Broadgreen Historic House exhibition marks 125 years of women’s suffrage
06/09/2018 9:08am
Have you ever wondered what life was like in 1893, when New Zealand women won the right to vote?
The latest exhibition at Broadgreen Historic House, The Suffragists at Home gives Nelsonians an opportunity to step back in time and take a closer look at life inside a New Zealand house 125 years ago.
On 19 September 1893, after submitting a petition with nearly 32,000 signatures, New Zealand became the first self-governing country to grant women the vote.
Suffragists at Home: Stitching and styles for a cause provides visitors with the chance to see women’s stitched crafts, clothing and accessories used in the quest to help New Zealand women get the vote.
The exhibition took five months to prepare, with some intricate clothing pieces taking 10 hours each to make. Suffragists at Home provides the opportunity to gain a rare insight into life in 1893.
Chair of the Community Services Committee Gaile Noonan says it is important that we don’t take things like the right to vote for granted.
“Life was hard for women in the past, and yet they still had the courage to pursue the women’s vote. We should be encouraging all women to exercise their hard-won right to vote,” says Councillor Noonan.
“I can imagine the conversations they were having when they were stitching, I would love to have been a fly on the wall to listen to all their radical plans.”
Event details
What: Suffragists at Home
Where: Broadgreen Historic House
When: Open daily, 11am – 3pm
Cost: Free for Nelson residents
