• Entry type: Person
  • Entry ID: AWE0561

Glencross, Eleanor

(1876 – 1950)
  • Born 11 November, 1876, Sydney New South Wales Australia
  • Died 2 May, 1950, Cremorne New South Wales Australia
  • Occupation Feminist, Political candidate, Women's rights activist

Summary

Eleanor Glencross was the second woman to stand for the Victorian Parliament. She unsuccessfully contested the seat of Brighton in 1928 as an Independent Nationalist. She had previously stood for the Federal seat of Henty in 1922 and in 1943 the seat of Martin. A former general secretary, chief speaker and organizer of the Australian Women’s National League in 1920 Glencross became president of the Housewives’ Association of Victoria. In 1923 she became president of the Federated Housewives Association of Australia. During World War II she was prominent in patriotic activities as a member of the State advisory committee of the Commonwealth prices commissioner, the council of the Lord Mayor’s Patriotic and War Fund and of the executive of the Women’s Voluntary National Register.

Events

  • 2017 - 2017

    Married grazier Andrew Glencross (d. 1930)

  • 1920 - 1920

    President of the Housewives’ Association of Victoria

  • 1923 - 1923

    President of the Federated Housewives’ Association of Australia

  • 1918 - 1928

    Executive member of the National Council of Women of Victoria

  • 1927 - 1928

    President of the National Council of Women of Victoria

  • 1922 - 1922

    Encouraged the formation of the Victorian Women Citizens’ Movement

  • 1922 - 1922

    Stood as an Independent for the Federal seat of Henty

  • 1938 - 1938

    Salaried chairwoman of directors of the Housewives’ Association of New South Wales

  • 1928 - 1928

    Stood as an Independent for the Victorian seat of Brighton

  • 1943 - 1943

    Stood as an Independent for the Federal seat of Martin

  • 1923 - 1923

    Served on the Victorian royal commission on the high cost of living

  • 1927 - 1927

    One of the first female justices of the peace appointed in Victoria

  • 1931 - 1931

    Joined the staff of the National Association of New South Wales

  • 2028 - 2028

    Appointed to the Commonwealth Film Censorship Board

  • 2028 - 2028

    Returned to Sydney

  • 1928 - 1928

    Presided at the only Melbourne Women’s Citizens’ Function to entertain the Duchess of York

  • 1928 - 1928

    One of three women members of the Council of British Empire Exhibition, Melbourne

  • 1911 - 1912

    General secretary, chief speaker and organizer of the Australian Women’s National League

  • 1912 - 1913

    Worked for the People’s Liberal Party

  • 1913 - 1913

    Returned to Sydney

  • 1913 - 1913

    Women’s organizer for the Liberal Association of New South Wales

Published resources

  • Edited Book
    • Who's Who in Australia 1944, Alexander, Joseph A, 1944
    • Double Time: Women in Victoria - 150 Years, Lake, Marilyn and Kelly, Farley, 1985
    • 200 Australian Women: A Redress Anthology, Radi, Heather, 1988
  • Book
    • Liberal women : Federation to 1949, Fitzherbert, Margaret, 2004
    • The Early years of the Housewives Association of Victoria, 1915-1930, Oldfield, Robert, 1989
  • Resource Section
  • Journal Article
    • A Mission to the Home: The Housewives Association, the Woman's Christian Temperance Union and Protestant Christianity, 1920-1940, Smart, Judith, 1998
  • Site Exhibition
  • Resource

Archival resources

  • National Library of Australia, Manuscript Collection
    • Minutes [1904-1960] [microform]
    • Papers of Herbert and Ivy Brookes, 1869-1970 [manuscript
  • State Library of Victoria
    • National Council of Women of Victoria
  • Mitchell and Dixson Libraries Manuscripts Collection
    • Women's Voluntary National Register. New South Wales Council minute book, 1939-1940

Related entries


  • Member
    • The Woman's Christian Temperance Union of Victoria (1885 - )
    • Women's Voluntary National Register, New South Wales (1939 - 1940)
  • Presided
    • Australian Women's National League (1904 - 1944)
    • National Council of Women of Victoria (1902 - )
    • Housewives Association of Victoria (1915 - )
  • Membership
    • National Council of Women of Victoria (1902 - )
  • Chairwoman of Directors
    • Housewives Association of New South Wales (1918 - )
  • Related Concepts
    • Women in Politics: Independents
  • Related Organisations
    • Victorian Women Citizens' Movement (1922 - 1945)