Women's Suffrage
In 2019 South Australia marked the 125th anniversary of one of the earliest movements towards gender equality – after many years of campaigning, letter writing, signature gathering and lobbying, South Australian women were given the right to vote in general elections. South Australia was the first state in Australia to pass such a legislation, which also enabled women to stand as members of Parliament.
To mark this milestone, the University of Adelaide has refreshed its campus banners at our North Terrace campus to feature women associated with the University who have blazed the trail for gender equality.
The University also held an event showcasing our pioneering female alumni, staff and students, as well as promoting our proud record of inclusion as the first university in Australia, and among the first in the world, to admit women to all of our degree programs.
Celebrating our women
The Hon. Amanda Vanstone | Former Senator, Minister and Ambassador to Italy |
Annie Montgomerie Martin | Teacher of the University’s early graduates and member of the Women’s Suffrage League |
Professor Emerita Fay Gale AO | The University’s first woman professor and senior executive |
The Hon. Julie Bishop | Australia’s First Female Foreign Affairs Minister |
Lillian Staple Mead | University graduate and women’s suffrage petition signatory |
The Hon. Margaret Nyland AM | Judge, royal commissioner and football pioneer |
Miriam Hyde OBE AO | International concert pianist, composer and music educator at the Elder Conservatorium |
Senator The Hon. Penny Wong | A leader in the Senate |
Dr Robyn Archer AO FAHA | Arts icon and advocate |
Moya Dodd | Women’s sports equality advocate |
Dame Nancy Buttfield DBE | First female parliamentarian in South Australia |
Ellen Benham | First woman academic at the University of Adelaide |
Professor Tanya Monro | First female Chief Defence Scientist |
Dr Leanna Read | First Female Chief Scientist for South Australia |
The Hon. Catherine Branson AC QC | First woman in Australia to be appointed a Crown Solicitor |
The Hon. Robyn Layton AO QC | Champion of human rights and social justice |
Hon Anne Levy AO | First female presiding officer of any Australian parliament |
Dr Niki Vincent | South Australia’s Equal Opportunity Commissioner |
Professor Denise Bradley AC | Advocate for equity in education |
Dr Claudia Paul | Indigenous Rhodes Scholar |
The Hon. Julia Gillard AC | Australia’s first female prime minister |
Minnietta Maughan | University student and women’s suffrage petition signatory |
Edith Dornwell | First female graduate and first science graduate of the University of Adelaide |
The Hon. Vickie Chapman MP | South Australia’s first woman Deputy Premier and Attorney-General |
Dame Roma Mitchell | Australia’s first female Supreme Court Judge |
Rosamund Agnes Benham | Medical graduate and women’s suffrage petition signatory |
Dr Helen Mayo OBE | Australia’s first female university councillor |
The Proud Sisters | Advocates for women’s rights and education |
Jane Sarah Stanes | University student and women’s suffrage campaigner |
Rebecca Richards | First Indigenous Rhodes Scholar |
Natasha Stott Despoja AO | Youngest woman to enter federal parliament and youngest person to lead a political party |
Dr Andrea Mason OAM | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social justice campaigner |
Caitlyn Georgeson | LGBTIQ advocate |
Professor Irene Watson | First indigenous person in South Australia to graduate with a Bachelor of Laws |
Mary Tenison Woods OBE CBE | First woman to graduate in law at the University of Adelaide |
Olga Fudge | First Indigenous student at the University of Adelaide |
Dr Laura Fowler | First woman medical graduate at the University of Adelaide |
Professor Caroline McMillen | Chief Scientist for South Australia |
Dr Anne Summers AO | Founding member of the women’s liberation movement |
Pam Dunsford | First woman admitted to Roseworthy Agriculture College |
Kimberly Becker | Women in STEM advocate |
Dianne Davidson AM | Deputy Chancellor, University Council member and agricultural scientist |
Carolyn Hewson AO | Economist and advocate for gender equity |
Dr Barbara Kidman | Physicist, computer scientist and philanthropist |
Frances Adamson | First female Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade |
Sally Smith | World-leading researcher in soil plant interactions |