Queen Victoria Women's Centre

RE/DISCOVER QVWC when we open our doors over two days with a program of activities to immerse yourself in the fascinating history of this iconic building. The program includes a talk with our Feminist Historian in Residence Barbara Wheeler, Ruth Maddison Artist Talk, a Weaving Workshop. Our Exhibitions include UNMASKED: Celebrating Nursing and Midwifery, Victoria and Beyond, Exhibition on loan from Her Place Women’s Museum Australia, Ruth Maddison photography and QVWC’s Past and Present Collection. The building will provide open access to explore Birnbeal, Wayi Djerring and Millarri Murnmut spaces from 11am-5pm.

Feminist Historian in Residence Talk (Saturday 2pm-3pm)

Join Barbara Wheeler in her first public presentation of research as the Feminist Historian in residence at the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre. The project commenced in March 2024 and will conclude in April 2025.

In the last two decades of the nineteenth century medical women in America, UK and Australia responded to prejudice by working together to access medical education and training and to deliver professional health services to women and children.

This is the era of first wave feminism that was gathering momentum across the globe. Melbourne’s suffragettes supported the rights of women to enter the medical profession and aided the establishment of Australia's first hospital run by women for women in Melbourne a decade before Victoria’s women achieved the right to vote. This is the story of the Queen Victoria Hospital that began at the Welsh Church on La Trobe Street, established itself at Mint Place off Little Lonsdale Street and expanded its operations at 210 Lonsdale Street Melbourne.

Ruth Maddison Artist Talk and Exhibition (Saturday 3pm-5pm)

Join Ruth Maddison for an artist talk and viewing of her photographs taken of the original Queen Victoria Hospital.

Ruth Maddison (b. Melbourne, 1945) is one of Australia’s foremost photographers. For 48 years Maddison has been exploring ideas surrounding relationships, working lives, and communities through portraiture and social documentary photography. A self-taught practitioner, Maddison shot her first roll of film in 1976 and had her first solo exhibition in 1979 at the Ewing Gallery, Melbourne. Her work continues to be exhibited widely throughout Australia in solo and group exhibitions.

Weaving Workshop (Sunday 1pm-4pm)

Lorraine Brigdale and Yasmin Silveira will host a weaving workshop, learn about traditional techniques and hear stories in a relaxed and welcoming space.

Lorraine is a proud Yorta Yorta woman and award winning multi media artist living in regional Victoria, Lorraine has been the recipient of multiple art awards and in 2023 was invited to exhibit her weaving in ‘Melbourne Now’ exhibition at the Ian Potter Centre at the National Gallery of Victoria.

Yasmin is a Palawa and mixed-race woman working and living on Bunurong Boon wurrung Country. She is a descendant of the Tawlwoolway and Tyereelore people, of north eastern lutruwita (Tasmania). Yasmin has an Advanced Diploma in Visual Arts (Fine Arts), is experienced in painting, printmaking, digital illustration, jewellery and weaving.