Edith Dircksey Cowan Memorial (Edith Cowan Memorial Clock)
Edith Cowan was the first woman to hold a seat in any Australian parliament, a campaigner for women’s rights, the welfare and protection of disadvantaged women and children, and other social issues. She was active in founding King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women, and a co-founder of the National Council of Women and the Royal Western Australian Historical Society.
After she died on 9 June 1932, the Western Australian branch of the National Council for Women discussed erecting a memorial to her and it was finally decided that the most appropriate thing to erect was a monument in Kings Park. The Kings Park Board refused, stating that only national memorials could be considered. This used some offense, as it implied Cowan was not of national significance.
However, Perth City Council was considering building an island for pedestrians near Kings Park. The Edith Cowan Memorial Committee requested permission to locate their monument there, and this was approved. Architect Harold Boas and city engineer Henry Atwell began work on a design, with portrait painter Margaret Johnson selected to sculpt Cowan’s portrait. Lieutenant-Governor James Mitchell unveiled it on 9 June 1934, the second anniversary of Cowan’s death.
The monument and its surroundings remained largely unchanged until the mid-1970s, when the traffic island was enlarged. Today it continues to symbolise one of Australia’s most famous women, and someone who appears on the fifty dollar note.
Edith Cowan was the first woman to hold a seat in any Australian parliament, a campaigner for women’s rights, the welfare and protection of disadvantaged women and children, and other social issues. She was active in founding King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women, and a co-founder of the National Council of Women and the Royal Western Australian Historical Society.
After she died on 9 June 1932, the Western Australian branch of the National Council for Women discussed erecting a memorial to her. The discussion centred around whether the memorial should be a monument or something more practical such as a new ward at King Edward Memorial Hospital. It was finally decided that the most appropriate thing to erect was a monument in Kings Park.
The Kings Park Board was approached to seek approval for a monument, with the suggestion of an archway at the entrance gates. However, the Board refused, stating that only national memorials could be considered. This used some offense, as it implied Cowan was not of national significance.
Around this time, Perth City Council was considering building an island for pedestrians near Kings Park. The Edith Cowan Memorial Committee requested permission to locate their monument there, and this was approved. Architect Harold Boas and city engineer Henry Atwell began work on a design.
In response to the publication of the design in the West Australian, protests were lodged by the Kings Park Board, the Royal Institute of Architects and the Town Planning Institute. It was said, yet again, that the site should be reserved for a memorial of national significance.
There were also suggestions that monuments were masculine, and it was inappropriate for a woman to be memorialised in such as way.
Despite this, construction of the monument went ahead. Portrait painter Margaret Johnson was selected to sculpt Cowan’s portrait, and work began in May 1934. Lieutenant-Governor James Mitchell unveiled it on 9 June that year, the second anniversary of Cowan’s death.
The monument and its surroundings remained largely unchanged until the mid-1970s, when the traffic island was enlarged. Today it continues to symbolise one of Australia’s most famous women, and someone who appears on the fifty dollar note.