Edith Dircksey Cowan Memorial facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Edith Dircksey Cowan Memorial |
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Edith Dircksey Cowan Memorial at the entrance to Kings Park
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| General information | |
| Type | Memorial |
| Location | Kings Park, Perth, Western Australia |
| Coordinates | 31°57′14″S 115°50′40″E / 31.9540°S 115.8444°E |
| Type | State Registered Place |
| Designated | 5 January 2001 |
| Reference no. | 2232 |
The Edith Dircksey Cowan Memorial is a special clock tower in Perth, Western Australia. You can find it at the main entrance to Kings Park. This memorial was built in 1934 to remember Edith Cowan. She was an amazing woman who became the first female member of any Australian parliament (a group of people who make laws for the country).
The memorial was officially opened on 9 June 1934. It was the very first public monument in Australia built to honour an Australian woman.
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What is the Edith Cowan Memorial?
The Edith Dircksey Cowan Memorial stands on a small island in the middle of a road. This spot is right across from the main entrance to Kings Park. It's about six metres tall, which is like two basketball hoops stacked up!
The memorial is made from a type of stone called Donnybrook freestone. This is a strong, light-coloured stone. The design is in the Art Deco style, which was popular in the 1920s and 1930s. It has cool, geometric shapes.
Besides a working clock, the memorial also features a bronze picture of Edith Cowan's face. There's also a special plaque with words that tell us about her:
| ERECTED IN HONOUR OF EDITH DIRCKSEY COWAN O.B.E., J.P. BY THOSE WHO ADMIRED HER MANY GOOD WORKS FOR HUMANITY 1861–1932 FIRST WOMAN MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT IN AUSTRALIA A LIFE OF SERVICE |
Who Was Edith Cowan?
Edith Cowan was a champion for many important causes. She worked hard for women's rights and to protect women and children who needed help. She also cared about other social issues in her community.
Edith played a big part in getting the King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women built. She also helped start important groups like the National Council of Women of Australia and the Royal Western Australian Historical Society.
In 1920, Western Australia passed a law that allowed women to run for parliament. Edith Cowan ran and won a seat in the Western Australian Legislative Assembly. This made her the first woman to ever hold a seat in any Australian parliament! It was a huge step forward for women in politics.
How the Memorial Was Built
Edith Cowan passed away on 9 June 1932. Just a month later, a group called the National Council for Women decided they wanted to build something to remember her. They held a meeting to discuss ideas.
People had different thoughts about what the memorial should be. Some wanted a useful building, like a special ward at a hospital or a health centre for babies. Others wanted a pathway or a drive named after her. But in the end, they decided a monument in Kings Park would be best.
A special committee was formed to raise money for the monument. They asked the Kings Park Board if they could build an archway at the park's entrance. However, the Kings Park Board said no. They had other plans for the entrance and preferred to only have national memorials in the park. This made some people feel that Edith Cowan wasn't seen as important enough.
Around this time, the Perth City Council was planning a safety zone for people walking near Kings Park. It was going to be a raised area with pillars. Many ideas were suggested for a centrepiece there, like moving a clock or building another memorial.
In December 1932, Edith Cowan's memorial committee asked the Council if they could put her monument there. The Council agreed! Two important people, Harold Boas (an architect) and Henry Atwell (the City Engineer), started designing the monument. Their design was approved in February 1933, and a drawing was even shown in The West Australian newspaper. Mrs Margaret Johnson designed the bronze portrait of Edith Cowan.
When the design was published, some groups protested. These included the Kings Park Board and architecture groups. They felt that the spot was too important and should be saved for a memorial of national importance. Some people also thought that monuments were usually for men. They argued it wasn't right for a woman to have such a memorial. But Edith's supporters said she had succeeded in a "male world," so she deserved a monument just as much. This debate went on for most of 1933.
A man named David Lomas Davidson even tried to stop the building of the monument in court. But his request was refused, and construction went ahead. Margaret Johnson was chosen to sculpt Edith Cowan's portrait. Work on the monument began in May 1934. The Lieutenant-Governor James Mitchell officially opened it on 9 June, exactly two years after Edith Cowan's death.
The memorial has stayed in good condition over the years. In 1996, it was re-dedicated. This was to celebrate 75 years since Edith Cowan was elected to parliament.
Images for kids
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Edith Dircksey Cowan Memorial at the entrance to Kings Park
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Bronze face portrait, by Mrs Margaret Johnson of Mt Hawthorn
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Inscription plaque
