Honour Louisa Lawson: Complete the Story in The Domain Campaign Calls for Public Statue Beside Exist

A growing campaign is calling for a statue of Louisa Lawson, pioneering suffragist, publisher, journalist and social reformer, to be installed in Sydney's The Domain near the existing statue of her son, Henry Lawson. [

The proposal seeks to recognise one of Australia's most influential women and address the significant under-representation of women in Sydney's public monuments.

THE ISSUE
Sydney honours Henry Lawson with a prominent bronze statue in The Domain. Yet Louisa Lawson, a nationally significant figure in her own right and a leading advocate for women's rights, remains absent from the city's public statuary. 

Campaign supporters argue that public monuments should reflect the full diversity of Australian history and recognise the contributions of pioneering women.

THE FACTS
Women Remain Significantly Under-Represented

The Statues for Equality project reports that Sydney has "well over 200" public statues, with only 6% depicting women. 

Public Monuments Predominantly Honour Men
The City of Sydney sculpture catalogue includes numerous monuments to male historical figures, including:

Captain Cook
Prince Albert
Edward VII
Ben Chifley
John Dunmore Lang
William Bede Dalley
Simon Bolivar
Hans Christian Andersen

Among named historical women, the catalogue prominently includes only:

Queen Victoria
Juana Azurduy de Padilla

WHO WAS LOUISA LAWSON?
Louisa Lawson (1848-1920) was:

A pioneering publisher and journalist.
Founder and editor of The Dawn, one of Australia's earliest successful newspapers produced by and for women.

A leading advocate for women's suffrage.
A campaigner for women's economic independence.
A major influence on Australian literary and social history.
She helped shape public debate at a time when women were largely excluded from political life.

 
WHY THE DOMAIN?
The existing statue of Henry Lawson stands in The Domain near Mrs Macquaries Road. The City of Sydney Archives identify the monument as the "Statue of Henry Lawson, The Domain Sydney". 

Locating a statue of Louisa Lawson nearby would:

Recognise her achievements on their own merits.
Acknowledge an important chapter in Australian cultural history.
Create a meaningful dialogue between two significant historical figures.
Help address the under-representation of women in Sydney's public spaces.
 
KEY MESSAGE
Sydney rightly honours Henry Lawson. It is time to honour Louisa Lawson as well. Her contribution to Australian journalism, women's rights and public life deserves permanent recognition in one of the nation's most important civic spaces.
 
SUPPORTING EVIDENCE
Statues for Equality
The international Statues for Equality campaign highlights the lack of female representation in public monuments and reports that only 6% of Sydney's public statues depict women. 

Campaign information: Statues for Equality Sydney

City of Sydney Sculpture Collection
Official catalogue of public sculptures and monuments across the City of Sydney area. 

Collection: City of Sydney Sculpture Collection

Henry Lawson Monument
City of Sydney Archives record documenting the existing statue in The Domain. 

Archive: Henry Lawson Statue Archive Record

CAMPAIGN SLOGANS
Beside Henry. Honoured for Herself.

Recognise Louisa Lawson. Complete the Story.

A Place in The Domain for a Pioneer of Women's Rights.

Only 6% of Sydney's Statues Honour Women. Let's Change That. 

Please share the Campaign for a Statue of Louisa Lawson in The Domain, Sydney

"History remembered is history valued. Sydney can honour one of Australia's great reformers by giving Louisa Lawson the public recognition she deserves."