Great Petition (sculpture) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Great Petition |
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| Artist | Susan Hewitt and Penelope Lee |
| Year | 2008 |
| Type | Bluestone and steel |
| Location | Melbourne, Australia |
| 37°48′41″S 144°58′31″E / 37.81150°S 144.97519°E | |
The Great Petition is a special sculpture in Melbourne, Australia. You can find it in Burston Reserve, close to the Victorian State Parliament Building. This artwork was created by artists Susan Hewitt and Penelope Lee. It was built by brecknock Consulting. The government of Victoria and the City of Melbourne asked for this sculpture to be made.
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What is the Great Petition Sculpture?
The Great Petition sculpture is a long, winding artwork. It is 20 metres (about 65 feet) long. The sculpture looks like a giant scroll that folds over itself. It seems to go underground and then pop back up on the other side of a path. It is made from bluestone and steel.
Why Was This Sculpture Made?
This sculpture celebrates a very important event in history. It reminds us of the "Monster Petition" from 1891. This petition was a huge document signed by 30,000 women in Victoria. They were asking for the right to vote. This means they wanted to be able to choose their leaders, just like men could.
The Monster Petition: A Big Step for Women
The original "Monster Petition" was truly massive! It was made of many sheets of paper glued onto long pieces of fabric. It measured an incredible 260 metres (about 850 feet) long. Imagine how long that is – longer than two football fields! This huge petition is now kept safe at the state's Public Record Office.
The women worked for six weeks to collect all those signatures. They wanted their voices to be heard by the government. In September 1891, the petition was shown to the Parliament. However, the law to let women vote was not passed at that time. It took another 19 years for women in Victoria to finally get the right to vote. Even so, the "Monster Petition" was a very important moment in the fight for women's rights.
Unveiling the Sculpture
The Great Petition sculpture was officially revealed on December 3, 2008. This date was chosen because it marked 100 years since women in Victoria gained the right to vote. The sculpture helps us remember the brave women who worked hard for equality. It shows how important it is for everyone to have a say in their government.
