Suffrage

‘Suffragettes’ was the term used around the world for women who campaigned for the right to vote in elections. During the 1880s and 1890s, every colony had at least one suffrage society. Suffragettes collected thousands of signatures on petitions to present to their colonial parliaments.

In 1895, women in South Australia won the right to vote and seek election to Parliament. In 1899, women in Western Australia won the right to vote.

In 1902, Australia was the first country to give women both the right to vote and the right to be elected to Parliament. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples were not granted the right to vote until 1962.

In 1923, Edith Cowan became the first female parliamentarian when she was elected to the Western Australian Parliament. In 1943, Enid Lyons was the first woman elected to the Australian Parliament.

Catherine Spence (1825–1910)

Catherine Spence was a writer, preacher, feminist and suffragette. She migrated to Australia from Scotland and wrote school books and prize- winning novels about Australian life.

She helped set up an organisation to help homeless children, and supported new kindergartens and government secondary schools for girls.

She was the first woman to stand for parliament. Although she received many votes, she did not win the seat. In 1891, she became the Vice-President of the Women’s Suffrage League of South Australia.

Catherine Spence is a symbol of what a woman can achieve, even in restrictive times.