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The heavens won't fall because a woman's skirts rustle on the sacred benches.

Millicent Preston-Stanley
1925

Putting Skirts on the Sacred Benches lists more than 700 women candidates who stood for New South Wales Parliament, recognising their significant contributions and achievements, despite, in most cases, their lack of success. Biographical entries about a selection of women have been prepared, some containing links to further bibliographical and archival resources.

This exhibition is a project of the National Foundation for Australian Women as part of the Foundation's ongoing initiative, the Australian Women's Archives Project.

Work on this project was generously funded in 2005-6 by the Sesquicentenary of Responsible Government Committee, an initiative of the New South Wales Government Premier's Department.