Women's Museum of Australia facts for kids
| Former name | National Pioneer Women's Hall of Fame |
|---|---|
| Established | 1993 |
| Location | Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia |
| Type | Women's History |
The Women's Museum of Australia is a special place in Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia. It used to be called the National Pioneer Women's Hall of Fame. This museum teaches us about the important role women have played in Australian history. You can find it inside the old HM Gaol and Labour Prison building, which has been fixed up.
History of the Museum
The museum was started in 1993 by Molly Clark. She lived on a cattle station called Old Andado. The museum first opened its doors in September 1994. It was in the town's Old Courthouse building. They used this building for five years.
By 2001, the museum needed more space. The old Alice Springs Gaol was offered as a new home. This old prison building is a special historical site. In 2007, the museum officially opened in its new location. Marion Scrymgour opened it. She was the Minister for Women's Policy. She was also the first Indigenous Australian woman elected to the Parliament of the Northern Territory.
In 2019, the museum changed its name. It became the Women's Museum of Australia. In 2020, they started making plans for new exhibits. They also improved the car park.
What You Can See at the Museum
The museum is located in the old HM Gaol and Labour Prison building. This is in Alice Springs.
The main goal of the museum is to celebrate women's achievements. It especially focuses on how women helped Australia grow. The museum honors "any woman who is a pioneer in her chosen field." This means women who were the first to do something important. This includes women from the earliest settlements until today.
The museum has many interesting displays. Some of the main ones are:
- Ordinary Women/ Extraordinary Lives - Women First in Their Field
- The Signature Quilt
- Women at the Heart (about Central Australia)
- What's Work Worth
- The Aviatrix Tapestry
People Who Support the Museum
The museum has two special supporters called patrons. They help the museum with advice and support.
- Dame Quentin Bryce is one of them. She used to be the Governor-General of Australia. This is a very important job.
- The other patron is Gaby Kennard. She was the first Australian woman to fly solo around the world. She did this amazing flight in 1989.
