The colours originated with the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU), in the UK in 1908. The colours were said to represent: white for purity; purple for dignity, self-reverence and self-respect, and green for hope and new life.
The colours unified the movement and also emphasised the femininity of the suffragettes.
The tricolour of the WSPU soon became a visual cue for the women's movement in Australia. Purple, green and white were worn on International Women's Day and were used for other women's movement banners and posters.
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