Hi!

My name is Mary Reibey!

You may recognize me from the face on the Australian $20 bill.

Though you may have seen me, you might not know my story.

So read along, and find out how I ended up as a face on your money.

I was born in Bury, Lancashire, England on the 12th of May, 1777. 

At the age of 14, I ran away from my grandmother after my parents passed away and got arrested for attempting to steal a horse. 

At the time, I was disguised as a boy named James Burrow so I got sentenced to 7 years of transportation.

In October, 1792, I arrived in Sydney, Australia on the Royal Admiral as a convict.

On the 7th of September 1794, I married a man called Thomas Reiby, a junior officer on the ship, Britannia. 

My husband made a cargo business along Hawkesbury River before moving to Sydney later on.

In 1804, we built a large stone residence after Thomas bought many farms on Hawkesbury river where we traded coal, cedar, furs, and skins.

Our trading activities went from the Bass strait, to the pacific islands, and from 1809, China and India

When my husband died on April 5th, 1811, I was given full responsibility for all my 7 children and control over all the businesses that Thomas had which made me very rich as I expanded those businesses. 

In 1812, the bank of New south wales was founded in my house in Macquarie Place.

In the society of NSW, I gained respect for my charitable works and interest in church and education.

In 1825, I was appointed on as the governors of the free grammar school.