Queen Victoria Women's Centre
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The Queen Victoria Women’s Centre (QVWC) has a history that is unique to Melbourne. The site holds a strong pre-colonial history and is also the former location of the Queen Victoria Hospital, established through the determination of Australia’s first registered female medical practitioner, Dr Constance Stone. In the late 1800s, Dr Stone challenged the entrenched patriarchal barriers of her time to establish Australia’s first, and the world’s third, hospital for women and children, supported by her suffragette peers and influential Melbourne women.
Operating under the motto ‘Pro Feminis A Feminis’ ('For women, by women') the hospital occupied the Lonsdale Street site from 1946 until 1988. Thousands of Melburnians worked at the hospital and more than 200,000 babies were born there. Designed by renowned Melbourne architect JJ Clark, the building is also of significant architectural and civic importance.
Following a highly visible public campaign led by the women of Victoria, the site was saved from demolition and the QVWC was established in 1994. The Centre continues to proudly uphold its founding motto and today houses more than a dozen organisations supporting women and social justice causes. QVWC provides community event spaces, and supports women and gender diverse entrepreneurs and artists through its gallery and maker’s shop, remaining a place of welcome, care and collective action in the heart of Melbourne.
What's On
Explore the building’s architectural, social and feminist histories.
We Sit in Circle
An exhibition presented by The Torch in partnership with QVWC.
First Nations Weaving Workshop
Facilitated by Trina Dalton-Oogjes, this workshop connects to the Centre’s Indigenous sculpture Creative Resilience.
Displays
See a curated display of archival material telling the story of the Queen Victoria Hospital; a display of Ruth Maddison’s photographs of the QV Hospital, taken in 1983; and Ilana Rose’s photographs of the QVWC build in 1996-97.
There will also be complimentary tea, coffee and afternoon tea provided to visitors.
Children's Activities
Children are encouraged to participate in the weaving workshop.
Images: (1) Weaving workshop. Photo: Bree Dunbar. (2) QVWC Wayi Djerring space. Photo: Bree Dunbar. (3-4) We Sit In Circle Exhibition, QVWC Birnbeal Gallery. Photo: Tiffany Garvie. (5) QVWC Building. Photo: Bree Dunbar.
