Curio

State Library of New South Wales
Exhibition of Women’s Work in the Centennial Hall … catalogue, 1893 National Council of Women First Congress Programme, 1906

Exhibition of Women’s Work in the Centennial Hall … catalogue, 1893 National Council of Women First Congress Programme, 1906

Printed paper

Donated by Miss Mary B. Windeyer, 1986

ML MSS 4653

This year marks the 120th anniversary of the National Council of Women (NCW) of New South Wales. The council’s founder, Margaret Windeyer, had visited Chicago as a member of the World’s Congress of Representative Women in May 1893. Upon her return, Miss Windeyer began planning a National Council of Women for NSW and the first meeting was held at Sydney Town Hall on 26 August 1896. Since then, the NCW has worked for social change on issues including women’s suffrage, property rights, access to childcare and equal pay. 


Margaret Windeyer (1866-1939) was a lifelong campaigner for women’s rights. She was a member of Louisa Lawson’s Dawn Club and a member of the Women’s Literary Society (later the Womanhood Suffrage League). 


Margaret Windeyer was one of the Public Library of New South Wales’ first female librarians, receiving her appointment through competitive examination in July 1901. She had completed her librarianship course at New York State Library in 1899. She was appointed assistant to the Mitchell Library collection in 1910. 


The inaugural meeting of the National Council of Women discussed the topics of Equal Pay for Equal Work and votes for women. 


The National Council of Women has active branches in each Australian state. Edith Cowan, the first woman to be elected to Australian parliament, was also a co-founder and former president of the National Council of Women Western Australia branch. 


The National Council of Women became affiliates with the International Council of Women in 1898. The International Council of Women is the world’s oldest international women’s organisation.