Mary Harriett Griffith

Mary Harriett Griffith (1849–1930) was a philanthropist in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. She was prominent in organisations promoting Christianity and the interests of women and children.

Mary Harriet Griffith was born 4 November 1849 Portishead, Somerset, England, the daughter of Rev. Edward Griffith and Mary, née Walker. She was only four years old when the family came out to Australia in the small sailing ship Nile. The voyage from Sydney to Brisbane was made on the little coaster steamer, City of Melbourne. Her brother was Samuel Griffith (later Premier of Queensland).

Her father Rev. Edward Griffith was one of the pioneers of Congregationalism in Queensland. The family settled in Ipswich, Queensland. After a few years there Mr. Griffith took the oversight of the Congregational church at Maitland, New South Wales. His sons attended the high school there, and Miss Griffith also received portion of her schooling at that town. In 1860, her father relocated to Brisbane where he was the minister at the Wharf Street Congregational Church.

Miss Griffith found a congenial atmosphere in the church work into which she entered with a quiet zeal which characterised all of her life. She never sought pre-eminence, but her work was marked by unostentatious and practicalness. The spectacular did not appeal to her. Her judgment was sound, while she was not at all obstinate. Her opinions once formed, took some convincing to remove. Her entire absence of pride appealed to all who came into contact with her. She was essentially Victorian in her outlook on life, and religiously her sympathies extended beyond those of her own denomination, and showed the breadth of her view of life. Many public institutions benefited by her wise counsel and practical help, including the Lady Musgrave Lodge, the Children's Hospital, the Charity Organisation Society, the National Council of Women, the City Mission, the Brisbane Benevolent Society, the Women's Christian Temperance Union, the Young Women's Christian Association and the Aged Christian Women's Home.

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