Shining a light: female investors in the Australian Gas Light Company, 1836-1940

A developing literature points to women's growing significance in the Australian colonial economy, particularly as business owners. We investigate whether they were also active company investors, as evidence from countries such as Britain and America indicates. The Australian Gas Light Company, one of Australia's oldest and largest enterprises, shines a light on female investors across a century since its formation in 1836. We reveal a sharp increase in the number and share of female shareholders from the second half of the nineteenth century, many of whom were independent investors. Despite graduated voting rights that offered small female investors a say in the company, in practice their influence was constrained by the behaviours and attitudes among male investors.