Who was Edith Cowan and why was her election historically important?

Edith Cowan (1861–1932) was a prominent Australian social reformer, women’s rights activist, and politician from Western Australia. Throughout her life, she dedicated herself to improving the welfare of women and children, serving as a magistrate for the Children’s Court and helping to establish the King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women.1

Her election to the Western Australian Legislative Assembly in 1921 was historically significant because she became the first woman ever elected to an Australian parliament.1

During her parliamentary tenure, she achieved notable legislative milestones, including:
* The Administration Act Amendment Bill of 1922, which granted mothers equal inheritance rights to fathers regarding children who died intestate.1
* The Women’s Legal Status Act of 1923, which enabled women in Western Australia to enter the legal profession and practice other occupations.1

Her legacy is commemorated today through Edith Cowan University and her portrait, which has appeared on the Australian $50 banknote since 1995.1