Governor-General Quentin Bryce signs Julia Gillard’s commission as prime minister of Australia at Government House, Canberra, 24 June 2010

On 24 June 2010, the first female governor-general of Australia, Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce AC, swore in the first female prime minister, Ms Julia Gillard. This day was a milestone in Australian politics because women filled the two highest positions in the country at the same time, 116 years after women first won the vote in South Australia.