Libraries and Literature

We’ve found a web presence for quite a few women’s libraries or archives in other parts of the world. Have a look here: Women’s Libraries Worldwide

Jessie Street Women’s Library The Library was established in 1989 and is located in Ultimo, Sydney. Its charter is to collect, preserve and promote knowledge and understanding of the cultural heritage of all women; social justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples; international friendship and peace.

The Women’s College Library A valuable resource for residents of the The Women’s College within the University of Sydney, the Library holds around 16,000 items, and specialises in women’s history, gender studies, and English, Australian, and French literature.

Spinifex Press +613 9329 6088 Spinifex Press is an award-winning independent feminist press, publishing innovative and controversial feminist books with an optimistic edge. Feminist press was founded by Susan Hawthorne.

Culture and Community

Her Place Museum Based in Melbourne, Her Place Museum is a not-for-profit organisation that celebrates the social, civic, and entrepreneurial achievements of all Australian women and their role in shaping our nation.

Encyclopedia of Women in Leadership A resource for anyone interested in the history of women and leadership in twentieth-century Australia. The Encyclopedia is a point-in-time publication – a research outcome from Australian Research Council Linkage Project LP100200304 (2011-2013).

The Pioneer Women’s Hut +612 6948 3333 The Pioneer Women’s Hut near Tumbarumba is a free museum committed to preserving rural women’s heritage. It reflects the ingenuity of women in finding solutions to the challenges of looking after a family in early rural times.

The Wom­en’s Muse­um of Aust­ralia +618 8952 9006 The Wom­en’s Muse­um of Aus­tralia is ded­i­cat­ed to iden­ti­fy­ing and pre­serv­ing the place of women in Aus­tralian his­to­ry and shar­ing their sto­ries. Locat­ed in Alice Springs, the Wom­en’s Muse­um was found­ed as The Nation­al Pio­neer Wom­en’s Hall of Fame in 1993 by Mol­ly Clark. Since 2007, the Muse­um has been locat­ed on the site of the NT Her­itage list­ed Old Alice Springs Gaol.

National Quilt Register In 2001, the National Quilt Register was launched as part of the Centenary of Federation celebrations. The quilts tell stories about love, despair, survival, adversity, friendship, and endurance. The register represents the great diversity of women’s lives and celebrates the major contributions of Aboriginal women – Australia’s first needlewomen. The National Quilt Register is managed by the National Wool Museum in Geelong.

The EDNAs Named in honour of Edna Ryan who fought for equal pay and equal rights for women, from 1998 to 2023, the EDNAs celebrated women in NSW and the ACT who contributed to improving the lives of women and girls. The criteria for the awards were: women who persist, strive, advocate, and fight to make a feminist difference; women who are often unsung and unrecognised.

Australian Women’s Register A collaboration between The University of Melbourne and The National Foundation for Australian Women, the Australian Women’s Register is Australia’s premier online archival resource discovering, promoting, and preserving the diverse stories of Australian women, past and present.

Health and Support Services

Bankstown Women’s Health Centre Holistic service committed to the health and wellbeing of women.

Jean Hailes The Jean Hailes Foundation for Women’s Health is a not-for-profit organisation providing important services for women from adolescence to mid-life and beyond. Established in Victoria in 1992, it is now regarded throughout Australia as a leader in women’s healthcare.

Leichhardt Women’s Health Centre Leichhardt Women’s Community Health Centre is a non-government, not-for-profit, community-based organisation that provides multidisciplinary, preventative health and treatment services to women.

Liverpool Women’s Health Centre A feminist community-based health service run by women for women.

Lesbian Activities and Support

Older Dykes Lesbians over 40: mainly in Sydney but sometimes national, and the website is international.

Women in the Bush A Sydney bush walking group for the Lesbian community, catering to all age groups and levels of fitness. The group also organises bike rides, other outdoor activities, and various social activities during the year.

LOTL Australian-based media development and events company in Sydney. Publisher of Lesbians on the Loose. Publisher of fresh and diverse content for lesbian women through quality journalism and community involvement.

Peak Bodies + Advocacy Groups

The Australian Women’s History Network The Australian Women’s History Network promotes research and writing in all fields of women’s history. It brings together scholars, students and others working in women’s history to exchange ideas, information, support and resources.

Older Women’s Network The Older Women’s Network in NSW believes in a society rich in social capital, where mutual respect and trust are paramount, where diversity and debate are valued, and where people and their networks have a legitimate voice.

Women’s Health NSW Women’s Health NSW is an association of statewide women’s health centres and specialist women’s centres. All centres are non-government, community based, feminist services that provide choices for women to determine their individual health needs.

Australian Women’s Health Alliance The Australian Women’s Health Network (AWHN) is the peak organisation for women’s health in Australia. AWHN is a not-for-profit network run primarily by volunteers to maintain and advance a national voice on women’s health through advocacy and information sharing. AWHN is an umbrella organisation for State and Territory Women’s Health Networks, and other national organisations that embrace its objectives and philosophy./td>

Safe and Equal Safe and Equal is the peak body for Victorian organisations that specialise in family and gender-based violence across the continuum, including primary prevention, early intervention, response and recovery.