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The Centenary of Womens Suffrage Commemorative Fountain
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Centenary Women's Suffrage Commemorative Fountain, House of Representatives Gardens.
The Centenary of Women's Suffrage Commemorative Fountain is located at the Members' Gate of the House of Representatives Garden. The site is within a walkway that links Old Parliament House to Constitution Place .
The detailed design of the new fountain was developed by Cate Riley and Andrew Smith of the National Capital Authority in consultation with Senator Kay Patterson, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Women's Issues. It comprises a rectangular water feature approximately 7m long x 2.5m wide x 0.4m high. The floor and walls of the water feature are lined with tens of thousands of glass mosaic tiles individually placed by mosaic artist Mary Stuart.
Further visual interest is provided by 6 water jets both sides and a water weir on the eastern end of the fountain.
The border of the water feature records the passage of the Franchise Act (Cth) in 1902 and the commemoration of the 1903 election (in which women voted and stood for Parliament for the first time).
A timeline extends from the water feature within the pavement under a wisteria covered pergola towards Constitution Place. Along the timeline are recorded the milestones and significant achievements of women in Federal Parliament. The timeline is created using the same tiles as used in the fountain.