Cowan died on 9 June 1932, and the following month the Western Australian branch of the National Council for Women scheduled a meeting to discuss the erection of a memorial to her.

The Kings Park Board refused their request, stating that:[4] the Board have other suggestions in view re the Main Gates, and are disinclined to favourably view the erection of further memorials other than National ones, within the Kings Park.This response caused some offense, as it seemed to imply that Cowan was not considered a person of national significance.

[citation needed] Around this time, the committee became aware that the Perth City Council was considering the erection of a safety zone for pedestrians in the middle of Kings Park Circus.

Prominent Perth architect Harold Boas and city engineer Henry Atwell then began work on a design for the monument.

Opinion on the monument's design was mixed, but all protests shared the view that the site was one of the most outstanding in Perth, and should be reserved for a memorial of national significance.

The Town Planning Commissioner David Lomas Davidson even sought an injunction against construction of the monument in the Supreme Court.

The monument and its surroundings remained largely unchanged until some time after 1974, when the traffic island was enlarged, the pylons removed, and the platform replaced by lawn.