Margaret Battye
Encyclopedia
Margaret Battye was a Western Australia
n lawyer who became influential in politics, business, and the legal advancement of women. Battye was the first woman to represent a client and begin a legal practice in Western Australia, and she held a number of roles in the early history of the state's division of the Liberal Party of Australia
.
. She was born in Subiaco, Western Australia
on 9 August 1909, and attended Perth Modern School
before undertaking a law degree at the University of Western Australia
. She obtained a Bachelor of Laws
in 1931, and a postgraduate degree in 1933, the same year she was admitted to the Bar. Battye was one of four women to emerge from the Law school in 1930, the same year's graduates included Sheila McClemans. Her first case, judged in favour of her client, is given as the first time a woman gave a client representation in a West Australian court of law. The presiding magistrate and her opponent praised her conduct in presenting of the case. Her establishment of a legal practice, along with a fellow graduate Mary Hartney, was another first for the women of that state.
Battye joined the Australian Federation of University Women in 1934 and became its president three years later. She continued to maintain her support for women at that institution, including drafting the constitution for the Women's University College (St Catherine's College). From 1936 she practised alone, as a barrister and solicitor, working for the Council for Civil Liberties from 1939. Her close association with the Women's Service Guilds
included becoming that organisations honorary legal adviser. In 1939 she founded the Business and Professional Women's Club, and a member and president of the Soroptomists' and Karrakatta Club
s.
Her involvement in politics included contributing to the founding of the state's division of the Liberal Party of Australia, and a sitting or founding member of the state and federal level committees within that party. Battye presided over the first State Woman's Council, founded in 1946 in Western Australia, in addition to chairing the Federal Women’s Committee. In 1949 she prepared a 'blanket bill' designed to eliminate discrimination against women in Australian law, leading to reports and conferences, and a petition to the Prime Minister
Ben Chifley
. The Equal Citizenship (blanket) Bill was redirected to address state legislation, where the greater part of discrimination remained, although no bill would be passed for thirty years. Margaret Battye died in 1949.
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
n lawyer who became influential in politics, business, and the legal advancement of women. Battye was the first woman to represent a client and begin a legal practice in Western Australia, and she held a number of roles in the early history of the state's division of the Liberal Party of Australia
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
.
Biography
Margaret Battye was the only daughter of Nellie May, née Robertson, and Charles Battye, a librarian and brother of J. S. BattyeJames Battye
Dr. James Sykes Battye was the first chief librarian of the Victoria Public Library in Perth, Western Australia. He was a leading historian, librarian and public figure of the State...
. She was born in Subiaco, Western Australia
Subiaco, Western Australia
Subiaco is an inner western suburb of Perth, Western Australia, situated to the north west of Kings Park. Its Local Government Area is the City of Subiaco.-History:Prior to European settlement the area was home to the Noongar Indigenous people....
on 9 August 1909, and attended Perth Modern School
Perth Modern School
Perth Modern School is an academically-selective co-educational public high school located in Subiaco, an inner city suburb of Perth, Western Australia.The school, established in 1911, now caters for students with high academic ability....
before undertaking a law degree at the University of Western Australia
University of Western Australia
The University of Western Australia was established by an Act of the Western Australian Parliament in February 1911, and began teaching students for the first time in 1913. It is the oldest university in the state of Western Australia and the only university in the state to be a member of the...
. She obtained a Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
in 1931, and a postgraduate degree in 1933, the same year she was admitted to the Bar. Battye was one of four women to emerge from the Law school in 1930, the same year's graduates included Sheila McClemans. Her first case, judged in favour of her client, is given as the first time a woman gave a client representation in a West Australian court of law. The presiding magistrate and her opponent praised her conduct in presenting of the case. Her establishment of a legal practice, along with a fellow graduate Mary Hartney, was another first for the women of that state.
Battye joined the Australian Federation of University Women in 1934 and became its president three years later. She continued to maintain her support for women at that institution, including drafting the constitution for the Women's University College (St Catherine's College). From 1936 she practised alone, as a barrister and solicitor, working for the Council for Civil Liberties from 1939. Her close association with the Women's Service Guilds
Women's Service Guilds
The Women's Service Guilds, initially known as the Women's Service Guilds of Western Australia, was an organizing body of the feminist movement in Australia...
included becoming that organisations honorary legal adviser. In 1939 she founded the Business and Professional Women's Club, and a member and president of the Soroptomists' and Karrakatta Club
Karrakatta Club
The Karrakatta Club is a women's club in Perth, Western Australia. Established in 1894, it was the first women's club in Australia.-History:The Karrakatta Club was founded in 1894 by members of the St George Reading Circle. The St George Reading Circle was formed around 1887 for the purpose of...
s.
Her involvement in politics included contributing to the founding of the state's division of the Liberal Party of Australia, and a sitting or founding member of the state and federal level committees within that party. Battye presided over the first State Woman's Council, founded in 1946 in Western Australia, in addition to chairing the Federal Women’s Committee. In 1949 she prepared a 'blanket bill' designed to eliminate discrimination against women in Australian law, leading to reports and conferences, and a petition to the Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Australia
The Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia is the highest minister of the Crown, leader of the Cabinet and Head of Her Majesty's Australian Government, holding office on commission from the Governor-General of Australia. The office of Prime Minister is, in practice, the most powerful...
Ben Chifley
Ben Chifley
Joseph Benedict Chifley , Australian politician, was the 16th Prime Minister of Australia. He took over the Australian Labor Party leadership and Prime Ministership after the death of John Curtin in 1945, and went on to retain government at the 1946 election, before being defeated at the 1949...
. The Equal Citizenship (blanket) Bill was redirected to address state legislation, where the greater part of discrimination remained, although no bill would be passed for thirty years. Margaret Battye died in 1949.