Australian Women's National League

It acted in many ways like a political party, with an extensive branch network and the capability to run its own candidates.

It was a conservative organisation with four key declared objectives: The AWNL was supported in its foundation by the Victorian Employers' Federation and by employer bodies in other states, but it quickly became independent from those male-dominated groups, and formed an anti-socialist alliance with the Farmer's League in 1905.

Leading Melbourne establishment figure, Janet, Lady Clarke, held a meeting at her home in August 1903 to discuss the formation of such a conservative women's movement.

Months later, in March 1904, Lady Clarke's sister, Eva Hughes, organised a meeting at the Melbourne Town Hall.

In 1912, the Liberal prime minister Alfred Deakin described the lobby group as "fierce and unceasing" in their political demands.

The League's leaders at the time – including Dame Elizabeth Couchman and future senator Ivy Wedgwood – negotiated a tough deal with Sir Robert Menzies which ensured that women were equally represented throughout the structures of the Liberal Party, long before the era of affirmative action.

[1] Although the organisation had formally resolved to merge with the Liberal Party, some preferred to retain an autonomous group, which continued for a time with considerably reduced members and activity.