Fraser, Lilian Ross   (1908 - 1987)

Born c. 1908 at Kurrajong, New South Wales; died on 5 October 1987 at Hornsby, NSW.

After obtaining a B.Sc. (Hons.) in Botany from the University of Sydney in 1930, Dr Fraser carried out post- graduate research from 1931 to 1937 on mycorrhizal and sooty mould fungi and on the ecology of rainforest communities in the Barrington Tops (with Dr J. Vickery).

She obtained a D.Sc. (Botany) from the University of Sydney in 1937.

She then went to Imperial College of Science and Technology, University of London, and to the Imperial Mycological Institute to work on growth substances required for fungal growth and reproduction and fungal taxonomy.

In 1939-40, she was Commonwealth Research Fellow, University of Sydney, working on fungal decay of apples in storage.

In 1940 Dr Fraser was appointed assistant plant pathologist, NSW Department of Agriculture.

Her career was notable for her work on citrus diseases.

Dr Fraser was President of the Linnean Society (1948-49, 1956-57), and a foundation member of the International Organisation of Citrus Virologists (1957).

In 1960 she became Senior Biologist (the first woman appointed to an administrative position in the New South Wales Department of Agriculture) and in 1968 Chief Biologist of the Biological and Chemical Research Institute, before retiring in 1973.

Dr Fraser was a shy, quietly spoken woman with blue eyes, dark hair and a keen sense of humour. Her hobbies refelected her interest in Botany. She was a keen gardener, established a 'plantsman's garden' of rare beauty, and spent her holidays exploring bush areas for new plant specimens.

Sources: Extracted from:
https://appsnet.au/history/Lillian-Fraser.pdf
https://www.eoas.info/biogs/P004916b.htm
P. Barkley (1987) 'Lilian Ross Fraser 1909-1987', Australasian Plant Pathology Vol. 16 (4) p.96
Portrait Photo: https://appsnet.au/history/Lillian-Fraser.pdf

Collecting localities for 'Fraser, L.R.' from AVH (2025)

Data from 1,138 specimens