Chronology of Women's Suffrage

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Letter to the Editor, from "Cleopatra", on women's suffrage, published in Register.

Letter to the Editor, from J.C. Kirby, on woman's suffrage, published in Register.

The South Australian Wesleyan Conference discusses a petition from the Women's Suffrage League of South Australia "to express sympathy in the effort to secure duly qualified women a vote in the election of members of Parliament." [Register 4 Feb 1889]

At a meeting of the Council of the Women's Suffrage League a committee is appointed to "memorialise the Bible Christians and Primitive Methodists at the yearly meetings of those Churches about to be held." [Observer 23 Feb 1889]

Letter to the Editor, from "Zenobia", on woman's suffrage, published in Register.

Letters to the Editor, from Mary Lee, and C.H. Hussey, on "knock at the government door", published in Register.

Letter to the Editor, from "Zenobia", on woman's suffrage, published in Register.

Letter to the Editor, from "Zenobia" and "Deborah", on female suffrage, published in Register.

Hon Dr John Alexander Cockburn becomes Premier of South Australia.

A meeting of the ladies of Magill and its neighbourhood is held in the Mission- rooms, Magill, to examine the question of women's suffrage. The meeting takes the form of a debate: Mrs Lee v. Mrs Swan. [Register 14 Aug 1889]

The Woman's Christian Temperance Union declares for woman suffrage.
The resolutions of the first Colonial Convention of this organisation include :- "no. 5. That as the franchise is the symbol of freedom, and half the members of our nation are deprived of that right, we petition our legislature to enfranchise the women of South Australia."
As a result, suffrage departments are formed, with Serena Thorne Lake as First Colonial Superintendent. [W.C.T.U. Minutes of Convention]

Letter to the Editor, from J.C. Kirby, on woman's suffrage, published in Register.

Mrs Lee addresses a meeting of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union on the subject of woman's suffrage. [W.C.T.U., Adelaide Union, Minute books]

Letter to the Editor, from "Woman's Suffrage", on woman's suffrage, published in Register.

Letter to the Editor, from "Women's Suffrage", on women's suffrage, published in Register.

Women's Suffrage Bill 1889 (House of Assembly)
Mr R. Caldwell moves for leave to introduce a Bill for an Act to further amend the Constitution Act and the Electoral Act of 1879, so as to enable female taxpayers to record their votes at public elections. Motion carried. The Bill is introduced and read a first time.

Petitions in favour of women's suffrage from 6 residents of the district of Barossa, another bearing 25 signatures, another with 36 signatures, another bearing 196 signatures, another bearing 72 signatures, another with 200 signatures, another with 53 signatures presented in Parliament (House of Assembly).

Petitions in favour of women's suffrage from 42 women in the district of Albert, from 73 women at Clare, from 53 women at Balaclava and Inkerman, from 160 women residing in Wallaroo, Moonta, &c., from 109 women residing at Port Augusta presented in Parliament (Legislative Council).
Two petitions in favour of women's suffrage from residents in the district of Sturt presented in Parliament (House of Assembly).

Petitions in favour of women's suffrage from 99 women resident in Port Adelaide, from 56 women resident in Gawler and the vicinity, from 37 women resident in Port Pirie, from 56 resident in North Adelaide, from 66 women in the district of Sturt presented in Parliament (Legislative Council).
Two petitions in favour of women's suffrage, one with 32 signatures, another with 99 signatures presented in Parliament (House of Assembly).

Petition in favour of women's suffrage from 40 women in the district of Light presented in Parliament (Legislative Council).

Women's Suffrage Bill 1889 (House of Assembly) Second reading.

Petition in favour of women's suffrage from 132 women in the south-east presented in Parliament (Legislative Council).
Petitions in favour of women's suffrage from (83 signatures) and (162 signatures) presented in Parliament (House of Assembly).

Petition in favour of women's suffrage from 53 women resident in the district of East Torrens presented in Parliament (Legislative Council).

Petition in favour of women's suffrage from 151 women in the northern district presented in Parliament (Legislative Council).
Two petitions in favour of women's suffrage presented in Parliament (House of Assembly).

Petition in favour of women's suffrage signed by 70 women residing in the northern district presented in Parliament (Legislative Council).

Two petitions in favour of women's suffrage, one bearing 95 signatures, one with 54 signatures, presented in Parliament (House of Assembly).

Petition in favour of women's suffrage from 36 ladies in the district of the Burra presented in Parliament (House of Assembly).
Petitions in favour of women's suffrage from 94 persons in the northern district, from 34 residents in the Burra district presented in Parliament (Legislative Council).
Women's Suffrage Bill 1889 (House of Assembly). Adjourned debate on second reading. The motion that the Bill be read a second time is then declared carried, final vote:- Ayes 25, Noes 15. There is not an absolute majority, and the Bill cannot be further proceeded with.

Petition in favour of women's suffrage from 48 women in the southern districts presented in Parliament (Legislative Council).

At a public meeting held in the Town Hall Mrs Mary Lee moves "that this meeting requests the United Trades and Labour [sic] Council of South Australia ... to take immediate steps to form female Trades Unions in all branches of industry where the sweating system exists." The motion is carried unanimously. [Register 12 Dec 1889]

Mary Lee speaks on women's suffrage at a Woman's Christian Temperance Union meeting at Gawler. [Bunyip 13 Dec 1889]

Letter to the Editor, from "Women's Suffrage", on women's suffrage, published in Register.

Formation of the [Working] Women's Trades Union of South Australia. At a public meeting of "female workers in all branches of labour", the Rev J. Haslam moves:- "that this meeting considers it desirable that a Women's Trades Union should be formed, and that steps be forthwith taken to attain this object."
The motion is carried unanimously. [Register 15 Jan 1890]

Letter to the Editor, from "Equal Suffrage", on women's suffrage, published in Register.

Mary Lee's first "Letter to women" published in Register.

Letter to the Editor, from "Equal Suffrage", on women's suffrage, published in Observer.

Letter to the Editor, from W. Bollen, on female suffrage, published in Register.

Mary Lee's second "Letter to women" published in Register.

Mary Lee's third "Letter to women" published in Register.

Mrs Mary Lee delivers a lecture on women's suffrage at a public meeting held in the Semaphore Wesleyan Lecture Hall. [Register 18 Jun 1890]

Women's Franchise (Constitution Amendment) Bill 1890 (House of Assembly)
Mr R. Caldwell moves for leave to introduce a Bill to further amend the Constitution Act, so as to enable female taxpayers to record their votes at public elections. The measure is on the same lines as its predecessor. Motion carried. The Bill is intro- duced and read a first time.

Women's Franchise (Constitution Amendment) Bill 1890 (House of Assembly) Second reading.

Hon Thomas Playford becomes Premier of South Australia.

Women's Franchise (Constitution Amendment) Bill 1890 (House of Assembly) Adjourned debate on second reading. Petitions in favour of women's suffrage from 9 residents of the District of Newcastle, another to the same effect "alleged to have been signed by 84 persons", and others containing a similar prayer presented in Parliament (House of Assembly).

Petitions in favour of women's suffrage, one from 21 ladies of East Adelaide, another from 97 in the district of Sturt presented in Parliament (House of Assembly).

Two petitions in favour of women's suffrage presented in Parliament (House of Assembly).

Petitions in favour of women's suffrage, one containing 78 signatures of residents of Port Adelaide, one with 27 signatures of residents of Light, one containing in the aggregate 170 names of residents in Stanley, one containing 40 signatures of residents in Mount Barker, one containing 52 signatures of residents in Sturt, one containing 87 signatures of residents of [the District of] Victoria, one containing the signatures of residents of Wooroora presented in Parliament (House of Assembly).

Women's Franchise (Constitution Amendment) Bill 1890 (House of Assembly)
Adjourned debate on second reading. The second reading is carried on the following division:- Ayes 28, Noes 14. The Bill is then read a second time.

Petitions in favour of women's suffrage, one signed by 50 persons in southern district, one signed by 84 persons in the Hundred of Barossa, one from 55 persons, and several like petitions from persons in the Hundred of Stanley and one signed by 61 persons presented in Parliament (Legislative Council).

Petition in favour of women's suffrage from 84 residents of the District of Victoria presented in Parliament (House of Assembly).

Petition in favour of women's suffrage bearing 76 signatures presented in Parliament (House of Assembly).

Women's Franchise (Constitution Amendment) Bill 1890 (House of Assembly) The House divides as follows on the motion for the third reading:- Ayes 27, Noes 12. There is not an absolute majority, and the Bill cannot pass. [The third reading is discussed further on 13 Nov 1890 - see entry below.]

Women's Franchise (Constitution Amendment) Bill 1890 (House of Assembly) Point of order concerning the third reading of the Bill. Mr R. Caldwell gives notice that on Nov 26 he will move that the Bill be read a third time.

Report of Letter to the Editor, from J.C. Kirby, on the Women's Franchise Bill, published in Observer.

Women's Franchise (Constitution Amendment) Bill 1890 (House of Assembly) Mr R. Caldwell moves that the Bill be now read a third time. The reading is carried on the following division:- Ayes 29, Noes 16. This Bill becomes the first of the women's suffrage Bills to be sent to the Legislative Council.
Women's Franchise (Constitution Amendment) Bill 1890 (Legislative Council)
The Bill is received by message from the House of Assembly and read a first time.

Women's Franchise (Constitution Amendment) Bill 1890 (Legislative Council)
Second reading.

Women's Franchise (Constitution Amendment) Bill 1890 (Legislative Council)
Adjourned debate on second reading. The second reading is carried on the following division:- Ayes 12, Noes 5. This is not an absolute majority of the Council and the second reading is not passed. [The second reading is discussed further on 23 Dec 1890 - see entry below.]
Petition in favour of women's suffrage from residents of the city and suburbs presented in Parliament (Legislative Council).

Women's Franchise (Constitution Amendment) Bill 1890 (Legislative Council)
Motion to rescind the second reading of the Bill, so that it can be moved to be read a second time . Motion carried. The Bill is read a second time. The Bill is reported and adopted. The motion that the Bill be read a third time is put and declared carried. Final vote:- Ayes 12, Noes 1. As there is not an absolute majority of the Council in favour of the Bill it does not pass.

1856-1882 | 1883-1886 | 1887-1888 | 1889-1890 | 1891-1892 | 1893-1894 | 1895-1896 | 1959

	Letter to the Editor, from "Cleopatra", on women's suffrage, published in Register.

	Letter to the Editor, from J.C. Kirby, on woman's suffrage, published in Register.

	The South Australian Wesleyan Conference discusses a petition from the Women's Suffrage League of South Australia "to express sympathy in the effort to secure duly qualified women a vote in the election of members of Parliament." [Register 4 Feb 1889]

	At a meeting of the Council of the Women's Suffrage League a committee is appointed to "memorialise the Bible Christians and Primitive Methodists at the yearly meetings of those Churches about to be held." [Observer 23 Feb 1889]

	Letter to the Editor, from "Zenobia", on woman's suffrage, published in Register.

	Letters to the Editor, from Mary Lee, and C.H. Hussey, on "knock at the government door", published in Register.

	Letter to the Editor, from "Zenobia", on woman's suffrage, published in Register.

	Letter to the Editor, from "Zenobia" and "Deborah", on female suffrage, published in Register.

	Hon Dr John Alexander Cockburn becomes Premier of South Australia.

	A meeting of the ladies of Magill and its neighbourhood is held in the Mission- rooms, Magill, to examine the question of women's suffrage. The meeting takes the form of a debate: Mrs Lee v. Mrs Swan. [Register 14 Aug 1889]

	The Woman's Christian Temperance Union declares for woman suffrage. The resolutions of the first Colonial Convention of this organisation include :- "no. 5. That as the franchise is the symbol of freedom, and half the members of our nation are deprived of that right, we petition our legislature to enfranchise the women of South Australia." As a result, suffrage departments are formed, with Serena Thorne Lake as First Colonial Superintendent. [W.C.T.U. Minutes of Convention]

	Letter to the Editor, from J.C. Kirby, on woman's suffrage, published in Register.

	Mrs Lee addresses a meeting of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union on the subject of woman's suffrage. [W.C.T.U., Adelaide Union, Minute books]

	Letter to the Editor, from "Woman's Suffrage", on woman's suffrage, published in Register.

	Letter to the Editor, from "Women's Suffrage", on women's suffrage, published in Register.

	Women's Suffrage Bill 1889 (House of Assembly) Mr R. Caldwell moves for leave to introduce a Bill for an Act to further amend the Constitution Act and the Electoral Act of 1879, so as to enable female taxpayers to record their votes at public elections. Motion carried. The Bill is introduced and read a first time.

	Petitions in favour of women's suffrage from 6 residents of the district of Barossa, another bearing 25 signatures, another with 36 signatures, another bearing 196 signatures, another bearing 72 signatures, another with 200 signatures, another with 53 signatures presented in Parliament (House of Assembly).

	Petitions in favour of women's suffrage from 42 women in the district of Albert, from 73 women at Clare, from 53 women at Balaclava and Inkerman, from 160 women residing in Wallaroo, Moonta, &c., from 109 women residing at Port Augusta presented in Parliament (Legislative Council). Two petitions in favour of women's suffrage from residents in the district of Sturt presented in Parliament (House of Assembly).

	Petitions in favour of women's suffrage from 99 women resident in Port Adelaide, from 56 women resident in Gawler and the vicinity, from 37 women resident in Port Pirie, from 56 resident in North Adelaide, from 66 women in the district of Sturt presented in Parliament (Legislative Council). Two petitions in favour of women's suffrage, one with 32 signatures, another with 99 signatures presented in Parliament (House of Assembly).

	Petition in favour of women's suffrage from 40 women in the district of Light presented in Parliament (Legislative Council).

	Women's Suffrage Bill 1889 (House of Assembly) Second reading.

	Petition in favour of women's suffrage from 132 women in the south-east presented in Parliament (Legislative Council). Petitions in favour of women's suffrage from (83 signatures) and (162 signatures) presented in Parliament (House of Assembly).

	Petition in favour of women's suffrage from 53 women resident in the district of East Torrens presented in Parliament (Legislative Council).

	Petition in favour of women's suffrage from 151 women in the northern district presented in Parliament (Legislative Council). Two petitions in favour of women's suffrage presented in Parliament (House of Assembly).

	Petition in favour of women's suffrage signed by 70 women residing in the northern district presented in Parliament (Legislative Council).

	Two petitions in favour of women's suffrage, one bearing 95 signatures, one with 54 signatures, presented in Parliament (House of Assembly).

	Petition in favour of women's suffrage from 36 ladies in the district of the Burra presented in Parliament (House of Assembly). Petitions in favour of women's suffrage from 94 persons in the northern district, from 34 residents in the Burra district presented in Parliament (Legislative Council). Women's Suffrage Bill 1889 (House of Assembly). Adjourned debate on second reading. The motion that the Bill be read a second time is then declared carried, final vote:- Ayes 25, Noes 15. There is not an absolute majority, and the Bill cannot be further proceeded with.

	Petition in favour of women's suffrage from 48 women in the southern districts presented in Parliament (Legislative Council).

	At a public meeting held in the Town Hall Mrs Mary Lee moves "that this meeting requests the United Trades and Labour [sic] Council of South Australia ... to take immediate steps to form female Trades Unions in all branches of industry where the sweating system exists." The motion is carried unanimously. [Register 12 Dec 1889]

	Mary Lee speaks on women's suffrage at a Woman's Christian Temperance Union meeting at Gawler. [Bunyip 13 Dec 1889]

	Letter to the Editor, from "Women's Suffrage", on women's suffrage, published in Register.

	Formation of the [Working] Women's Trades Union of South Australia. At a public meeting of "female workers in all branches of labour", the Rev J. Haslam moves:- "that this meeting considers it desirable that a Women's Trades Union should be formed, and that steps be forthwith taken to attain this object." The motion is carried unanimously. [Register 15 Jan 1890]

	Letter to the Editor, from "Equal Suffrage", on women's suffrage, published in Register.

	Mary Lee's first "Letter to women" published in Register.

	Letter to the Editor, from "Equal Suffrage", on women's suffrage, published in Observer.

	Letter to the Editor, from W. Bollen, on female suffrage, published in Register.

	Mary Lee's second "Letter to women" published in Register.

	Mary Lee's third "Letter to women" published in Register.

	Mrs Mary Lee delivers a lecture on women's suffrage at a public meeting held in the Semaphore Wesleyan Lecture Hall. [Register 18 Jun 1890]

	Women's Franchise (Constitution Amendment) Bill 1890 (House of Assembly) Mr R. Caldwell moves for leave to introduce a Bill to further amend the Constitution Act, so as to enable female taxpayers to record their votes at public elections. The measure is on the same lines as its predecessor. Motion carried. The Bill is intro- duced and read a first time.

	Women's Franchise (Constitution Amendment) Bill 1890 (House of Assembly) Second reading.

	Hon Thomas Playford becomes Premier of South Australia.

	Women's Franchise (Constitution Amendment) Bill 1890 (House of Assembly) Adjourned debate on second reading. Petitions in favour of women's suffrage from 9 residents of the District of Newcastle, another to the same effect "alleged to have been signed by 84 persons", and others containing a similar prayer presented in Parliament (House of Assembly).

	Petitions in favour of women's suffrage, one from 21 ladies of East Adelaide, another from 97 in the district of Sturt presented in Parliament (House of Assembly).

	Two petitions in favour of women's suffrage presented in Parliament (House of Assembly).

	Petitions in favour of women's suffrage, one containing 78 signatures of residents of Port Adelaide, one with 27 signatures of residents of Light, one containing in the aggregate 170 names of residents in Stanley, one containing 40 signatures of residents in Mount Barker, one containing 52 signatures of residents in Sturt, one containing 87 signatures of residents of [the District of] Victoria, one containing the signatures of residents of Wooroora presented in Parliament (House of Assembly).

	Women's Franchise (Constitution Amendment) Bill 1890 (House of Assembly) Adjourned debate on second reading. The second reading is carried on the following division:- Ayes 28, Noes 14. The Bill is then read a second time.

	Petitions in favour of women's suffrage, one signed by 50 persons in southern district, one signed by 84 persons in the Hundred of Barossa, one from 55 persons, and several like petitions from persons in the Hundred of Stanley and one signed by 61 persons presented in Parliament (Legislative Council).

	Petition in favour of women's suffrage from 84 residents of the District of Victoria presented in Parliament (House of Assembly).

	Petition in favour of women's suffrage bearing 76 signatures presented in Parliament (House of Assembly).

	Women's Franchise (Constitution Amendment) Bill 1890 (House of Assembly) The House divides as follows on the motion for the third reading:- Ayes 27, Noes 12. There is not an absolute majority, and the Bill cannot pass. [The third reading is discussed further on 13 Nov 1890 - see entry below.]

	Women's Franchise (Constitution Amendment) Bill 1890 (House of Assembly) Point of order concerning the third reading of the Bill. Mr R. Caldwell gives notice that on Nov 26 he will move that the Bill be read a third time.

	Report of Letter to the Editor, from J.C. Kirby, on the Women's Franchise Bill, published in Observer.

	Women's Franchise (Constitution Amendment) Bill 1890 (House of Assembly) Mr R. Caldwell moves that the Bill be now read a third time. The reading is carried on the following division:- Ayes 29, Noes 16. This Bill becomes the first of the women's suffrage Bills to be sent to the Legislative Council. Women's Franchise (Constitution Amendment) Bill 1890 (Legislative Council) The Bill is received by message from the House of Assembly and read a first time.

	Women's Franchise (Constitution Amendment) Bill 1890 (Legislative Council) Second reading.

	Women's Franchise (Constitution Amendment) Bill 1890 (Legislative Council) Adjourned debate on second reading. The second reading is carried on the following division:- Ayes 12, Noes 5. This is not an absolute majority of the Council and the second reading is not passed. [The second reading is discussed further on 23 Dec 1890 - see entry below.] Petition in favour of women's suffrage from residents of the city and suburbs presented in Parliament (Legislative Council).

	Women's Franchise (Constitution Amendment) Bill 1890 (Legislative Council) Motion to rescind the second reading of the Bill, so that it can be moved to be read a second time . Motion carried. The Bill is read a second time. The Bill is reported and adopted. The motion that the Bill be read a third time is put and declared carried. Final vote:- Ayes 12, Noes 1. As there is not an absolute majority of the Council in favour of the Bill it does not pass.