Edith Cowan

Lore & Background

Edith Cowan's early life was marked by tragedy: her mother died when she was seven, and her father, a pastoralist, was executed for murdering his second wife. Raised by her grandmother, Cowan became a teacher and later a prominent volunteer in social welfare organizations. She co-founded the Karrakatta Club in 1894, a women's club in Western Australia that became a hub for intellectual and philanthropic work, though it was not the first women's club in Australia. Her activism led to the establishment of the Children's Court, the appointment of female police officers, and reforms in women's legal rights.

Reader's Guide

Edith Cowan's significance lies in her pioneering role as the first woman elected to an Australian parliament, breaking a political barrier in 1921. Her work as a social reformer advanced the rights of women and children, including suffrage, the establishment of children's courts, and the creation of the King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women. She co-founded key organizations such as the Karrakatta Club, the Children's Protection Society, and the Women's Service Guild, which shaped social policy in Western Australia. Her legacy is commemorated on the fifty-dollar note and through the Edith Cowan Memorial Clock. Despite serving only one term, she used her position to pass legislation on women's legal rights and sex education. Her life reflects the intersection of early feminist activism and parliamentary politics in Australia.

Did You Know?

• Edith Cowan was the first woman elected to any Australian parliament, winning the seat of West Perth in 1921.
• She introduced the Women's Legal Status Act 1923, which allowed women to practice law and hold public office in Western Australia.
• The Karrakatta Club, which she co-founded in 1894, was the first women's club in Western Australia, not the first in Australia.
• Her portrait has appeared on the Australian fifty-dollar note since 1995, making her one of the few non-monarchs to be featured on Australian currency.