The coronation of Elizabeth II as queen of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms took place on 2 June 1953 at Westminster Abbey in London. She acceded to the throne at the age of 25 upon the death of her father, George VI, on 6 February 1952, being proclaimed queen by her privy and executive councils shortly afterwards. The coronation was held more than one year later because of the tradition of allowing an appropriate length of time to pass after a monarch dies. It also gave the planning committees adequate time to make preparations for the ceremony. During the service, Elizabeth took an oath, was anointed with holy oil, was invested with robes and regalia, and was crowned Queen of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan, and Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). Celebrations took place across the Commonwealth realms and a commemorative medal was issued. It was the first British coronation to be fully televised; television cameras were not allowed inside the abbey during her parents' coronation in 1937. Elizabeth's was the fourth and final British coronation of the 20th century. It was estimated to have cost £1.57 million (c. £53,571,428 in 2023).Scout and Guide Coronation Service of Thanksgiving. In the presence of His Excellency the Governor, State Chief Scout and Lady George, state president of the girl guides, Adelaide town Hall Sunday 21 June 1953 - four pages.history, bendigo, boy scouts, girl guides

Commonwealth Day (formerly Empire Day) is the annual celebration of the Commonwealth of Nations, since 1977 often held on the second Monday in March. It is marked by an Anglican service in Westminster Abbey, normally attended by the monarch as Head of the Commonwealth along with the Commonwealth Secretary-General and Commonwealth High Commissioners in London. The monarch delivers a broadcast address to the Commonwealth. While it has a certain official status, Commonwealth Day is not a public holiday in most Commonwealth countries, and there is little public awareness of it. It is marked as a holiday in Gibraltar, but not in March. In Canada "Victoria Day" is celebrated on the Monday closest to 24 May (Queen Victoria's birthday).Empire Youth Sunday - A Dedication Service - 3rd May 1953 - hymns, prayers and the meanings of the coronation symbols, six pages.history, bendigo, empire youth sunday, empire day, commonwealth day

The Royal Princess Theatre was opened on 31st August 1874. The cost of the building was £12,000 with a capacity of 2,000 people. The building was designed by William Charles Vahland. The site was at the corner of View Street and McKenzie Street, with the frontage facing View Street. The auditorium was on three levels and seated 650 in the pit (rear stalls), 200 in the stalls, 250 in the dress circle and 850 in the gallery. A further 50 were seated in the six stage boxes. The frontage of the theatre was 80ft wide x 60ft, which inside the auditorium the proscenium was 30ft wide by 18ft high. The stage was 56ft deep. Stage lighting at the time was by gas until the Electric Supply Co, of Victoria Ltd. had DC power available in 1898. The theatre was described as comparable to anything Drury Lane in London had to offer. The original proprietor’s of the theatre John Croley died on 26th March 1899 aged 72 years, while William Billy Heffernan died 23rd March 1891 aged 81 years.The Royal Princess Theatre Bendigo History Notes, provided by Fred Page for the Bendigo Historical Society. Three pages of notes and photographs photocopied from an unknown book pp 24 - 26.history, bendigo, royal princess theatre

Wooden walking stick with silver plaque around top section, with an ornate silver decoration beneath the handgrip on top. Plaque around top of stick is inscribed with 'Presented to Senior Costable J. Barry by D.C. Sterry. The plaque is sterling silver, hallmarked in Bermingham 1898-1899, to indicate that the content in the alloy is at least 925 parts per thousand. The makers mark 'SM', is Sidney Morrison and Co., registered as gold and silver mounters, of 28 Monkwell Street, London. Handgrip is cream ivory colour. The donors of this item believe that the plaque may have originally been on the walking stick (3822.9) and at some stage removed and placed on the walking stick with the handle. A definite mark is evident on the other walking stick where the plaque was originally placed and allegedly removed.SM Sidney Morrison and Co., London.person, bendigo, john barry, bendigo, police force, john barry, d. sterry