Centenary of Women’s Suffrage Fountain runs dry…
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Sita Sargeant has a deep affection for Canberra monuments which recognise the role women have played in shaping the nation.
But every time the gender equality activist walks past the Centenary of Women’s Suffrage fountain which links Old Parliament House to Constitution Place, she feels disappointed, and just a tad angry.
For one thing, the fountain has not been operational since mid-last year, with the National Capital Authority declaring that it is “closed for repairs”.
But even if the sparkling waters were flowing from the six water jets on either side of the seven metre water feature, Sita has issues in that the fountain marks women’s achievements up until 2010, and then it, well, it completely trickles out.
Sita is the founder of She Shapes History—a walking tour of the capital which shares and celebrates stories of how women have shaped Canberra, and through it, the nation.
And she is not one to mess about when it comes for fair recognition of women in our city. She has started a petition to Parliament to have the fountain not only switched back on, but also updated to recognise the myriad firsts and milestones that have taken place since 2010.
The fountain, which was opened in 2003 to celebrate 100 years since women were first allowed to vote, uses mosaic tiles to record a timeline marking significant achievements of women in Federal Parliament.
It was last updated in 2010 to record when Julia Gillard became the first woman elected as Prime Minister.
But wait! There’s more….Hopefully?
But since then, Sita lists a number of other notable firsts “including (but definitely not limited to) Nova Peris becoming the first Indigenous female senator, Linda Burney becoming the first Indigenous member of the House of Representatives, Julie Bishop becoming Australia’s first female Foreign Minister, Marise Payne becoming Australia’s first female Defence Minister, and Anne Aly becoming Australia’s first female federal parliamentarian of Islamic faith.
Sita said the languishing fountain, which is still very much a part of her history tours, speaks volumes.
“Almost as if to proclaim – ‘We’ve had a female Prime Minister and therefore have achieved equality for women in politics’.”
She has started an online petition to Parliament to “Update and Fix the Centenary of Women’s Suffrage Commemorative Foundation” which, at the time of writing, has 300 signatures.
Sita has run weekly tours for more than six months without an operational fountain, and has some staff who have never seen it with water.
She suggested the length of time taken for repairs “stems from the belief that no one visits it, which is not true—we take 20-50 people there every week on our tours!.”
“Engagement with a space does increase when effort is put into telling its story and its presentation. The recent statues of Dorothy Tangney and Enid Lyons, the first women elected to federal parliament, are a perfect example of this principle. I see so many people taking photos with the women, leaving flowers in their hands, and I know on our tours, people are so excited to see them,” she says.
“A fountain with a narrative that represents a broader spectrum of experiences could attract more visitors, including families looking to discuss women’s political history. The power of public art and statues is that they can serve as accessible educational tools and conversational starters.”
She also hopes for updates in the future.
Just add water, please…
“We have yet to see our first transgender person in parliament or our first female treasurer, and this is important because historically, we’ve put people in the role of Treasurer when we’re preparing them to be Prime Minister. Then there are important milestones, such as Penny Wong becoming the first openly gay federal parliamentarian and the first woman of colour in parliament, and all the women who ran for parliament between 1903 and 1943 but weren’t elected, are missing. I believe it’s important to acknowledge that women continued to show up and persevere—I think it sends a much stronger and impactful message—that women kept showing up and trying even though they kept being told ‘no’. The fountain also states that Aboriginal people gained the right to vote in federal elections in 1962, but it fails to mention that, unlike for all other Australians, it wasn’t compulsory for them to enrol until 1984, 60 years after it had first become mandatory for all Australians.”
Sita cannot stress how important it is that our national monuments accurately reflect the role of women and thinks Australia should do a much better job of female representation across all major honours, statues, monuments, and other historical markers.
“The past shapes our present, just as our current actions will shape the future. Without a complete understanding of the journey to our current state, it’s easy to feel disconnected or believe you’re pioneering a path alone—which is never the case; no one is ever alone or truly the first. We’re always building on the work of those who have come before us. Knowing the challenges women have faced and continue to face can be inspiring, motivating, and reassuring. Monuments like the fountain have the potential to showcase the full spectrum of experiences and highlight existing gaps and where we have to go. They’re such an exciting opportunity to tell a complex and nuanced story of women in politics.
