362:. Opinion on the monument's design was mixed, but all protests shared the view that the site was one of the most outstanding in Perth, and should be reserved for a memorial of national significance. There were also suggestions that such monuments were masculine in nature; opponents of the monument asserted that it was inappropriate for a woman to be memorialised in such as way; but supporters countered that Cowan had succeeded in a "male domain" and so merited a monument as a memorial. The debate, which has been viewed as "representative of a gender bias operating at the time" (Heritage Council of Western Australia, 2000), continued throughout 1933. The Town Planning Commissioner
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to seek approval for the erection of a monument in the park, and suggesting that it could take the form of an archway at the entrance gates. The Kings Park Board refused their request, stating that "the Board have other suggestions in view re the Main Gates, and are disinclined to favourably view the
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Cowan died on 9 June 1932, and the following month the
Western Australian branch of the National Council for Women scheduled a meeting to discuss the erection of a memorial to her. The meeting was held on 22 September, with the main point of contention being whether the memorial should be a monument
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The monument and its surroundings remained largely unchanged until some time after 1974, when the traffic island was enlarged, the pylons removed, and the platform replaced by lawn. The Edith
Dircksey Cowan Memorial remains at the location, and is considered to be in good condition. It was
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was considering the erection of a safety zone for pedestrians in the middle of Kings Park Circus. This was to be a raised circular platform surrounded by pylons. A number of suggestions had been made for a centrepiece for the safety zone, including relocating the
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erection of further memorials other than
National ones, within the Kings Park." This response caused some offense, as it seemed to imply that Cowan was not considered a person of national significance.
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or something more utilitarian. Utilitarian proposals included an Edith Cowan Ward at King Edward
Memorial Hospital; a model baby health centre; an honour drive in Kings Park; or a pathway in the
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then began work on a design for the monument. Their design was approved by the Edith Cowan
Memorial Committee in February 1933, and a sketch of the design was published in
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326:. In December 1932, the Edith Cowan Memorial Committee requested the Council's permission to locate a monument there, and this was approved. Prominent Perth
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style. In addition to a working clock, it features a bronze plate with a full face portrait of Cowan, and a plaque with the inscription
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was selected to sculpt Cowan's portrait, and W. Ogilvy won the construction contract. Work began on the monument in May 1934, and
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An Edith Cowan
Memorial Committee was then formed to raise funds for a monument. In October the Committee wrote to the
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374:. This injunction was eventually refused, and construction of the monument went ahead. Perth portrait painter
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343:. Mrs Margaret Johnson of Mount Hawthorn designed the bust in relief with a wreath of gum leaves and nuts.
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The Edith
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In response to the publication of the design, protests were lodged by the Kings Park Board, the
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re-dedicated on 12 March 1996, the 75th anniversary of Cowan's election to parliament.
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524:(July 1996). "Breaking the monumental mould: how the Edith Cowan clock was built".
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grounds. These were eventually rejected in favour of a monument in Kings Park.
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The following sources have not been consulted in the writing of this article:
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443:. Vol. 50, no. 9, 971. Western Australia. 15 June 1934. p. 6
415:. Vol. 50, no. 9, 971. Western Australia. 15 June 1934. p. 6
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491:. Heritage Council of Western Australia. 20 December 2000. Archived from
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466:. Nedlands, Western Australia: University of Western Australia Press.
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A unique position: a biography of Edith
Dircksey Cowan 1861–1932
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unveiled it on 9 June, the second anniversary of Cowan's death.
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Mrs Cowan's clock: The location of the Edith Cowan
Memorial
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Edith
Dircksey Cowan Memorial at the entrance to Kings Park
545:. Churchlands, Western Australia: Edith Cowan University.
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State Register of Heritage Places in the City of Perth
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Register of Heritage Places - Assessment Documentation
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Around this time, the Committee became aware that the
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Heritage listed memorial in Perth, Western Australia
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263:Bronze face portrait, by Mrs Margaret Johnson of
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592:Monuments and memorials in Western Australia
526:International Review of Women and Leadership
370:against construction of the monument in the
284:Royal Western Australian Historical Society
617:Buildings and structures completed in 1934
451:– via National Library of Australia.
423:– via National Library of Australia.
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318:clock there, or using the site for the
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244:FIRST WOMAN MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT
240:HER MANY GOOD WORKS FOR HUMANITY
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482:"Edith Dircksey Cowan Memorial"
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278:, and was a co-founder of the
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627:Kings Park, Western Australia
612:West Perth, Western Australia
572:Edith Dircksey Cowan Memorial
356:Royal Institute of Architects
171:Edith Dircksey Cowan Memorial
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24:Edith Dircksey Cowan Memorial
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175:Edith Cowan Memorial Clock
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541:Wycherley, Paul (1997).
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97:31.954051°S 115.844368°E
360:Town Planning Institute
407:"EDITH COWAN MEMORIAL"
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137:State Registered Place
102:-31.954051; 115.844368
574:at Wikimedia Commons
462:Cowan, Peter (1978).
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320:Lord Forrest Memorial
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435:"PORTRAIT MODELLING"
364:David Lomas Davidson
238:BY THOSE WHO ADMIRED
234:EDITH DIRCKSEY COWAN
232:ERECTED IN HONOUR OF
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45:General information
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333:and City Engineer
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246:IN AUSTRALIA
236:O.B.E., J.P.
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331:Harold Boas
265:Mt Hawthorn
191:Edith Cowan
179:clock tower
100: /
87:115°50′40″E
74:Coordinates
581:Categories
502:2006-05-24
393:References
368:injunction
214:Donnybrook
198:parliament
195:Australian
183:Kings Park
142:Designated
106: (
84:31°57′15″S
62:Kings Park
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528:: 89–90.
328:architect
242:1861–1932
221:Inter-War
217:freestone
358:and the
282:and the
224:Art Deco
204:Monument
58:Location
53:Memorial
322:or the
255:History
219:in the
177:, is a
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447:29 May
419:29 May
496:(PDF)
485:(PDF)
187:Perth
66:Perth
547:ISBN
530:OCLC
468:ISBN
449:2018
421:2018
169:The
154:2232
134:Type
50:Type
185:in
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