• Entry type: Organisation
  • Entry ID: AWE0955

Woman’s Christian Temperance Union of South Australia

(From 1889 – )
  • Occupation Lobby group, Religious organisation, Women's Rights Organisation

Summary

The South Australian branch was founded in1889, following a visit from American spokesperson, Jessie Ackermann. Its purpose was to promote temperance and Christianity in order to improve people’s lives and so also involved tackling questions such as raising the age of marriage consent for girls and women’s suffrage. By 1899 membership of the various branches numbered over 1100. Elizabeth Webb Nicholls was its first president and served two terms; 1889-1997 and 1906-1927 and in 1891 Mary George became its first paid secretary. Under Nicholls’ leadership the Union took an active role in the campaign for women’s suffrage in South Australia, having a suffrage department convened by Serena Thorne Lake in 1890-1891, and became involved with the Women’s Suffrage League.

Published resources

  • Edited Book
    • Women in Australia : an annotated guide to records, Daniels, Kay, Murnane, Mary, Picot, Anne and National Research Program (Australia), 1977
    • Torch-bearers : the Woman's Christian Temperance Union of South Australia, 1886-1948, McCorkindale, Isabel, 1949
  • Book
    • In her own name. A history of women in South Australia from 1836, Helen Jones, 1986
    • Fresh evidence, new witnesses : finding women's history, Allen, Margaret (Margaret Ellen), 1947- ; Hutchison, Mary and Mackinnon, Alison, 1942-, 1989
    • History of the Union, Woman's Christian Temperance Union of Western Australia, 1952
    • A Century of Service: The history of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union of South Australia Inc. : supplementing 'Torchbearers' (the first sixty years), Harry, Millicent K. (Millicent Kate), 1986
    • Ideal recipe book for use of currants, raisins, sultanas and grapes : also recipes for refreshing fruit beverages and party drinks Edition 4th ed. Publication Details [Adelaide : , 1933?] (Adelaide : Reliance Printery) Physical Description 32p. : ill. ; 21cm., 1933?
  • Newsletter
    • The Alliance news : the organ of the South Australian Alliance, W.C.T. Union and the temperance organizations of the colony, [1898-1907]
  • Report
    • Minutes of ... annual convention, Woman's Christian Temperance Union of South Australia. Convention, 1890-1931
    • Report of ... annual convention, Woman's Christian Temperance Union of South Australia. Convention, 1932-
  • Journal
    • The Patriot, [1907-1968]
  • Thesis
    • Of lengthening cords and strengthening stakes : the Woman's Christian Temperance Union of South Australia, 1886-1896, Craig, Maureen., 1983
    • As High as Heaven: The Woman's Christian Temperance Union in South Australia, 1886-1915, Wiles, David, 1978
  • Journal Article
    • The Woman's Christian Temperance Union of South Australia AU: SO: , v.16 1988 : 134-142 DEMJ: Women's-rights; South-Australia: Social-history DEMN: Alcohol-abuse ID: Women's Suffrage League (SA) NS: Woman's Christian Temperance Union (Adelaide), Luxton, Janet, 1988
  • Pamphlet
    • The Awakened Woman, Mead, Lilian S., 1895
    • Jubilee Thanksgiving Memorial 1886-1936 / Woman's Christian Temperance Union of South Australia Publication Details [Adelaide] : The Union, 1936. Physical Description 31 p. : ill., ports. ; 28 cm., 1936
    • The Old Order Changeth, 1938
    • New Lives for Old: The story of the prison work of Mrs. E.B. Turner as state superintendent of prison work in South Australia for the Woman's Christian Temperance Union 1909-1939, Abbott, Edith S., ca1940
  • Resource

Archival resources

  • State Library of South Australia
    • Woman's Christian Temperance Union of South Australia : SUMMARY RECORD
  • Northern Territory Library, Northern Territory Collection
    • Petition no. 38 of 1894 : signed by 11,600 persons in favour of the Women's Suffrage (Constitution) Bill

Related entries


  • Affiliated
    • National Council of Women of South Australia (1902 - )
    • The National Woman's Christian Temperance Union of Australia (1891 - )
  • Member
    • Colton, Mary (1822 - 1898)
    • Nicholls, Elizabeth Webb (1850 - 1943)
    • Lake, Serena Thorne (1842 - 1902)
    • Kiek, Winifred (1884 - 1975)
  • Related Organisations
    • Woman's League (1895 - 1970)
    • South Australian Women's Suffrage League (1888 - )
  • Membership
    • Hunter, Dora
  • Related Women
    • Ackermann, Jessie (1857 - 1951)
    • Duguid, Phyllis Evelyn
  • Supported by
    • Doudy, Jane Sarah (Jeanne) (1849 - 1932)

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