History
"The Women’s Club in Sydney is the outward and visible sign of the progress of women in our country.”
Sydney Stock and Station Journal 13 October 1908 p.8
Sydney Stock and Station Journal 13 October 1908 p.8
Historic image
On 1 January 1901 the Commonwealth of Australia was proclaimed in Centennial Park, Sydney. Later that year physician and welfare worker, Dr Mary Booth invited some women to meet at her Macquarie Street rooms to discuss establishing a club where women interested in public, professional, scientific and artistic work might associate. On 9 October 1901 a meeting of more than 100 women at The Women’s College, the University of Sydney founded The Women’s Club ‘to fill some of the needs of intellectual and academic women by offering mental and artistic enjoyment’.
In the early twentieth century, despite the ‘separate spheres’ philosophy, women were venturing into the public realm. Girls’ education was secured by the Public Instruction Act, 1880. In 1881 the University of Sydney admitted ‘women to all University privileges … on an equal footing with men’ and in 1885 Mary Brown and Isola Barnes became the first Arts graduates. Women formed associations such as the Women’s Christian Temperance League (1887), the Women’s Literary Society (1889) and the Womanhood Suffrage League (1891) and in 1892, the Women’s College was established. As women accessed new opportunities in the public realm they sought the same civic rights as men. The Commonwealth Franchise Act, 1902 and the Women’s Franchise Act, 1902 granted non-Aboriginal NSW women the vote.
The first President of The Women’s Club was Lady Beaumont (wife of Admiral Sir Lewis Beaumont). Vice-Presidents were Rose Scott (founder Womanhood Suffrage League), Mrs David (wife of Sir Edgeworth David), Mrs John See (wife of NSW Premier) and Lady Lyne (wife of Minister for Home Affairs). The first Secretary was Miss E L Sutherland B.A. with Edith Fry (founding member of the National Council of Women) Treasurer. Committee members were Dr Mary Booth, Miss Dickson and Miss Harker (first student at The Women’s College). Modelled on the salons for which Rose Scott became famous, the Circles provided opportunities for women’s education in social, political and aesthetic matters. The Tuesday Circle developed members’ debating skills through discussion of topics such as ‘patriotism’ while the Music and Drama Circles presented recitals by musicians and play readings by directors such as Doris Fitton.
For seven years The Women’s Club rented rooms in Rowe Street, moving in 1908 to Challis House at 4 Martin Place, then in 1913 to 77 King Street. In 1924 the Club moved again but this time into their own premises, Beaumont House, 167 Elizabeth St. Finally in 1992 The Women’s Club settled into the current premises at 179 Elizabeth Street.
By 1908 the Club’s membership was nearly four hundred women and by 1925 more than 800. While numbers declined during the Depression and World War II they remained steady throughout the latter part of the century and are currently growing. Over the years, many prominent women including Jessie Street, Louisa Macdonald, Lady Fanshawe, Linda Littlejohn, Irene Phillips and Adela Pankhurst have been members. Many others, such as Stella Miles Franklin, Millicent Preston Stanley and Annie Besant have been honoured guests at The Women’s Club.
Circles remain the Club’s lifeblood. Political Science, Arts and Media, Justice and Democracy, Art, Architecture and Photography, as well as drama, literary, craft, music, film, writing and bridge circles provide a diverse range of activities for members and guests. The Club continues to host luncheons and dinners with guest speakers prominent in various fields who offer insights into issues affecting women in the past and present. Many women’s organisations such as the National Council of Women, Feminist Club and Women’s Civic League have used the Club rooms for meetings and events. Today associations such as Women on Boards, Females in Finance and Australian Universities Heads of English and Quota continue this tradition.
In the early twentieth century, despite the ‘separate spheres’ philosophy, women were venturing into the public realm. Girls’ education was secured by the Public Instruction Act, 1880. In 1881 the University of Sydney admitted ‘women to all University privileges … on an equal footing with men’ and in 1885 Mary Brown and Isola Barnes became the first Arts graduates. Women formed associations such as the Women’s Christian Temperance League (1887), the Women’s Literary Society (1889) and the Womanhood Suffrage League (1891) and in 1892, the Women’s College was established. As women accessed new opportunities in the public realm they sought the same civic rights as men. The Commonwealth Franchise Act, 1902 and the Women’s Franchise Act, 1902 granted non-Aboriginal NSW women the vote.
The first President of The Women’s Club was Lady Beaumont (wife of Admiral Sir Lewis Beaumont). Vice-Presidents were Rose Scott (founder Womanhood Suffrage League), Mrs David (wife of Sir Edgeworth David), Mrs John See (wife of NSW Premier) and Lady Lyne (wife of Minister for Home Affairs). The first Secretary was Miss E L Sutherland B.A. with Edith Fry (founding member of the National Council of Women) Treasurer. Committee members were Dr Mary Booth, Miss Dickson and Miss Harker (first student at The Women’s College). Modelled on the salons for which Rose Scott became famous, the Circles provided opportunities for women’s education in social, political and aesthetic matters. The Tuesday Circle developed members’ debating skills through discussion of topics such as ‘patriotism’ while the Music and Drama Circles presented recitals by musicians and play readings by directors such as Doris Fitton.
For seven years The Women’s Club rented rooms in Rowe Street, moving in 1908 to Challis House at 4 Martin Place, then in 1913 to 77 King Street. In 1924 the Club moved again but this time into their own premises, Beaumont House, 167 Elizabeth St. Finally in 1992 The Women’s Club settled into the current premises at 179 Elizabeth Street.
By 1908 the Club’s membership was nearly four hundred women and by 1925 more than 800. While numbers declined during the Depression and World War II they remained steady throughout the latter part of the century and are currently growing. Over the years, many prominent women including Jessie Street, Louisa Macdonald, Lady Fanshawe, Linda Littlejohn, Irene Phillips and Adela Pankhurst have been members. Many others, such as Stella Miles Franklin, Millicent Preston Stanley and Annie Besant have been honoured guests at The Women’s Club.
Circles remain the Club’s lifeblood. Political Science, Arts and Media, Justice and Democracy, Art, Architecture and Photography, as well as drama, literary, craft, music, film, writing and bridge circles provide a diverse range of activities for members and guests. The Club continues to host luncheons and dinners with guest speakers prominent in various fields who offer insights into issues affecting women in the past and present. Many women’s organisations such as the National Council of Women, Feminist Club and Women’s Civic League have used the Club rooms for meetings and events. Today associations such as Women on Boards, Females in Finance and Australian Universities Heads of English and Quota continue this tradition.
