Person
Balderson, Florence Rhoda (1862 - 1932)
- Born
- 30 May 1862
St Kilda, Victoria, Australia - Died
- 18 January 1932
Bayswater, United Kingdom - Occupation
- Dentist
- Alternative Names
- Lyons, Florence Rhoda (maiden name)
Summary
Florence Balderson was one of the first four women to qualify as dentists in Melbourne, in 1899, the others being Alys Berry, Ethel Godfrey and Sara M'Chesney. Balderson decided to study dentistry having been deserted by her husband and left with no means of support. Specialising in children's teeth, she established a practice at 28 Collins St, Melbourne. In 1903 she bought the practice of her fellow women dentists, Berry and Godfrey, at 34 Collins St. Two years later she travelled to New York for her son's education. Having briefly returned to Melbourne in 1913, the rest of her life was spent in the United Kingdom, where, during WWI, she was involved in confidential work.
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Details
Chronology
- 1895 - 1898
- Education - Trained at Mr E. Lenthal Oldfield's Dental College and Oral Hospital
- 1899 - 1903
- Career event - Practised at 28 Collins St, Melbourne, specialising in children's teeth
- 8 February 1899
- Career event - Registered as a qualified dentist in Victoria
- November 1899
- Education - Passed the Dental Board examination, Melbourne
- 1903 - 1905
- Career event - Purchased the practice of Miss Alys Berry and Miss Ethel Godfrey at 34 Collins St, Melbourne
- 1905
- Life event - Moved to the U.S.A.
- 1913
- Life event - Returned to Australia
- 1917
- Career event - In London "doing confidential work in a military Bank"
Published resources
Book Sections
- Sanghvi, Gitika, 'An early woman dentist' in Dentistry: innovation and education, Healy, Jacqueline, ed. ([Parkville, Vic.]: Herny Forman Atkinson Dental Museum, University of Melbourne, 2020), pp. 98-9. Details
Sara Maroske
Created: 14 July 2026