The State Parliament has announced it is breaking with custom and has commissioned portraits of two ground-breaking women to hang in Parliament House.

Portraits of this type are usually reserved for former Premiers.

One of those to be painted is the first woman elected to the Legislative Assembly, Lady Millie Peacock.

Lady Peacock was born Millie Holden in East Framlingham, was educated in Port Fairy and at Methodist Ladies College.

She was elected at a by-election in 1933 to replace her husband Sir Alexander Peacock, a three time Premier of Victoria, following his death.

Member for South West Coast Roma Britnell says she is forever grateful for women like Lady Peacock, and well know south-west born suffragette Vida Goldstein, who helped pave the way for women like her to be able to be elected to Parliament.