March is Women's History Month!
This calendar includes a number of upcoming public events that relate to women's history. Each event is located in Victoria, Australia, and is scheduled to occur during the month of March. The events are hosted by a range of organisations - government, academic, professional and community-based - in the history sector.
The concept of Women's History Month was revived by the Royal Historical Society of Victoria which convened a gathering of representatives of interested organisations during 2019. This calendar is hosted by the History Council of Victoria.
If you are organising an event in Victoria during March, and if it relates to Women's History, you are welcome to publicise it here. Click on the 'Host your own event' button at the foot of this page to get started. Please note that there may be a delay of up to 48 hours (for moderation) before your event becomes visible on the website.
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Sunday, March 01, 2020 at 12:00 AM
Facebook on the internet in Facebook, AustraliaWomen in Gippsland's History
Join us in listening to and recording the stories of women in Gippsland. Hosted for the full month of March 2020 by the Gippsland History Group on Facebook. Help us to expand this ever-growing list!
https://www.facebook.com/notes/gippsland-history/women-in-gippslands-history/2704096929820317/ -
Sunday, March 01, 2020 at 12:00 AM
Walhalla Museum in Walhalla, AustraliaWomen of Walhalla
Can you help to identify these Walhalla tennis players from early in the twentieth century?
During March, the Museum at Walhalla will be showcasing on Facebook what they know of Women from Walhalla - and trying hard to find out more.
We would love you to join us for the journey.
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Sunday, March 01, 2020 at 10:00 AM through March 02, 2020
Old Treasury BuildingWayward Women?
This exhibition is on show throughout March 2020. It presents ten stories about individual women’s lives in the past. All of the women could be described as ‘wayward’. Either intentionally, or through force of circumstance, they transgressed society’s rules in some way. Some prospered, but others paid dearly for their actions.
The women and girls featured in this exhibition all lived in Victoria in the decade from 1894-1904. It was a time of great privation for many people, with the economy in deep depression and unemployment high. There was little in the way of government assistance for those in need and the charitable organisations that tried to help had scant resources. Many were turned away.
Wayward Women? is presented by Old Treasury Building in partnership with Public Record Office Victoria.
The Old Treasury Building is closed on Saturdays, but open to the public from Sunday to Friday, 10 am to 4 pm. Last admission is at 3:45 pm.
Admission is free; donations are welcome.
For further information, visit the Old Treasury Building's webpage about this exhibition.
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Tuesday, March 03, 2020 at 05:30 PM
Old Treasury Building in Melbourne, AustraliaMelbourne Feminist History Group. Prof Shurlee Swain
Join the Melbourne Feminist History Group for a special viewing of the Wayward Women exhibition, followed at 6 pm by a seminar on 'Disposing of the unwanted products of women's bodies: identifying the gynaeocentric zone' led by Professor Shurlee Swain.
For further information, visit the Old Treasury Building's webpage about this event.
To book your free ticket, please visit this Eventbrite page.
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Wednesday, March 04, 2020 at 01:30 PM
Victorian Archive Centre in North Melbourne, AustraliaStronger Together: Re-imagining the Women's Mural - A Virtual Tour
To celebrate International Women's Day 2020 and Women's History Month, come and learn about Fitzroy's former Women's Mural from 1986. Who were the women featured, and how has technology helped preserve and celebrate this chapter of urban history for new audiences?
Public Record Office Victoria is hosting a panel discussion on how key organisations (including museums and archives) are working together in Melbourne to capture and preserve Victorian women's history, and to consider how other projects could be realised.
The panel features Danielle Hakim and Sally Northfield from The Women's Mural Documentation Project, Penelope Lee from Her Place Women’s Museum, Australia and Dr Nikki Henningham from the Australian Women's Archives Project.
This is a free event. Please click HERE to reserve your seat via the Eventbrite ticketing service.
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Friday, March 06, 2020 at 02:00 PM
St Mary’s Library and Research Centre in Geelong, AustraliaCelebrating the Life of Mary De Garis
Join us for the screening of a short film, What Courage Such a Thing Takes: The Life of Mary De Garis, and listen to historian, Dr Ruth Lee, who will share Mary's story.
For further information and to book your free ticket, please visit this Eventbrite page.
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Sunday, March 08, 2020 at 12:00 AM through March 09, 2020
International Women's Day
Sunday 8 March 2020 marks 109 years since the first International Women's Day (IWD). It offers the opportunity to celebrate the achievements of women past, present and future, across the world.
How will you recognise IWD this year?
Here are some suggestions for activities:
Explore the ideas and resources on the IWD website
Check out the web links assembled by the City of Melbourne
Visit Wayward Women? an exhibition at the Old Treasury Building, Melbourne (open from 10 am to 4 pm)
Visit the Suffrage Research Collection at NGV International (St Kilda Road, Melbourne), acquired with assistance from Krystyna Campbell-Pretty AM and Family (open from 10 am to 5 pm)
Visit Heidelberg's Busy Bee Signature Quilt 1895-96, an exhibition at the Old Heidelberg Court House (open from 2 to 5 pm)
If you are hosting an IWD event on Sunday 8 March and would like it to be added to this list, please email info@historycouncilvic.org.au
If your event is about Women's History and is being held during March 2020, please add it to the calendar for Women's History Month. (See the instructions HERE.)
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Tuesday, March 10, 2020 at 06:00 PM
Old Treasury Building in East Melbourne, AustraliaFashionable Style: the 1850s Crinoline
The ‘must-have’ style of the mid-1850s, the crinoline, was worn by every class of society, and women on the Victorian goldfields were no exception! This dress style was far from practical to wear in a tent, but it was the prevailing fashion.
The Old Treasury Building holds two dresses in this style in the collection. Entirely sewn by hand, it is estimated that there are over 5000 stitches in one of the skirts alone!
Join historian Margaret Anderson to discover this dress style: what it might have been like to make, wear and care for such a dress. This will be a white glove event. You will be able to examine the dresses up close and personal!
This lecture is free of charge, but limited seating is available. Bookings are essential! Click HERE to access the Eventbrite booking page.
For further information, visit the Old Treasury Building's webpage about this event.
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Thursday, March 12, 2020 at 11:00 AM
Old Treasury Building in East Melbourne, AustraliaMaggie Heffernan
In January 1900, sixteen-year-old Maggie Heffernan drowned her infant son in Melbourne's Yarra River. She was found guilty of murder and sentenced to death. But Maggie’s case was especially pitiful and attracted some powerful advocates. In her case, mercy prevailed.
Maggie's story is part of the Wayward Women? exhibition at the Old Treasury Building.
Find out more about Maggie Heffernan in this free talk.
For further information, visit the Old Treasury Building's webpage about this event.
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Saturday, March 14, 2020 at 02:45 PM
Old Heidelberg Court House in Heidelberg, AustraliaOne name at a time
In 2018, the Heidelberg Historical Society received by donation a Signature Quilt that was created in 1895-96 by the Busy Bees, a group of eight women who were members of the congregation of Heidelberg’s Scots Church. Their names are embroidered in the corners of the quilt's large central square (above).
The quilt project raised funds for the church. Constructed from 213 squares of cotton fabric, the quit is decorated with hand-made lace and embroidery, and framed by a substantial embroidered frill.
The quilt's past involved contributions by about 150 people from many parts of Melbourne and a lengthy sojourn in New Zealand.
Its present includes listing with the National Quilt Register and commendation at the Victorian Community History Awards.
Its future requires ongoing research into the 139 names that are legible on the squares, plus careful preservation by the Society.
This talk by Margaret Birtley will share insights gained from studying the quilt and its people, one name at a time.
An exhibition about the quilt is open for viewing from 2 pm to 4 pm. The talk will start at 2.45 pm.
Admission charges apply:
Adults $5
Children under 16 (and members of Heidelberg Historical Society) freeClick HERE to explore the quilt online.