Victorian Medical Women's Society

[1] After Constance Stone's admission to the faculty was refused in 1883, she travelled to the USA to commence a medical degree.

[1] In January 1987, Lilian Alexander, and Helen Sexton put an advertisement in the paper seeking other women who were interested in enrolling in medicine at the university.

[2] Eventually, on 21 February 1887, the university council met, and Dr. Alexander Morrison, moved a motion to approve the admission of women in medicine, and it was seconded by Dr. John Madden.

This campaign, largely arranged by suffragist Annette 'Annie' Bear-Crawford, was very successful and the Queen Victoria Hospital was born at Mint Place a year later.

In 1946 it was relocated to a much larger premises at the site of the former Melbourne General Hospital on Lonsdale Street (now The Queen Victoria Village).

These notable women, including Mary de Garis, Helen Sexton, and Vera Scantlebury are honoured with a memorial plaque which was placed at The Welsh Church in 2016.