Rankin, Annabelle Jane Mary (1908-1986)

Field of activity
Parliamentarian
NLA Persistent Identifier
http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-728064

Biographies

Annabelle Rankin was appointed to the Order of the British Empire - Dames Commander on 13 June 1957 for political and public services. Rankin was the first Queensland woman to be elected a member of Federal Parlimanet when she became a Queensland Liberal Party Senator in July 1947. She held office for thirty-four years, during which time she served as Minister for Housing from January 1966 to March 1971.

The Federal electoral division of Rankin (created 1984), was named after the first Queensland woman elected to the Senate. Annabelle Rankin was one of three Queensland Liberal-Country Party candidates, elected to the Senate in 1946.

Rankin, who grew up in a political household (her father Colin Dunlop Wilson was a Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly), became known throughout Queensland from her association with church activities, girl guides, the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) and the Red Cross. She was also a member of the Country Women’s Association, the Victoria League and the Royal Empire Society.

Rankin became the first woman party whip (opposition), when she took up her seat in the Senate in July 1947, a position she held until the next election. Then in 1952 (until 1966), she became Government whip. On Australia Day 1966, the then prime minister, Harold Holt, appointed Rankin Minister for Housing, making her the first woman to be appointed to federal ministerial position involving administration of a department.

After leaving politics Rankin became High Commissioner to New Zealand in 1971. She was the first woman to be appointed Head of Mission, and remained in this diplomatic post until 1974. Having never married Dame Rankin retired to Queensland, where she passed away on 30 August 1986.

View the full record at Australian Women's Register

Related people and organisations

Australian Women's Register

Resources for Annabelle Jane Mary Rankin

Selected resources (18)

Australian Women's Register

  1. Primary description of person CP 137; The Hon Dame Annabelle Jane Mary Rankin DBE
    National Archives of Australia
    Series: http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/SearchOld.asp?Number=CP+137
  2. A woman of distinction : the honourable Dame Annabelle Rankin D.B.E.
    Browne, Waveney
    [1981]
    Published: Boolarong Publications
  3. Biographical cuttings (available reading room NLA)
  4. So Many Firsts: Liberal Women from Enid Lyons to the Turnbull Era
    Fitzherbert, Margaret
    [2009]
    Published: The Federation Press
  5. Faith, Hope and Charity Australian Women and Imperial Honours: 1901-1989
    Australian Women's Archives Project
    [2003]
    Published: Australian Women's Archives Project
    Series: http://www.womenaustralia.info/exhib/honours/honours.html
  6. Liberal women : Federation to 1949
    Fitzherbert, Margaret
    [2004]
    Published: Federation Press
  7. Who Who in Australia 1983
    Draper, W J
    Published: The Herald and Weekly Times
  8. Rankin, Dame, Annabelle (1908 - 1986)
    Series: http://w1.xrefer.com/entry/360559
  9. Rankin, Dame Annabelle (Jane Mary) 1908 -- 1986
    Biography.com
    Series: http://search.biography.com/print_record.pl?id=10560
  10. List of Electoral Divisions Named After Women
    Australian Electoral Commission
    Series: http://www.aec.gov.au/history/women/women3.htm
  11. Monash Biographical Dictionary of 20th Century Australia
    Arnold, John and Morris, Deirdre
    [1994]
    Published: Reed Reference Publishing
  12. Who's who of Australian women
    Lofthouse, Andrea
    [1982]
    Published: Methuen Australia
  13. 200 Australian Women: A Redress Anthology
    Radi, Heather
    [1988]
    Published: Women's Redress Press
  14. National Library of Australia: Interview with the Honourable Dame Annabelle Rankin, D.B.E. (sound recording), interviewer: Pat Shaw (14 July 1983 - 10 September 1984)
    2 cassettes, 120 minutes, and 31 page transcript. Dame Annabelle Rankin speaks of her childhood; travelling overseas after leaving school; her welfare work during the war years; standing for the Senate and election campaigns; becoming the first woman Whip in Parliament; her appointment as Minister for Housing (1966) and the problems associated withhousing at this time. Dame Rankin recalls her appointment as High Commissioner to New Zealand, and the duties of this position.
    ORAL TRC 4900/15
  15. National Archives of Australia, National Office: Dame Annabelle Rankin - Memorabilia collected by Dame Annabelle Rankin (1934 - 1983)
    This series consists of miscellaneous items collected by Dame Annabelle Rankin throughout her career. It includes letters, programmes, cards, extracts from hansard, booklets, journals, certificates, menus, publications, a passport, prayerbook, recipe, two nameplates from her time as Minister for Housing, and the documentation relating to her appointment as High Commissioner in New Zealand.
    M2128
  16. National Archives of Australia, National Office: Rankin, Dame Annabelle (1908 - 1955)
    Commonwealth Archives of Dame Annabelle Rankin. Comprising 14 series, covering her 34 year career in government and subsequent role as high commissioner for New Zealand. Also includes some personal papers and memorabilia, including scrapbooks and newspapers cuttings.
    CP 137
  17. National Archives of Australia, National Office: Rankin, Dame Annabelle (1947 - 1971)
    Folders of speeches, press releases and articles about, or delivered by, Dame Annabelle Rankin. This series contains notes for and texts of speeches, transcripts of media broadcasts, press releases and material provided to the media for the preparation of articles and broadcasts. The material covers the period when Dame Annabelle was Senator for Queensland and includes the time when she held the Housing portfolio. A variety of subjects are covered in the speeches and articles. The majority of the series concerns the housing portfolio and related issues such as accommodation for the aged, and the building industry. A significant amount of material relates to social issues in Queensland and includes speeches to local voluntary and service organisations. Local celebrations of the Cook Bi-Centenary and the opening of exhibitions were specific events at which Dame Annabelle spoke. Some election speeches dating from Dame Annabelle's early campaign for the Senate, the 1967 Geelong by-election and referenda in 1967 are also included.
    M1569
  18. National Archives of Australia, National Office: Rankin, Dame Annabelle: Scrapbooks, envelopes and folders of newspaper clippings maintained by Dame Annabelle Rankin (7 Mar 1939 - 30 Aug 1986)
    This series consists of scrapbooks, envelopes and folders of newspaper clippings maintained by The Honourable Dame Annabelle Jane Mary Rankin DBE. The collection was developed from articles in the Australian and New Zealand press. It relates to Dame Annabelle's social life and interests and her political career (as a Senator for Queensland, her fifteen years as Government Whip, and as Minister for Housing in the Holt, Gorton and McMahon governments). It also covers her diplomatic career as Australia's first woman High Commissioner (her appointment was to New Zealand), and latterly, her retirement in Queensland. The series also contains numerous articles written by Dame Annabelle for the Downs Star, the Courier Mail and other newspapers. Among the other topics of apparent interest to Dame Annabelle, and therefore about which there are several clippings, was the sale of 'Brookland', her old family home in Howard, the visits she made to New Zealand, Canada and the United States along with her travels within Australia. Apart from the newspaper clippings, many of the scrapbooks contain telegrams, invitations, brochures and other mementos collected by Dame Annabelle. -
    M2110

Resources by Annabelle Jane Mary Rankin (1)

  1. Papers
    Rankin, Annabelle Jane Mary, 1908-1986
    [ Unpublished ]
    At National Archives
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 11.195)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 11.195)

No Comments for this person

 

Add a comment



Possibly related

Digitised newspapers and more

Searching...

Minimise

Diaries, letters, archives

Searching...

Minimise

Archived websites (1996 – now)

Searching...

Minimise

Pictures, photos, objects

Searching...

Minimise

Books

Searching...

Minimise

Music, sound and video

Searching...

Minimise

People and organisations

Searching...

Minimise

Journals, articles and data sets

Searching...

Minimise

Maps

Searching...

Minimise

Lists

Searching...

Minimise
  1. Dot Rankin
    Created by ritekgirl, 7 items.

    Articles associated with actress Dot Rankin and her family

  2. Roberts
    Created by Harpgirl09, 16 items.

    Family of Nicholas Whear Roberts - His wife Jane Pearce 1844 – 1915; Son John Henry Roberts 1862 – 1932; daughter Mary Jane Roberts 1863 – 1863; daughter Mary Ann Roberts 1864 – 1944; and daughter Cat...

  3. The Williams Family
    Created by RMWilliams, 114 items.

    The family ofMark WILLIAMS (1829-1908)Mary Ann WILLIAMS (1831-1916), Mrs William SWANBOROUGHJane WILLIAMS (1837-1935), Mrs Jesse WIGZELLchildren of John WILLIAMS and Sarah MEACHIN ...

  1. Rankin, Annabelle Jane Mary (1908-1986)
    ... Annabelle Rankin was appointed to the Order of the British Empire - Dames Commander on 13 June 1957 ...
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.146)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.146)

  1. Website: 200 Australian Women
    www.200australianwomen.com
    Matching pages:
    • Annabelle Jane Mary Rankin - 5/11/2007
    • ... Home Annabelle Rankin 1908 - 1986 politician Annabelle Jane Mary Rankin (1908-1986) senator, was born...
    View 5 matching archived pages
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.092)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.092)

  2. Website: Australian Women in War
    www.womenaustralia.info
    Matching pages:
    View 22 matching archived pages
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.086)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.086)

  3. Website: Australian Women's Archives Project
    www.womenaustralia.info
    Matching pages:
    View 22 matching archived pages
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.077)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.077)

Maps

No results

Minimise

Music, sound and video

No results

Minimise
  1. [Rankin, Annabelle Jane Mary : programs and invitations ephemera material collected by the National Library of Australia]
    [ Published : 1900 ]
    At National Library
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.112)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.112)

  2. Papers of William Morris Hughes
    Hughes, W. M. (William Morris), 1862-1952
    [ Unpublished : 1865-1958 ]
    View online
    At National Library
    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0.001)

    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0.001)

  1. Cumulative index to publications of the Committee on Un-American Activities, 1938-1954
    United States. Congress. House. Committee on Un-American Activities
    [ Book : 1962 ]
    read online at Open Library/Internet Archive
    View online
    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0)

    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0)

  2. Foreign service list
    United States. Dept. of State
    [ Book : 1868 ]
    read online at Open Library/Internet Archive
    View online
    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0)

    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0)

  3. U.S. Copyright Renewals, 1961 January - June
    U.S. Copyright Office
    [ Book ]
    read online at Open Library/Internet Archive
    View online
    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0)

    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0)

  4. U.S. Copyright Renewals, 1964 January - June
    U.S. Copyright Office
    [ Book ]
    read online at Open Library/Internet Archive
    View online
    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0)

    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0)

  1. The Hanging Garden
    Kelly, Brendan
    Variety
    [ Article : 1997 ]
    View online (conditions apply)
    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0)

    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0)

  2. DEATHS
    Europe Intelligence Wire
    [ Article : 2009 ]
    View online (conditions apply)
    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0)

    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0)

  3. Six Queensland women parliamentary pioneers
    McCulloch, John
    Hecate
    [ Article : 2005 ]
    View online (conditions apply)
    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0)

    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0)

  4. Birth announcements: Feb. 20
    Knoxville News-Sentinel (Knoxville, TN)
    [ Article : 2011 ]
    View online (conditions apply)
    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0)

    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0)

Pictures, photos, objects

No results

Minimise
  1. Vice-Regal Theatre Party PLAY TO HELP TWO CAUSES
    The Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1933 - 1954) Friday 24 November 1939 p 13 Article
    ... from Page 13.) Miss Pattie Crouch, as sweets con vener, was assisted by Misses Mary McGill, Jean ... Grant, Daphne Smith. Cecilie and Margery Webb. Betty Wcatherlake, Marjory Todd, Jane Har vey, and Joy ... Nancy and Nea Ashburn, Anna belle Rankin, Kathleen Robinson. Jean Mur ray. Neridah Bedwell, Bettye and ... 534 words
    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.005)

    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.005)

  2. Family Notices
    The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1956) Monday 29 May 1950 p 10 Family Notices
    ... Catherine Jane, beloved wife of the late Florence Kelleher. loving mother of John, Mary (Mrs, J. ... daughter. CANAVAN (nee Boswell).-At Strath- more, Preston, to Mary and Alf-a son (Gary James; a ... Rene and Des-a son. RANKIN (Duncan). - On May 24, at Pineville, Geelong, to Kathleen, wife of Colin ... 6326 words
    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.003)

    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.003)

  3. Family Notices
    The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) Saturday 15 August 1925 p 13 Family Notices
    ... memories. ' Inserted by his loving wife »ml chlhlren. RANKIN.-In lo»lng memnrv of mv darling mother, Dorothy Rankin, who departed this life August 15, 10.0, In mv heart vour memofv Unger«, Sivecllv ... loving daughter. Eileen. RANKIN.-In loving memory of our dear mother ind grandmother, Porolhv Rankin, ... 3863 words
    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.003)

    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.003)