Louisa Lawson

Louisa Lawson was an Australian poet, writer, publisher, suffragist, and feminist. She was the mother of the poet and author Henry Lawson. She was born in 1848 on Edwin Rouse's station, Guntawang, near Mudgee, New South Wales, the second of twelve children in a struggling family. She left school at 13 to help with the household chores and learned to sew and knit. She married Peter Lawson, a Norwegian sailor, at 18 and had five children. She lived on a small farm at Eurunderee, where she experienced hardship and isolation. She also developed an interest in poetry and literature. In 1883, she left her husband and moved to Sydney with her children. She managed boarding houses and did sewing and washing to support her family. She also joined a spiritualist group and became involved in social reform. In 1887, she bought shares in the radical pro-federation newspaper The Republican, which she edited with her son Henry. She also wrote poems and articles for various publications. In 1888, she founded The Dawn, the first Australian journal produced solely by women. The Dawn had a strong feminist perspective and advocated for women's rights, such as suffrage, education, economic independence, and legal reform. It also featured stories, poems, fashion tips, and household advice. It employed ten female staff and lasted for 17 years. Lawson was also active in the women's suffrage movement. She formed the Dawn Club in 1889 to educate and organize women. She also joined the Womanhood Suffrage League of New South Wales in 1891 and became its vice-president in 1893. She campaigned for women's right to vote and stand for parliament through petitions, meetings, rallies, and lobbying. She also supported other causes such as temperance, peace, and anti-conscription. Lawson suffered from poor health in her later years. She had a stroke in 1900 that left her partially paralyzed. She also had diabetes and heart problems. She died in 1920 at Gladesville Hospital and was buried at Rookwood Cemetery. Lawson was a pioneer of Australian feminism and journalism. She challenged the patriarchal norms of her time and fought for women's equality and empowerment. She also inspired and supported her son Henry's literary career. She was honored with a statue outside Trades Hall in Sydney in 1993.