Lovett, who ran the Melbourne Theatre Company for more than a decade, hopes to commission at least one new work a year.

“I love the idea of Ida, a story of strong, trailblazing women breaking down barriers. It is exciting to see artists explore the university’s archives to reimagine untold stories and create new work, not only for our stages here at UMAC but to share across the country,” Lovett says, adding she intends to dive into the archives in other ways, via readings and talks.

Another work in development - led by Sarah Goodes - examines the relationship between writer Germaine Greer and poet and activist Roberta Sykes.

For Kalive, the Ida story resonates on multiple levels. “We’re in the midst of a cultural evolution and lots of things need to change structurally in our society, if we want to meet the needs of climate change, if we want an equal and fair society,” she says.

“What these women demonstrate is that a small group of people can actually enact huge societal change. It doesn’t take a whole population to make change, it can just be a small, dedicated group of people with a passion and purpose.”

The first woman to graduate was Julia Margaret (Bella) Guerin, with a Bachelor of Arts, in December 1883; she received an MA in 1885 and went on to a career in teaching and political activism.

Kalive thinks we don’t do enough to celebrate and make known our trailblazers in this country and the focus is often on men. “Female stories are often left to the wayside.”

The other point she makes is Australia led the world on certain issues at the end of the nineteenth century. “Australia has this thing about following and not leading at the moment in our modern world. I’m really interested in encouraging us to be a leader again. There’s no reason we can’t be a worldwide leader in so many areas,” she says. “If we can show that we have in the past, why can’t we now and into the future?”