SLV Creative Fellowship

• In the Driver's Seat: A history of Victoria’s female taxi drivers 1918–2008 (working title)
  
  
• State Library Victoria 
• 328 Swanston Street
• Melbourne, Victoria
• Australia

In the Driver’s Seat (working title) will explore the rich social history of female taxi drivers in the Victorian taxi industry, utilising State Library Victoria’s unique and extensive collections.

Very little scholarly research and writing has been undertaken about the Victorian taxi industry to date – an industry that not only provides transport service, but also plays an integral role in the life of Victorian communities.

In particular there has been a complete absence of studies on female taxi drivers from the State of Victoria or for that matter anywhere else in Australia. This research project aims to address this significant gap in Australia’s social history.

As a recipient of the State Library Victoria Creative Fellowship (2009–2010), Christine Eid will undertake this study at the library as well as record and archive oral histories of past and present female taxi drivers.

 2009 recipients