Gracia Baylor

Gracia was born in Brisbane,{{cite re-member |title=Gracia Hilda Baylor |num2=1012 |access-date=2021-03-15}} her father was in the military and the family eventually settled in Victoria. She studied fine art and teaching, and taught in secondary schools until she married. Following her first marriage she worked as a law clerk and managed one of her husband's three law practices (Richard Baylor).

She became interested in local government when she noticed the lack of a kindergarten near her home. She was elected to the Healesville Shire council in 1966, and became Shire president from 1977 to 1978, she was the first female Shire president in Victoria. At the 1979 election, she was elected to Boronia Province in the Victorian Legislative Council as a member of the Liberal Party — one of the first two women elected to the Council alongside Joan Coxsedge (Labor, Melbourne West). She held her seat until 1985 when she resigned to contest a seat in the Legislative Assembly, but her bid was unsuccessful.

She has continued to be involved in women's issues, including a term as the president of the National Council of Women (1997–2000). She was inducted onto the Victorian Honour Roll of Women in 2003.{{Cite web |date= |title=Gracia Baylor AM |url=https://www.vic.gov.au/gracia-baylor-am |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=State Government of Victoria |language=en-au}}

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Category:1929 births

Category:Living people

Category:Members of the Victorian Legislative Council

Category:Mayors of places in Victoria (state)

Category:Liberal Party of Australia members of the Parliament of Victoria

Category:Members of the Order of Australia

Category:Women members of the Victorian Legislative Council

Category:Women mayors of places in Victoria (state)

Category:20th-century mayors of places in Australia