Lucy Beeton (1829–1886) was an Aboriginal Tasmanian teacher, trader, and community leader in the Furneaux Group of islands in the Bass Strait. Born on Vansittart Island, she was the daughter of Emmerennener (a Tasmanian Aboriginal woman) and Thomas Beeton (a non-Aboriginal sealer).
Beeton was educated in Launceston and eventually settled on Badger Island, where she became a central figure in the local community. She established a school on the island to provide education for the children of the resident families, many of whom were involved in the mutton-birding industry. Through her advocacy and correspondence with the Tasmanian government, she secured financial support for the school and the appointment of teachers.
Known by the title "The Queen of the Isles," Beeton managed significant commercial interests, including a trading business and the management of local mutton-birding operations. She was a prominent advocate for the rights of Aboriginal Tasmanians, particularly concerning land tenure and the protection of her community's livelihood against external encroachment. Her leadership played a critical role in the social and economic history of the Palawa people in the 19th century.
