KARRAKATTA CLUB

The 'Karrakatta Club' is a women's club in Perth, Western Australia. Established in 1894, it was the first women's club in Australia.

Contents

History

Members

References

Further reading

History

The Karrakatta Club was founded in 1894 by members of the St George Reading Circle. The St George Reading Circle was formed around 1887 for the purpose of exchanging and discussing reading material, and debating current affairs. Following a visit from an American woman named Dr Emily Ryder, the Circle decided to form a new club modelled on the Education Clubs that were popular in America. Named for the Karrakatta location of its building, it was formed with the intention of providing women with the opportunity to be active and vocal in public affairs.
For many years the Karrakatta Club succeeding in its intention of being active in public affairs. For example it was active in pushing for women's suffrage in the 1890s, and it was responsible for the formation of an RSPCA in Western Australia. Today it is perceived as having become a social club, and is widely accused of irrelevance.

Members

Members of the Karrakatta Club have included:

★ Annie Cardell-Oliver

★ Edith Cowan

★ Lady Margaret Forrest

★ Roberta Jull

★ Mollie Lukis

★ Bessie Rischbieth

★ Lady Gwenyfred James

References

★ KarraKatta Club (1894 - )

★ A unique position: a biography of Edith Dircksey Cowan 1861–1932, Cowan, Peter, , , University of Western Australia Press, 1978, ISBN 0-85564-135-5

Further reading

★ History of the Karrakatta Club, 1894–1994, Karrakatta Club, , , , 1994,