Program for Celebrations for the opening of the First Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia, from 6th to 16th May 1901 opening during the visit of their Royal Highnesses of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York 48 page program, printed in sepia ink includes photographs, maps and portraits of parliamentary officials

Document. Illuminated request. Opening of the Parliament of the Commonwealth by his Royal Highness, the Duke of Cornwall and York. the government of Victoria requests the honour of the presence of The Secretary, Shire of McIvor and Lady (Mr H. D. Thomas) at the Celebrations in Melbourne in connection with the Opening of the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia.

Memorabilia. Celebration of the opening of the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia. To meet Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall & York. Being held as an Eveniing reception at the Exhibition Building Melbourne, on the 9th of May 1901,at 8 oclock.

The correspondent of The Argus recorded that: "The Parliament of the Commonwealth was opened yesterday by the Duke, of Cornwall and York, under a Commission signed by Queen Victoria and subsequently endorsed by King Edward VII. The ceremony was marked by the splendour and solemn impressiveness which befitted its historic importance. ... To-day the Heir to the Throne will review some 15,000 Australian troops at Flemington. ... It is a function which, on a lesser scale, might have been arranged at any time for many years past; but it could never previously have conveyed the meaning it does now. Soldiering was popularly regarded as a pastime here until South Africa tried the mettle of our men. It is serious business from henceforth. Those who followed the nascent aspirations of the volunteer soldiery in Australia must be impressed at the rapidity of their fulfillment. ... The document design has artistic and aesthetic merit. While it is not rare, it is representative of the kinds of formal designs used for the Australian Commonwealth celebrations at the time of Federation, and is in excellent condition. Such items as this invitation have local, state and national historic significance as mementoes of a key moment in Australia's history. Locally, the invitation is part of a group of Federation-related items issued to James Maitland Campbell (and his wife). Campbell was three times mayor of Kew in the second half of the 19th Century and the owner of Ramornie in Pakington Street, one of the significant extant mansions in Kew. An invitation, mounted on card to the Royal Review held at Flemington racecourse on Friday 10 May 1901, as part of the Government of Victoria's Australian Commonwealth Celebrations. The border is vividly decorated with flags, shields and a large coat of arms. The photographic images depict various scenes of Flemington in Melbourne, in addition to two separate portraits of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York. Illustrations of military servicemen on foot and horseback flank the central block of text. The invitation was addressed to Mr & Mrs J. M. Campbell. James Maitland Campbell had been Mayor of Kew in the years 1889-90, 1890-91 and 1892-93.Printed: AUSTRALIAN COMMONWEALTH CELEBRATIONS/ The Government of Victoria/ requests the honour of the presence of/ .../ AT THE/ ROYAL REVIEW/ at Flemington on Friday/ the 10th of May 1901. Handwritten on the dotted line: Mr. & Mrs. J. M. Campbellfederation events, royal review - 1901, james maitland campbell, federation -- invitations

The commemorative booklet 'Our Invited Guests for the Opening of the First Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia : An open directory of the guests invited to Melbourne, May 9th 1901' lists invitees from each Australian State. The Misses Dowling are not on this list, however the booklet does list The Hon Thomas Dowling MLC, and his "lady" from Camperdown as well as Edwin Percy Dowling esq, Shire Secretary of Camperdown. Perhaps the Misses Dowling were part of this family. While not invited to the opening of Parliament on the 9th, the guest list for later events may have been extended on other occasions.The document design has artistic and aesthetic merit. While it is not rare, it is representative of the kinds of formal designs used for the Australian Commonwealth celebrations at the time of Federation, and is in excellent condition. Such items as this invitation have local, state and national historic significance as mementoes of a key moment in Australia's history. An invitation on card to the Misses Dowling to attend an evening reception at the Exhibition Building, Melbourne, on 9 May 1901, to meet the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall as part of the celebrations of the opening of the first Federal Parliament. A figure of Britannia, in red dress and mailed vest holding a shield like the Union Jack, is on the left of the invitation; she reaches out her hand towards a younger female figure, representing Australia, who is dressed in blue and holds a shield which is white with a blue cross decorated with stars. The writing is on a scroll in the centre of the certificate, and there is a border of vines and vine leaves. The royal crest is at the base of the certificate.Printed on a banner across the top: 'IN CELEBRATION / OF THE / OPENING / PARLIAMENT of the COMMONWEALTH / OF AUSTRALIA' Printed below the banner: 'To meet Their Royal Highness / the DUKE and DUCHESS of CORNWALL & / YORK / His Majesty's / MINISTERS OF STATE FOR AUSTRALIA / have the honor to invite / [handwritten] The Misses Dowling / to an Evening Reception at the / Exhibition Building MELBOURNE, / on the 9th of May 1901, at 8 o'clock'.federation events - victoria, australian federation 1901, misses dowling - kew, royal visits, federation events - victoria, australain federation 1901, misses dowling, royal visits, melbourne exhibition building

The commemorative booklet 'Our Invited Guests for the Opening of the First Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia : An open directory of the guests invited to Melbourne, May 9th 1901' lists invitees from each Australian State. Mr & Mrs. J. M. Campbell are on this list, and recoded as residing at "Ramornie" 40 Pakington Street, Kew.The document design has artistic and aesthetic merit. While it is not rare, it is representative of the kinds of formal designs used for the Australian Commonwealth celebrations at the time of Federation, and is in excellent condition. Such items as this invitation have local, state and national historic significance as mementoes of a key moment in Australia's history. Locally, the invitation is part of a group of Federation-related items issued to James Maitland Campbell (and his wife). Campbell was three times mayor of Kew in the second half of the 19th Century and the owner of Ramornie in Pakington Street, one of the significant extant mansions in Kew.An invitation on card to Mr. & Mrs J. M. Campbell to attend an evening reception at the Exhibition Building, Melbourne, on 9 May 1901, to meet the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall as part of the celebrations of the opening of the first Federal Parliament. A figure of Britannia, in red dress and mailed vest holding a shield like the Union Jack, is on the left of the invitation; she reaches out her hand towards a younger female figure, representing Australia, who is dressed in blue and holds a shield which is white with a blue cross decorated with stars. The writing is on a scroll in the centre of the certificate, and there is a border of vines and vine leaves. The royal crest is at the base of the certificate.Printed on a banner across the top: 'IN CELEBRATION / OF THE / OPENING / PARLIAMENT of the COMMONWEALTH / OF AUSTRALIA' Printed below the banner: 'To meet Their Royal Highness / the DUKE and DUCHESS of CORNWALL & / YORK / His Majesty's / MINISTERS OF STATE FOR AUSTRALIA / have the honor to invite / [handwritten] Mr. & Mrs J. M. Campbell / to an Evening Reception at the / Exhibition Building MELBOURNE, / on the 9th of May 1901, at 8 o'clock'.federation -- australia -- 1901, parliament -- australia, invitations -- 1901

The Correspondent for The Argus on 10 May 1901 described the opening on 9 May as: "The Parliament of the Commonwealth was opened yesterday by the Duke, of Cornwall and York, under a Commission signed by Queen Victoria and subsequently endorsed by King Edward VII. The ceremony was marked by the splendour and solemn impressiveness which befitted its historic importance. An immense assemblage of spectators, drawn mainly, of course, from this state, but in part also from each of the other federated states, and including representatives of other portions of the British Empire and of foreign powers, thronged the spacious, stately, and joyously decorated edifice. The picture was magnificent. It must have printed itself indelibly on the sensitive minds of the thousands of Australians who were privileged to behold it. We may assume that artists will reproduce it in worthy and imperishable forms, and that from generation to generation it will be familiar in the households of the Commonwealth. Our children's children, we may gladly say to-day, will not be ashamed of the function which inaugurated the self-governing rights of the southern British Nation. Nothing was omitted which could add to the grandeur and significance of the occasion. In a broad sense the proceedings were perfectly intelligible to the vast and sympathetic gathering, though the natural limits of a single human voice had to be accepted. The King's son, with his consort and the Governor-General and Lady Hopetoun by his side, and supported by the Governors of the states and other eminent personages, fulfilled his doubly-attested Commission with a simple dignity and a modest manliness altogether admirable. The ceremony was a brilliant spectacle, and, in its sentiment and suggestiveness, an inspiration to a loyal and patriotic people."The document design has artistic and aesthetic merit. While it is not rare, it is representative of the kinds of formal designs used for the Australian Commonwealth celebrations at the time of Federation, and is in excellent condition. Such items as this invitation have local, state and national historic significance as mementoes of a key moment in Australia's history. Locally, the invitation is part of a group of Federation-related items issued to James Maitland Campbell (and his wife). Campbell was three times mayor of Kew in the second half of the 19th Century and the owner of Ramornie in Pakington Street, one of the significant extant mansions in Kew.A colour lithograph mounted on card which is an invitation to the Opening of the First Commonwealth Parliament of Australia, 9 May 1901. The invitation was sent to Mr J.M. & Mrs Campbell. John Longstaff and Norman Lindsay’s design for the invitation includes symbolic female figures and coats of arms of the British and Australian Commonwealth. The central figure represents Justice. At her feet a crown and sceptre are laid, ‘to denote that the monarch will always acquiesce in laws passed by Parliament, provided they are just.’ On the left appears a figure of Britannia, above the royal coat of arms and in front of the white cliffs of England; on the right is a female figure representing Australia, with one hand out-stretched and above the Australian Coat of Arms. Behind her is a pastoral scene; she stands beneath a gum tree. At the top is a border of waratahs; on the left is a border of oak. The six states are represented in shields at the bottom of the card.Front, printed. gold ink: "Opening of the Parliament of the Commonwealth By his Royal Highness The Duke of Cornwall and York / The Government of Victoria requests the honour of the presence of / Mr. J . M. and Mrs. Campbell (handwritten / At the Celebrations in Melbourne in connection with the Opening of the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia."parliament of australia -- 1901, royal exhibition building -- melbourne (vic), james maitland campbell

The correspondent of The Argus recorded that: "The Parliament of the Commonwealth was opened yesterday by the Duke, of Cornwall and York, under a Commission signed by Queen Victoria and subsequently endorsed by King Edward VII. The ceremony was marked by the splendour and solemn impressiveness which befitted its historic importance. ... To-day the Heir to the Throne will review some 15,000 Australian troops at Flemington. ... It is a function which, on a lesser scale, might have been arranged at any time for many years past; but it could never previously have conveyed the meaning it does now. Soldiering was popularly regarded as a pastime here until South Africa tried the mettle of our men. It is serious business from henceforth. Those who followed the nascent aspirations of the volunteer soldiery in Australia must be impressed at the rapidity of their fulfillment. ... The document design has artistic and aesthetic merit. While it is not rare, it is representative of the kinds of formal designs used for the Australian Commonwealth celebrations at the time of Federation, and is in excellent condition. Such items as this invitation have local, state and national historic significance as mementoes of a key moment in Australia's history. Locally, the invitation is part of a group of Federation-related items owned and displayed at 'Fairyland' by Mrs Grace Tabulo, and a rare survivor of that collection.An invitation, mounted on card to the Royal Review held at Flemington racecourse on Friday 10 May 1901, as part of the Government of Victoria's Australian Commonwealth Celebrations. The border is vividly decorated with flags, shields and a large coat of arms. The photographic images depict various scenes of Flemington in Melbourne, in addition to two separate portraits of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York. Illustrations of military servicemen on foot and horseback flank the central block of text. The invitation was part of the 'Fairyland Collection assembled by Jim and Grace Tabulo. The name on the certificate was expunged.Printed: AUSTRALIAN COMMONWEALTH CELEBRATIONS/ The Government of Victoria/ requests the honour of the presence of/ [name deleted] / AT THE/ ROYAL REVIEW/ at Flemington on Friday/ the 10th of May 1901. Reverse: Mrs G. Tabulo, 57 Malmsbury St.federation events, royal review - 1901, federation -- invitations, grace tabulo -- fairyland -- 57 malmsbury street -- kew (vic.)

Badge was almost certainly produced as part of the Federation celebrations in 1901. The couple pictured are identified as George and Mary, the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York (later King George V and Queen Mary, 1910-36). They visited Australia in 1901 for the innauguration of Federal Parliament.royal visits