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Dorothy Butler (née English; 12 September 1911 – 21 February 2008) —better known as Dot Butler—was an Australian bushwalker,
mountaineer Mountaineering or alpinism, is a set of outdoor activities that involves ascending tall mountains. Mountaineering-related activities include traditional outdoor climbing, skiing, and traversing via ferratas. Indoor climbing, sport climbing, a ...
and conservationist.


Early life

Dorothy English was born in Sydney, in the district of Ashfield, to parents Frank and Isadora English, in 1911. One of five children, she was an active child later recalling, “''all our childhood entertainment was climbing – brick kilns, chimneys, telegraph poles – anything off the horizontal, and always barefoot of course''”. She recounted that the 'prize' climb, for the English children, was the giant crane used to lift locomotives at the Chullora railway yards. Butler was a
vegetarian Vegetarianism is the practice of abstaining from the consumption of meat (red meat, poultry, seafood, insects, and the flesh of any other animal). It may also include abstaining from eating all by-products of animal slaughter. Vegetarianism m ...
in her youth but later admitted that she preferred to eat stuffed-
grouse Grouse are a group of birds from the order Galliformes, in the family Phasianidae. Grouse are presently assigned to the tribe Tetraonini (formerly the subfamily Tetraoninae and the family Tetraonidae), a classification supported by mitochondr ...
. English was a bright student at
Sydney Girls High School , motto_translation = Work Conquers All , location = Moore Park, Sydney, New South Wales , country = Australia , coordinates = , pushpin_map = Australia Sydney#New South Wales#Australia , established = , type = Governmen ...
from 1922 to 1926, where she also excelled at sport. In 1927, she attended Stott and Hoare's Business College, and joined Bondi Icebergs, a winter swimming club, and Bondi Beach Acrobatic Team. With money earned in her first job as a stenographer, English, who never saw being a woman as an obstacle to any undertaking, cycled around
Tasmania ) , nickname = , image_map = Tasmania in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Tasmania in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdi ...
, on her own, barefoot and wearing shorts. Later, in 1937, her solo cycling holiday in Tasmania was reported in ''
The Daily Telegraph ''The Daily Telegraph'', known online and elsewhere as ''The Telegraph'', is a national British daily broadsheet newspaper published in London by Telegraph Media Group and distributed across the United Kingdom and internationally. It was fo ...
'', under the heading, 'How to Holiday with No Money'. The newspaper article told how she had gone to Tasmania and ''"saw 400 miles of its scenery for £5/12/- "'' including ''"£5/10/- on steamer fares"''. It described English as a ''"cyclist, a vegetarian, and a frugal person"'', who had smuggled her bicycle onto the ship as passengers' luggage. English told the reporter how, as a young woman travelling alone, she would often camp in cemeteries, so as not to attract unwelcome attention, and how she had fed herself cheaply during the trip. English celebrated her 21st birthday by cycling to Kosciuszko, doing some skiing while there.


Pre-war bushwalking and climbing

Bushwalking Hiking is a long, vigorous walk, usually on trails or footpaths in the countryside. Walking for pleasure developed in Europe during the eighteenth century.AMATO, JOSEPH A. "Mind over Foot: Romantic Walking and Rambling." In ''On Foot: A Histor ...
became a popular pastime in the 1930s, as the
Great Depression in Australia Australia suffered badly during the period of the Great Depression of the 1930s. The Depression began with the Wall Street Crash of 1929 and rapidly spread worldwide. As in other nations, Australia suffered years of high unemployment, povert ...
led people to seek enjoyable recreation at low cost. In 1931, English joined the
Sydney Bush Walkers Club The Sydney Bush Walkers Club is a bushwalking club in Australia. Formed in 1927 by Myles Dunphy at the behest of the Mountain Trails Club, the group was originally called the Waratah Walking Club, but was renamed early on. Unlike its predecessor ...
(SBW), with which she would have a lifelong association. In 1966, describing her introduction to bushwalking, she said, ''"It was like fitting a hand into a glove. Bushwalking and I were made for each other."'' Another early female member of SBW was
Marie Byles Marie Beuzeville Byles (8 April 1900 – 21 November 1979) was an Australian conservationist, pacifist, the first practising female solicitor in New South Wales (NSW), mountaineer, explorer and avid bushwalker, feminist, journalist, and an o ...
, who''—''although a decade older than Dot''—''became a lifelong friend of English. English achieved fame among
bushwalkers Hiking is a long, vigorous walk, usually on trails or footpaths in the countryside. Walking for pleasure developed in Europe during the eighteenth century.AMATO, JOSEPH A. "Mind over Foot: Romantic Walking and Rambling." In ''On Foot: A Histor ...
as the ‘barefoot walker’—she rarely wore boots or any other footwear when walking—and as one of the legendary ‘Tiger’ bushwalkers. The ‘Tigers’ were an informal grouping within SBW, renowned for covering long distances over rugged and often uncharted terrain, at a very rapid pace. They were very fit—even athletic—walkers, who carried only the lightest of equipment. Dot was one of only two female 'Tiger' walkers. Once, English and fellow 'Tiger', Max Gentle—starting around lunchtime on a Saturday—caught a train to
Blackheath Blackheath may refer to: Places England *Blackheath, London, England ** Blackheath railway station **Hundred of Blackheath, Kent, an ancient hundred in the north west of the county of Kent, England *Blackheath, Surrey, England ** Hundred of Blackh ...
in the Blue Mountains and had descended to the
Blue Gum Forest The Blue Gum Forest is a forest located in Blue Mountains National Park within the Grose Valley of the Blue Mountains (New South Wales), Blue Mountains in New South Wales west of Sydney, southeastern Australia. It is one of the best-known bushw ...
in the
Grose Valley The Grose Valley is a rugged valley in the Blue Mountains, New South Wales, Australia. It has been formed by the Grose River, the headwaters of which are in the Mount Victoria area. The valley is located between the Great Western Highway and ...
by mid-afternoon. After camping overnight, by following the
Grose River The Grose River, a Perennial stream, perennial river that is part of the Hawkesbury River, Hawkesbury-Nepean River, Nepean catchment, is located in the Blue Mountains (New South Wales), Blue Mountains region of New South Wales, Australia. Cour ...
, they reached
Richmond Richmond most often refers to: * Richmond, Virginia, the capital of Virginia, United States * Richmond, London, a part of London * Richmond, North Yorkshire, a town in England * Richmond, British Columbia, a city in Canada * Richmond, California, ...
by the end of Sunday, covering in a day and a half, through tough terrain. As usual, English made the walk in bare feet. English founded and edited the Sydney Bush Walkers Magazine, also contributing many articles to it. English studied
physiotherapy Physical therapy (PT), also known as physiotherapy, is one of the allied health professions. It is provided by physical therapists who promote, maintain, or restore health through physical examination, diagnosis, management, prognosis, patient ...
at
Sydney University The University of Sydney (USYD), also known as Sydney University, or informally Sydney Uni, is a public research university located in Sydney, Australia. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and is one of the country's six ...
from 1933 to 1935, while bushwalking at every opportunity. While at university, she was introduced to rock climbing by her friend
Marie Byles Marie Beuzeville Byles (8 April 1900 – 21 November 1979) was an Australian conservationist, pacifist, the first practising female solicitor in New South Wales (NSW), mountaineer, explorer and avid bushwalker, feminist, journalist, and an o ...
, herself—among her many accomplishments—an accomplished mountaineer. English later recalled that, ''"Marie lent me mountaineering books which fired my imagination—the reconnaissance of Everest by Shipton and Tilman, polar exploration, both Arctic and Antarctic, adventuring in Greenland and Iceland. It excited me enormously."'' In 1936, English and Dr Eric Dark were the first to climb Crater Bluff in the
Warrumbungles The Warrumbungles is a mountain range in the Orana region of New South Wales, Australia. The nearest town is Coonabarabran. The area is easiest accessed from the Newell Highway which is the major road link directly between Melbourne, Victoria ...
, which was then known by its older name of Split Rock. English climbed in bare feet and, although the pair used ropes, they did not use
piton A piton (; also called ''pin'' or ''peg'') in climbing is a metal spike (usually steel) that is driven into a crack or seam in the climbing surface using a climbing hammer, and which acts as an anchor for protecting the climber against the ...
s or rock bolts. The pair were part of a larger expedition, including Marie Byles and another experienced alpine climber, 'Pan' Paszek, but, although Dot had never before climbed using ropes, she was chosen for the difficult climb. English and Eric Dark agreed that, due to her agility, Dot would take the lead on vertical parts of the climb but the more-experienced Dark would take the lead on traverses. English's climbing companions, Dr Eric Dark and Marie Byles—both amazed by her natural skill and agility in the Crater Bluff climb—suggested that SBW should set up a climbing section. English was happy to oblige, when Byles donated a brand new climbing rope to the club. The pre-war members of the climbing section of SBW largely consisted of 'Tiger' walkers, including the leading 'Tiger', Gordon Smith, who led the club's—and English's—first climbing trip in New Zealand, over three-months in 1937. The group returned inspired to tackle challenging climbs. English was, as were many bushwalkers of the time, an Honorary Ranger carrying a warrant card that allowed her to arrest individuals who were breaking early N.S.W. environmental protection laws such as the Wild Flowers and Native Plants Protection Act, 1927 and the Birds and Animals Protection Act, 1918. She held strong views on conservation and leaving the landscape in pristine condition. While English was working as a secretary in the early 1930s, her boss Walter Trinick''—''the Sydney manager for the Melbourne newspaper, The Argus ''—'' had recognised that the law allowed any N.S.W. public service employee to be an Honorary Ranger. Working with Trinick, Dot established the Rangers’ League, by writing to the house journals of public service departments in N.S.W. and inviting public servants to join. The Rangers' League was soon an organisation of approximately 700 Honorary Rangers—550 men and 150 women. Immensely fit, in 1938 English walked in 10 hours, during a distance walking challenge in Centennial Park, then went to
Faulconbridge Faulconbridge is a village located in the Blue Mountains 77 km west of Sydney, New South Wales and is 450 metres above sea level. At the 2016 census, Faulconbridge had a population of 4,025 people. History and description The Faulconbrid ...
, where she ''"slept on a bed of pine needles",'' before arising at dawn to go bushwalking in the
Grose Valley The Grose Valley is a rugged valley in the Blue Mountains, New South Wales, Australia. It has been formed by the Grose River, the headwaters of which are in the Mount Victoria area. The valley is located between the Great Western Highway and ...
. She used the publicity created by the walking challenge to advance the involvement of women in bushwalking, posing in a swimsuit for a newspaper article in the
Daily Telegraph (Sydney) ''The Daily Telegraph'', also nicknamed ''The Tele'', is an Australian tabloid newspaper published by Nationwide News Pty Limited, a subsidiary of News Corp Australia, itself a subsidiary of News Corp. It is published Monday through Saturda ...
''"to prove that strenuous exercise such as long-distance hiking does not result in muscles or masculinity''". The same newspaper article revealed that English was also cycling and canoeing; she kept a canoe at Balmoral that she had, on occasion, taken through the
Sydney Heads Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountains ...
; while canoeing, she had a collision with the Mosman ferry, fortunately emerging unharmed. From 1939, English spent three summers in New Zealand. Her work as a guide in the Mt Cook National Park was an important influence on her post-war activities. During this time, she met the young
Edmund Hillary Sir Edmund Percival Hillary (20 July 1919 – 11 January 2008) was a New Zealand mountaineer, explorer, and philanthropist. On 29 May 1953, Hillary and Sherpa mountaineer Tenzing Norgay became the first climbers confirmed to have reached t ...
, and climbed
the Remarkables The Remarkables ( mi, Kawarau) are a mountain range and skifield in Otago in the South Island of New Zealand. Located on the southeastern shore of Lake Wakatipu, the range lives up to its name by rising sharply to create a remarkable backdrop ...
, only donning boots for the portion of the climb in snow and ice. In 1940, she became a member of the
New Zealand Alpine Club The New Zealand Alpine Club (NZAC) was founded in 1891 and is one of the oldest alpine clubs in the world. The NZAC is the national climbing organisation in New Zealand and is a member of the Union Internationale des Associations d'Alpinisme. It ...
, being elected on her first attempt. In 1941, she climbed New Zealand's highest peak, 3,763 metre high Mount Cook.


Marriage

In 1940, English met Ira Butler, a fellow bushwalker and
Reserve Bank A central bank, reserve bank, or monetary authority is an institution that manages the currency and monetary policy of a country or monetary union, and oversees their commercial banking system. In contrast to a commercial bank, a central ba ...
economist. In 1943, they married, after Dot cycled from
Sydney Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...
to
Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...
to do so because she was unable to secure a seat on a train. Later, once again unable to obtain a seat on a wartime train, she cycled from Melbourne to
Albury Albury () is a major regional city in New South Wales, Australia. It is located on the Hume Highway and the northern side of the Murray River. Albury is the seat of local government for the council area which also bears the city's name – the ...
, while six months pregnant with her first child. Dot then spent some years raising the four children from her marriage, until returning to her adventures in the mid-1950s.


Post-war adventures

By the mid-1950s, as her children grew, Dot Butler was able to become more active in the Sydney Bush Walkers again. In 1956, concerned about the number of Australian climbers who had alpine climbing accidents in New Zealand, she established an Australian section of the
New Zealand Alpine Club The New Zealand Alpine Club (NZAC) was founded in 1891 and is one of the oldest alpine clubs in the world. The NZAC is the national climbing organisation in New Zealand and is a member of the Union Internationale des Associations d'Alpinisme. It ...
. Prospective climbers could learn basic safety, before joining her to climb in New Zealand with experienced mountaineers. She organised the first such climbing trip to New Zealand around Christmas 1956, and she continued to join these trips for almost thirty years afterwards. Ira Butler's work took them overseas and provided Dot with a chance to walk, climb and cycle in many countries. Accompanying Ira on a conference trip to
Lyon Lyon,, ; Occitan: ''Lion'', hist. ''Lionés'' also spelled in English as Lyons, is the third-largest city and second-largest metropolitan area of France. It is located at the confluence of the rivers Rhône and Saône, to the northwest of t ...
, in 1964, Dot took time out to climb in the Alps. Because she had come without
crampons A crampon is a traction device that is attached to footwear to improve mobility on snow and ice during ice climbing. Besides ice climbing, crampons are also used for secure travel on snow and ice, such as crossing glaciers, snowfields and ice ...
, she confined her climbing to rock climbs, ascending the
Aiguille du Grépon The Aiguille du Grépon (literally the ''Needle of Grépon''), informally known as The Grepon, is a mountain in the Mont Blanc Massif in Haute-Savoie, France. The Grepon has a Southern (3,482 m) and Northern (3,478 m) peak, which are the highest p ...
(informally known as 'The Grepon'), via Mummary's Crack and the four pinnacles making up the mountain. In the southern hemisphere late spring to early summer climbing season of 1965–1966, Butler went climbing on the
Tasman Glacier Haupapa / Tasman Glacier is the largest glacier in New Zealand, and one of several large glaciers which flow south and east towards the Mackenzie Basin from the Southern Alps in New Zealand's South Island. Geography At in length, Tasman Glacie ...
. It is known that she did wear climbing boots for alpine climbing in ice and snow, but still preferred to go barefoot whenever possible. Not one for rules, Butler made some clandestine climbs at night, over the arch of the
Sydney Harbour Bridge The Sydney Harbour Bridge is a steel through arch bridge in Sydney, spanning Port Jackson, Sydney Harbour from the Sydney central business district, central business district (CBD) to the North Shore (Sydney), North Shore. The view of the bridg ...
, with a group known as ‘Night Climbers of Sydney’. In 1968, Butler took a crash course in
Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries **Spanish cuisine Other places * Spanish, Ontario, Cana ...
and in 1969, organised an Australian expedition of nine climbers to the
Andes The Andes, Andes Mountains or Andean Mountains (; ) are the longest continental mountain range in the world, forming a continuous highland along the western edge of South America. The range is long, wide (widest between 18°S – 20°S ...
. They made 27 different ascents (13 of these were first ascents) of 19 mountains in Peru's Cordillera Vilcabamba, mostly over 5,500 metres. In 1969, Butler organised the purchase by SBW and others of a piece of land in the
Kangaroo Valley Kangaroo Valley is a river valley along the Kangaroo River in the Shoalhaven region of New South Wales, Australia, located west of the seaside in the City of Shoalhaven. It is also the name of the small suburb within it, formerly known as Osbo ...
, which became known as 'Coolana' (said to mean 'Happy Meeting Place'). The land was a nature reserve but also was used by the club for reunions and other events. In June 1975, Butler and her daughter Rona were in a group that canoed the
Yukon River The Yukon River (Gwichʼin language, Gwich'in: ''Ųųg Han'' or ''Yuk Han'', Central Alaskan Yup'ik language, Yup'ik: ''Kuigpak'', Inupiaq language, Inupiaq: ''Kuukpak'', Deg Xinag language, Deg Xinag: ''Yeqin'', Hän language, Hän: ''Tth'echù' ...
from
Whitehorse Whitehorse () is the capital of Yukon, and the largest city in Northern Canada. It was incorporated in 1950 and is located at kilometre 1426 (Historic Mile 918) on the Alaska Highway in southern Yukon. Whitehorse's downtown and Riverdale areas ...
to
Dawson City Dawson City, officially the City of Dawson, is a town in the Canadian territory of Yukon. It is inseparably linked to the Klondike Gold Rush (1896–99). Its population was 1,577 as of the 2021 census, making it the second-largest town in Yuko ...
, a four-week trip of 640 kilometres.


Work career

Butler worked as a stenographer after leaving school. For a time, she was the secretary of Walter Trinick, the pro-conservation Sydney manager of the Melbourne newspaper The Argus. After qualifying as a
physiotherapist Physical therapy (PT), also known as physiotherapy, is one of the allied health professions. It is provided by physical therapists who promote, maintain, or restore health through physical examination, diagnosis, management, prognosis, patient ...
, Butler worked as a nurse at the
Collaroy Collaroy is a suburb in northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Collaroy is 22 kilometres north-east of the Sydney central business district, in the Local government in Australia, local government area of Northern Beac ...
annex of the
Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children The Children's Hospital at Westmead (formerly Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children) is a children's hospital in Western Sydney. The hospital was founded in 1880 as "The Sydney Hospital for Sick Children". Its name was changed to the "Royal Alex ...
, rehabilitating children who had been affected by
polio Poliomyelitis, commonly shortened to polio, is an infectious disease caused by the poliovirus. Approximately 70% of cases are asymptomatic; mild symptoms which can occur include sore throat and fever; in a proportion of cases more severe s ...
myelitis. She was still working as a nurse in 1966.


Later life

In later life, by her own admission, Butler's attitude to Australia changed, from seeing it as a land of empty spaces yet to be explored to seeing it as a land needing regeneration to repair the damage that had been done to it. An avid conservationist, Butler worked with the Colong Foundation and campaigned, in particular, against the flooding of
Lake Pedder Lake Pedder, once a glacial outwash lake, is a man-made impoundment and diversion lake located in the southwest of Tasmania, Australia. In addition to its natural catchment from the Frankland Range, the lake is formed by the 1972 damming of the ...
and for the establishment of the Myall Lakes National Park. In the 1980s, she was involved in the campaign to save the last piece of lowland tropical rainforest inland from
Cape Tribulation Cape Tribulation is a headland and coastal locality in the Shire of Douglas in northern Queensland, Australia. In the , Cape Tribulation had a population of 118 people. Geography The locality is north of Cairns. It is within the Daintree Na ...
, which became a
World Heritage Site A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for h ...
in 1988. In 1991, at age 80, Butler climbed and then abseiled down the
Sydney Harbour Bridge The Sydney Harbour Bridge is a steel through arch bridge in Sydney, spanning Port Jackson, Sydney Harbour from the Sydney central business district, central business district (CBD) to the North Shore (Sydney), North Shore. The view of the bridg ...
, as part of Seniors' Week activities. Also in 1991, her autobiography "The barefoot bush walker" was published.


Family

After initially living at Coogee, the Butlers found a large piece of land at 28-30 Boundary Road,
Wahroonga Wahroonga is a suburb in the North Shore (Sydney)#Upper North Shore, Upper North Shore of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia, 18 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district, in the Local government in Australia ...
''—''then still covered in native vegetation and near to
Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park is a national park on the northern side of Sydney in New South Wales, Australia. The park is north of the Sydney central business district and generally comprises the land east of the M1 Pacific Motorway, sout ...
''—''and built a house there. This would remain the family home for many years. Dot and Ira Butler had four children, daughters Rona and Wendy, and twin brothers Norman and Wade. All the children became active in the outdoors. When a re-enactment of Butler's 1936 barefoot ascent of Crater Bluff was made, Rona played Dot and Wade played the part of Dr Eric Dark, Dot's climbing companion. Both Rona and Wade were accomplished climbers. Butler herself was there for the re-enactment, climbing with the camera crew. Daughter Wendy, a medical student, drowned in an accident on the
Kowmung River The Kowmung River (Gandangara: ''Barnalay''), a perennial river that is part of the Hawkesbury-Nepean catchment, is located in the Central Tablelands region of New South Wales, Australia. Course and features The Kowmung River is formed by the c ...
in November 1966. Dot wrote, ''“With her death, laughter died in our house. She was another me.”'' Ira Butler became less interested in bushwalking but, by the 1960s, he had taken on the pastime of growing and breeding
orchids Orchids are plants that belong to the family Orchidaceae (), a diverse and widespread group of flowering plants with blooms that are often colourful and fragrant. Along with the Asteraceae, they are one of the two largest families of flowering ...
. He died of a heart attack in 1972 at their home in Wahroonga. A year later, son Norman died, after being bitten by a
Taipan Taipans are snakes of the genus ''Oxyuranus'' in the elapid family. They are large, fast-moving, highly venomous, and endemic to Australia and New Guinea. Three species are recognised, one of which, the coastal taipan, has two subspecies. Taipan ...
near Nimbin. Butler's other son, Wade, was on a six-day solo expedition in the area around
Precipitous Bluff Precipitous Bluff or ''PB'' is a mountain in the South West Wilderness of Tasmania located north east of New River lagoon. Geology and Geography It is visible from the South Coast Track and the Moonlight Ridge walk with a prominence of over ...
, Tasmania, when he disappeared in November 1995.


Death and legacy

In 2008, at the age of 96, Butler's very full life of adventure ended, at
Franklin Franklin may refer to: People * Franklin (given name) * Franklin (surname) * Franklin (class), a member of a historical English social class Places Australia * Franklin, Tasmania, a township * Division of Franklin, federal electoral d ...
in Tasmania where her daughter Rona was living. She was survived by Rona and by her grandchildren. Her ashes were scattered in the Warrumbungle Ranges. Butler had been a legend in her own lifetime, and an inspiration to many. Never afraid to break conventions or be seen as unusual, she was quoted as saying—with a laugh—that, ''“Eccentricity is just being ahead of your time."'' Her personal motto— an apt one—was ''"Energy begets energy."'' She remains renowned within Australian bushwalking and conservation circles, especially in her home state of
New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...
. As a climber, Butler is remembered as a part of the continuous tradition of Australian female mountaineers, beginning with Freda Du Faur, continuing with
Marie Byles Marie Beuzeville Byles (8 April 1900 – 21 November 1979) was an Australian conservationist, pacifist, the first practising female solicitor in New South Wales (NSW), mountaineer, explorer and avid bushwalker, feminist, journalist, and an o ...
and then passing via Dot Butler to contemporary climbers. Her contribution to the training of Australian mountain climbers is a lasting legacy. Butler is commemorated by these places that were named in her honour: * Mt Dot, a 1,733-metre high mountain overlooking the
Hollyford Valley Hollyford Valley is a valley in Fiordland, New Zealand, in the southwest of the South Island. It is named for the Hollyford River, which runs north-north-west along its length from the Southern Alps to the Tasman Sea. Beech forest dominates both t ...
in New Zealand * Dot Butler Conservation Reserve, in
Kangaroo Valley, New South Wales Kangaroo Valley is a river valley along the Kangaroo River in the Shoalhaven region of New South Wales, Australia, located west of the seaside in the City of Shoalhaven. It is also the name of the small suburb within it, formerly known as Osb ...
, a Crown Reserve of approximately 251 hectares, adjacent to 'Coolana' * Dots Creek, a 4.5 km long creek also located within the Kangaroo Valley * Dot Butler Street, in the
Canberra Canberra ( ) is the capital city of Australia. Founded following the federation of the colonies of Australia as the seat of government for the new nation, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The ci ...
suburb of
Wright Wright is an occupational surname originating in England. The term 'Wright' comes from the circa 700 AD Old English word 'wryhta' or 'wyrhta', meaning worker or shaper of wood. Later it became any occupational worker (for example, a shipwright is ...
.


References

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Butler, Dorothy 1911 births 2008 deaths 20th-century Australian women 21st-century Australian people 21st-century Australian women Australian conservationists Australian mountain climbers Hikers People educated at Sydney Girls High School Australian female climbers People from Sydney