• Entry type: Organisation
  • Entry ID: AWE0954

League of Women Voters of South Australia

(From 1909 – 1979)

Summary

Originally formed in 1909 as the Women’s Political Association, its name was quickly changed to the Women’s Non-Party Political Association and then the Women’s Non-Party Association. Catherine Helen Spence spoke at the inaugural meeting and introduced the major planks of the Association which were ‘Equal Federal Marriage and Divorce Laws’, and ‘Equal Pay for Equal Work’. In 1939 the Association changed its name to the League of Women Voters. This was an Australian-wide title that enabled its aims to be more widely known. The League remained politically active in these areas and was instrumental in the development of a Parliamentary Bill to enact the principle of equality for female and male parents which was passed in 1940. In later years the League developed a close relationship with the Women’s Electoral Lobby, acting as a mentor. In 1979 the League was voluntarily wound up as it was felt that the Women’s Electoral Lobby could carry on its work. Ellinor Walker gave the valedictory address.

Published resources

  • Book
    • Fresh evidence, new witnesses : finding women's history, Allen, Margaret (Margaret Ellen), 1947- ; Hutchison, Mary and Mackinnon, Alison, 1942-, 1989
    • Golden jubilee souvenir about the League of Women Voters of South Australia (Women's Non-Party Association) : 1909-1959, [1959]
    • In her own name : women in South Australian history, Jones, Helen, 1926-, 1986
  • Thesis
    • Women's Politics in South Australia: The Ideas of the Women's Non-Party Association, 1918-1933, Nicholson, Marie, 1983
    • A history of the League of Women Voters in South Australia, 1909-1976, Szekeres, Vivienne Rebecca, 1976
  • Report
    • Annual report / League of Women Voters (Women's Non-Party Association), League of Women Voters of South Australia, 1940-1979
  • Newsletter
    • News letter / League of Women Voters of S.A, League of Women Voters of South Australia, 1968-1979
  • Resource

Archival resources

  • State Library of South Australia
    • List of holidays
    • League of Women Voters of S.A. : SUMMARY RECORD

Related entries


  • Affiliated
    • Australian Federation of Women Voters (1921 - 1982)
  • Related Women
    • Spence, Catherine Helen (1825 - 1910)
    • Walker, Ellinor Gertrude (1893 - 1990)
    • Kiek, Winifred (1884 - 1975)
    • Duguid, Phyllis Evelyn
  • Related Organisations
    • Women's Electoral Lobby South Australia (1972 - )
  • Membership
    • Cooke, Constance Mary Ternent (1882 - 1967)
  • Related Concepts
    • Women's Non-party Political Organisations