Local Government
Perth
Region
Metropolitan
Kings Park Rd West Perth
Edith Cowan Memorial Clock
Perth
Metropolitan
Constructed from 1934
| Type | Status | Date | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heritage List | Adopted | 05 Jan 2001 | |
| Heritage List | Adopted | 09 Jan 2004 | |
| State Register | Registered | 05 Jan 2001 | HCWebsite.Listing+ListingDocument, HCWebsite.Listing+ListingDocument |
| Type | Status | Date | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| (no listings) |
| Type | Status | Date | Grading/Management | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category | ||||
| Municipal Inventory | Adopted | 13 Mar 2001 | Category 1 | |
| Local Heritage Survey | Adopted | 28 Mar 2023 | Category 1 | |
| Municipal Inventory | Completed\Draft | 13 Mar 2001 | Category 1 | |
| Local Heritage Survey | Completed\Draft | Category 1 | ||
| Classified by the National Trust | Classified | 10 Jul 2000 | ||
| Survey of Women's Employment AHC | Recorded | 01 Sep 2002 | ||
| Register of the National Estate | Indicative Place | |||
| Perth Draft Inventory 99-01 | YES | 31 Dec 1999 | ||
The Memorial commemorates the life and achievements of Edith Dircksey Cowan, Australia's first woman parliamentarian. The memorial is believed to be the first civic monument erected in Australia to honour an Australian woman. The Memorial is a fine example of the Inter-War Art Deco style incorporating indigenous floral motifs. The Memorial has landmark qualities and marks the entrance to Kings Park. The Memorial was designed by architect Harold Boas, the bronze portrait bust of Edith Cowan was by artist Margaret Johnson. The clocks on the Memorial are representative of the few remaining functioning public clocks in the City of Perth.
Granite obelisk with rough face to base and smooth cut stone to main structure. The obelisk features a profile of Edith Cowan in bronze and a clock. The words "erected in honour of Edith Dircksey Cowan OBE JP by those that admired her good works for humanity 1861-1932". First woman member of Parliament in Australia the words 'A Life of Service" are cast in bronze on the obelisk.
Edith Cowan was a pioneer in the emergence of Western Australian Women into public life. She was a leader in virtually every social welfare and women's rights organisation from the mid 1890's including the Karrakatta Club, the North Fremantle District Board of Education, Children's Protection Society, House of Mercy, the Women's Service Guild and the National Council of Women. Edith Cowan was also a justice of the peace and a member of the bench of the Children's Court. During World War 1 Edith Cowan worked for the Recruiting Committee, the Red Cross and the Soldiers Welfare Committee. Edith Cowan along with other women of the time claimed the rights of full citizenship including the right to sit in Parliament. In 1921 Edith Cowan was elected to the Legislative Assembly as the Nationalist member for West Perth therefore being the first woman member of Parliament in Australia. One of Edith Cowan's first private member bills opened the legal profession to women. After her death in 1932, the Western Australian National Council of Women decided to erect a memorial. After much discussion about the location and form of the memorial, permission was sought with the Perth City Council to place it in the roundabout at the entrance of Kings Park. There was opposition to the proposal due to its design and commemoration of a person who it was perceived was not of national significance. By 1934 the construction had started and it was unveiled later that year. Over time, recognition of her work has grown and she has been commemorated in other ways such as the Federal electoral seat of Cowan and naming the Edith Cowan University after her.
High level of integrity. High level of authenticity, has been recently conserved.
Good
| Ref ID No | Ref Name | Ref Source | Ref Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Register of Heritage Places - Assessment Documentation Edith Dircksey Cowan Memorial 2001 | |||
| Draft Municipal Heritage Inventory | City of Perth | 2001 |
| Library Id | Title | Medium | Year Of Publication |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6653 | Western Gateway : draft concept plan report. | Report | 1995 |
Historic site
| Epoch | General | Specific |
|---|---|---|
| Present Use | MONUMENT\CEMETERY | Monument |
| Original Use | MONUMENT\CEMETERY | Monument |
| Style |
|---|
| Inter-War Art Deco |
| Type | General | Specific |
|---|---|---|
| Other | STONE | Granite |
| Other | STONE | Donnybrook Sandstone |
| Other | METAL | Bronze |
| General | Specific |
|---|---|
| PEOPLE | Famous & infamous people |
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