Dora Ohlfsen was born in Ballarat in 1867. Known as a painter, sculptor and musician, she studied extensively in Europe. Due to illness she was forced to abandon a promising career as a pianist. A gifted linguist she travelled Europe extensively, writing for American newspapers. She returned to Australia several times and is best known here for her sculptoral work, designing medallions of such figures as Billy Hughes, Nellie Stewart and other notables of her period. She also created a medallion of Mussolini. Dora Ohlfsen's work is represented in several state and numerous overseas collections. She died in 1948.