aviator, recognized as the first woman in Australia to graduate in architecture and the first to fly a glider. Born in England and raised in Sydney, she overcame gender discrimination in early 20th-century professional fields. After completing her studies at Sydney Technical College in 1904, she worked as a draftswoman and eventually became a prominent figure in urban planning and publishing. Although initially rejected by professional architectural associations due to her gender, she persisted and was later accepted. Florence co-founded a major publishing company with her husband, which played a central role in shaping architectural and engineering discourse in Australia for decades.
Major Accomplishments
First woman in Australia to graduate in architecture (Sydney Technical College, 1904)
First woman to fly a glider in Australia (1909), using a design built by her husband
Co-founder of Building Publishing Co. Ltd., which published influential magazines such as:
Building
Construction
Australasian Engineer
Promoted urban planning reforms, including:
Underground railways
Freeways around Sydney
City zoning regulations
Founding member and long-time secretary of the Town Planning Association of New South Wales
First female member of the UK’s Institution of Structural Engineers (1926)
Recognized with prestigious honors:
Order of the British Empire (OBE, 1939)
Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE, 1961)
Edited professional journals for over 50 years, retiring in 1961
Legacy
Florence Mary Taylor is remembered as a visionary force who defied societal limitations to help shape the built environment of Australia. Her influence spanned architecture, civil engineering, aviation, and publishing. She used her platforms to advocate for forward-thinking urban design, women’s participation in technical professions, and the modernization of Australian infrastructure. Her name lives on through medals, public spaces, and scholarly recognition, honoring her as one of the country’s most impactful female pioneers in engineering and architecture.