Behind every great man is a great woman. - Proverb
Please note: This website contains images of objects from the original exhibition. The current travelling version of this exhibition does not include these objects.
Old Parliament House’s travelling exhibition Mrs Prime Minister—Public Image, Private Lives introduces visitors to the 25 remarkable women who have been wives to past Prime Ministers from 1901 to 2007. It reveals the ‘woman behind the title’, examining the unique contribution, style and structure each brought to the position of Mrs Prime Minister, and explores the realities of being married to one of the nation’s most powerful men—including the difficulties of trying to balance public and private life, the glamour, the hardships, the passions, and of course, the politics.
This travelling exhibition features many of the images from the original 2006 exhibition, and more from the private collections of former Prime Ministers’ wives. It also includes portraits of the six living wives of former Prime Ministers from public and private collections from around Australia.
Designed around eight core themes, the exhibition explores the multi-faceted roles played by Prime Ministers’ wives, including social advocate, political partner, national hostess and media personality. The exhibition also reveals the history of the Lodge, spills secrets about what goes on behind closed doors and investigates how, over time, individual women have changed the role.
Highlights of the exhibition include a quilt of all the wives from 1901 to 1975, and a hall of portraits. Brought together for the first time, this collection of portraits and images allow the great women—who have often stood behind their men—to step forward.
