East Melbourne in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia — Oceania
Great Petition Sculpture
Susan Hewitt and Penelope Lee, 2008
Photographed by Dean Barton-Ancliffe, May 11, 2026
1. Great Petition Marker
Commissioned by the Victorian Government in collaboration with the City of Melbourne
Erected by Victorian Government and the City of Melbourne.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Civil Rights • Colonial Era • Women. A significant historical year for this entry is 1891.
Location. 37° 48.695′ S, 144° 58.511′ E. Marker is in East Melbourne, Victoria, in Melbourne. It is at the intersection of Parliament Place and Parliament Square, on the left when traveling north on Parliament Place. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 33 Parliament Place, East Melbourne VIC 3002, Australia. Touch for directions.
Regionally, it is in Oceania, in Australasia, in the Pacific Ocean, in South Pacific, on the Pacific Rim, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony.
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Great Petition (a few steps from this marker); Coaxial Cable - Sydney to Melbourne (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); Daniel Mannix (about 120 meters away); Stanford Fountain (about 150 meters away); Adam Lindsay Gordon 1932 (about 150 meters away); Victorian Houses of Parliament (about 150 meters away); Charles George Gordon (about 180 meters away); The Windsor Hotel (about 180 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in East Melbourne.
Also see . . . The Great Petition.
The 20th century was a time of massive and rapid social upheaval – one of the biggest changes was voting rights for women. In 2008, artists Susan Hewitt and Penelope Lee unveiled The Great Petition to mark 100 years of women's suffrage in Victoria.(Submitted on May 27, 2026, by Dean Barton-Ancliffe of Rowville, Victoria.)
This sculpture, made from rolled steel, seems to emerge from the ground and spill out across Burston Reserve like an unravelling ream of paper. The work represents the 'Monster Petition' of 30,000 names presented to parliament in the late 1800s, to demonstrate public support for women'ssuffrage. The Adult Suffrage Act was passed in 1908 and allowed non-Indigenous Victorian women the right to vote. Universal suffrage for Indigenous men and women in Australia would not be achieved until 1965 – however the petition represented an important step in the effort towards achieving voting rights for all women in Victoria.Photographed by Dean Barton-Ancliffe, May 11, 20262. Great Petition Sculpture Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on May 28, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 27, 2026, by Dean Barton-Ancliffe of Rowville, Victoria. This page has been viewed 9 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 27, 2026, by Dean Barton-Ancliffe of Rowville, Victoria. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
