Biography: Davidson, Mavis Melville

The first all-woman ascent of Aoraki/Mount Cook

Three women, holding ropes and ice-axes, climbing up a snowy alpine ridge.

Mavis Davidson (right), with Sheila MacMurray (left) and Doreen Pickens (centre), near the summit of Aoraki/Mount Cook during the first all-women ascent on 6 January 1953.

Using this item

Hocken Collections, University of Otago

Reference: Ashley Cunningham papers, New Zealand Alpine Club Collection. MS-1164-2/025/04/001

Permission of the Hocken Collections Uare Taoka o Hakena, University of Otago, must be obtained before any re-use of this image. Further information may be obtained from the Library through its website.

How to cite this page

Rebekah White. 'Davidson, Mavis Melville', Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, first published in 2022. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/47693/the-first-all-woman-ascent-of-aorakimount-cook (accessed 4 June 2026).