The story of Edith Dircksey Cowan (1861-1932) is truly inspirational. A story transcending time and politics.
Edith Cowan’s extraordinarily extensive list of achievements includes being the first woman parliamentarian in Australia, and it was her Private Member’s Bill that cemented the right of women to enter the professions in Western Australia.
About Edith Dircksey Cowan
Edith Dircksey Brown was born at Glengarry Station in Western Australia in 1861. When she was seven, her mother died in childbirth. She was sent to a boarding school in Perth run by the Miss Cowan sisters. When she was a teenager, her father was hanged for the murder of his second wife. At eighteen she married her teachers’ brother, James Cowan. They had five children.
In 1894, she became the founding secretary of the Karrakatta Club, today Australia's longest established private women's club. This was at a time when most women were still legally chattels, with little access to education or health care, and no financial or legal power. The Karrakatta Club was determined to inform their members about social issues, and to give them confidence to form and express opinions, a radical idea at the time.
In 1916, the dreadful plight of wounded soldiers returning from the trenches moved Edith to set up the Soldiers Welcome institute. This work earned her an OBE, and her organisation became the RSL. The Karrakatta Club now resides in the new ANZAC House with the RSL, both sharing links with Edith Cowan.
In 1921, Edith Cowan was the first woman to be elected to an Australian parliament. She narrowly defeated the sitting member in West Perth on the strength of the work she had done to improve the life of women, children and the under-privileged. Her election made headlines around the country.
One of Edith Cowan’s achievements during her three-year term in the Western Australian Parliament was the introduction of a Private Member’s Bill which cemented the right of women, married or single, to enter the professions.
There were many other significant achievements. King Edward Memorial Hospital credits Edith Cowan with its creation. The Children’s Court, National Council of Women, RSPCA WA and The Historical Society also exist because of her.
Edith Cowan’s influence on the well-being of Western Australians continues to be felt across many sectors of the state today.
Edith Cowan is represented on the Australian fifty dollar note in recognition of her National significance, and Edith Cowan University is named after her. There is a clock tower at the entrance of Kings Park in West Perth to commemorate her, and now there will be a statue.
“She led the way.”
There are a number of Edith Cowan biographies and commemorative videos available online documenting her extraordinary life and achievements. Below are links to two videos: the first created by the Parliament of Western Australia titled “Edith Cowan 100: A tribute”, and the second created by Edith Cowan University titled “The Story of Edith Dircksey Cowan”.
The statue
The Edith Dircksey Cowan statue was created by renowned Western Australian artists Joan Walsh-Smith OAM and Charles Smith OAM of Smith Sculptors. It was completed in May 2025 and will be dedicated on 12 June 2025.
The statue will be located on Perth’s main business street in front of ANZAC House, at 28 St Georges Terrace. The siting of the Edith Cowan statue relates to her connection to the RSL and the Karrakatta Club, both organisations now resident at ANZAC House.
The 2m high sculpture weighing approximately 400kgs is cast in fine art silicon bronze using the lost wax casting technique.
The statue of Edith Cowan was commissioned and funded by architect Sandy Anghie and her husband Michael. The statue will be gifted by the Anghie family to the City of Perth upon installation for inclusion in the City’s public art collection.
There were many people who supported the project to help make the idea a reality including — former Western Australian Governor Honourable Kim Beazley AC and his wife Susie Annus; Architect Kym MacCormac and Suzanne John who provided pro bono technical advice for the installation and sponsored the site works; Karrakatta Club Presidents over the past three years, Norrine Anderson, Lesley Williams, Karen Anderson, and Marina Valmadre; Element Advisory; and the City of Perth for accepting this gift into the public collection.
Chronology of Edith Cowan’s life