One of Portland’s most iconic women and leaders, Vida Goldstein, has been further acknowledged through a new partnership with Glenelg Shire Council and Melbourne’s Her Place Museum.
Launched this month, Finding Her is Australia’s first interactive state-wide map highlighting locations around Victoria which commemorate inspiring women and gender diverse people.
The Finding Her project is both a virtual and physical tour.
Through QR codes placed at sites across the state, the project connects actual sites of recognition such as statues, murals and monuments to further information online that tells the stories behind the monuments.
Portland’s contribution; At Last, A Seat for Vida! by Portland artist Carmel Wallace, is one of the most remote regional Victorian monuments included in the interactive map.
Glenelg Shire Arts and Culture Manager Lauren van Katwyk said the seat was located in Portland’s historic precinct on Cliff Street.
“In 2008, Portland artist Carmel Wallace was commissioned to design a seat commemorating pioneering female leader and rights activist Vida Goldstein,” she said.
“A plaque near Carmel’s work now directs visitors to use a QR code to learn more about Vida Goldstein and her achievements.”
Vida was born in Portland in 1869 and championed peace, social justice and equal rights, going on to become the first woman in the British Empire to stand for parliament.
She was a woman of words, not only campaigning for parliament five times in her life, but also editing a newspaper.
Artist Ms Wallace said the QR code was an apt addition to her work.
“It’s so fitting that Vida Goldstein is included on the map through my sculptural work which was made to celebrate her and what she stood for,” she said.
“It was a real honour to produce At Last, A Seat for Vida!
“I’d like to acknowledge and thank the wonderful local team who made it possible, particularly the Historic Building Restoration Committee and Lesley Jackson and Rebecca Fleming for instigating the commission and enthusiastically writing submissions; James Sinnott and Tony Rowe of Bamstone for preparing the bluestone, Roger Hampshire for laser-cutting my design and Ricky Holmes for his metal working skills and installation.
“I look forward to more people learning about Vida Goldstein and sharing her story as a result of the Finding Her project.”
The seat was originally unveiled as part of Victorian Women Vote 1908-2008 celebrations by Member for Western Victoria Gayle Tierney in 2008 and funded through the Victorian Government’s Centenary of Suffrage grant program and Regional Arts Victoria.
Descendants of Vida’s sisters travelled to Portland from around the state to attend the unveiling ceremony.
