Mary Theresa Vidal (née Johnson) (23 June 1815 - 19 November 1873) was a British-Australian writer described as Australia's first female novelist. In 1845, Vidal's first book, Tales for the Bush, was published in Sydney, apparently intended as an instructive work for her servants. Soon afterwards she returned with her husband to England. Ten other volumes of tales and novels were published between 1846 and 1866. She sometimes made use of her experiences in Australia, especially in Bengala, or Some Time Ago (1860). Some of these books ran into more than one edition. She died in 1873 and was survived by her husband, six sons (including George William Vidal) and a daughter.