Description

In 1902 when New South Wales women celebrated the granting of their right to vote, suffragist Rose Scott told the male politicians present that their names would be remembered "not only in the history of Australia but in that of the world," while the names of the women would be forgotten. Her words have held true for the best part of this century, until the publication of this book. Woman Suffrage in Australia tells the story of the struggle for female enfranchisement from the first stirrings of the movement in 1880, as it gained momentum and South Australian women were given the vote in 1894, to the success of the suffragists' campaigns when the vote was granted in 1902 by the Commonwealth. The author considers the international ramifications of the victory of Australian women in attaining the vote, comparing their struggle with that of the suffragists in America and the United Kingdom, who did not succeed in being granted the vote until 1918 and 1920 respectively.