If you’re into films like The Witch or You Won’t be Alone, there’s a historical Ballarat resident you may be interested in, who was described at the time as a “cunning” woman. Dr David Waldron from Federation University defines this as “men and women that would practice a mixture of folk remedies, but also protect you against the supernatural”.

Convict records show Mary Barrell moved to Ballarat from Scotland in the 1840s. She lost both her husband and child, and was forced to find her own means of earning a living.

Header Image: Ballarat Cemeteries