The correspondent of the Argus on 10 May 1901 wrote: "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 owned by Mrs Grace Tabulo, and displayed at her home - Fairyland - at 57 Malmsbury Street, KewAn invitation, mounted on card to 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. Front, printed. gold ink: "His Majesty's Ministers of State for the Commonwealth of Australia request the honour of the presence of / ****l (handwritten) / In the Exhibition Building, Melbourne, on Thursday, 9th May, 1901, to witness / the Opening of the Parliament of the Commonwealth. / Edmund Barton / Prime Minister." Front, bottom left, printed: "The Young Queen / Her hand was still on her sword hilt - the spur was still on her heel ... (and further text) KIPLING'S COMMONWEALTH ODE." Reverse: Mrs G. Tabulo, 57 Malmsbury Streetaustralia -- federation -- 1901, invitations, parliament -- opening -- 1901, grace tabulo -- fairyland -- 57 malmsbury street -- kew (vic.)

A report in the Ballarat Star on 8 May 1901 recorded that: "THE CONVERSAZIONE. A GREAT SUCCESS. The conversazion given by the Government of Victoria at the Exhibition was very largely patronised. the guests includ ing the Prime Minister and a goodly proportion of the distinguished personages now in Melbourne. A programme of high-class music was gone through, and refreshments were served during the evening. Australian wines were very prominent."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 by Mrs Grace Tabulo, the owner of 'Fairyland', 57 Malmsbury Street, Kew.Colour lithograph mounted on card to an evening event, a conversazione, held in the Exhibition Building on the evening of Tuesday 7th May 1901, as part of the Australian Commonwealth Celebrations. The Government of Victoria hosted the event. The invitation shows an etching of the Exhibition Building, surrounded by an ornate border of heraldic shields, portraits of the Duke and Duchess, views of Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Hobart, and native flora (including wattle, waratah, pink heath, Sturt’s desert pea, and flannel flower), and native fauna (kookaburra, possum, lyre bird, cockatoo and koala). The royal crest ‘Dieu et mon droit’ and the Australian crest, ‘Advance Australia’ are also included.Printed front: UNITED AUSTRALIA 1901 / ONE FLAG / ONE HOPE / ONE DESTINY; AUSTRALIAN COMMONWEALTH CELEBRATIONS / THE GOVERNMENT OF VICTORIA requests the honour of the presence of / [name deleted] / at a Conversazione in the Exhibition Building on the Evening of Tuesday 7th May 1901 at 8 P.M. Reverse [handwritten]: Mrs G. Tabulo, 57 Malmsbury St.sands & mcdougall ltd, documents - invitations, first commonwealth parliament 1901, 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

NSW Mounted Rifles officer's mess dress waistcoat worn by Lieutenant William Augustine Newman (1873-1955) during the Second Boer War. Born in Campbelltown, NSW, William began working in the colonial public service at the age of eighteen. In 1899 he travelled to South Africa to fight in the Second Boer War as an officer of the 1st NSW Mounted Rifles. Returning to Australia in time for Federation on 1 January 1901, William rejoined the public service and was appointed to the original staff of Prime Minister Sir Edmund Barton, attending the first opening of Federal Parliament in Melbourne as Barton's private secretary. He went on to serve as the chief clerk of the Home Affairs Department, Commonwealth Electoral Officer for Victoria and official secretary to the Governor-General. In 1927 he was appointed Administrator of Nauru, a position he occupied until his retirement at the end of 1932. He retired to Brighton, where he lived with his family at 43 Martin Street until his death in 1955.Black NSW Mounted Rifles officer's mess dress waistcoat. Black superfine wool front, with black cotton back and cream cotton lining. The neck, front and bottom front edge are edged with gold metal lace and gold cording in an Austrian knot style. Two front pockets are edged in the same looped cording. The left front opening is edged with a row of decorative gold metal studs, with hook and eye fastenings underneath.Handwritten in pen on lining: "MESS WAISTCOAT / BOER WAR / LIEUT. NEWMAN / Gift of Mrs. D. Kelly, daughter".military uniform, nsw mounted rifles, boer war, william augustine newman

One of the many badges issued to celebrate the Federation of Australia. The colonies of Australia were federated into the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901. The first parliament was held in Melbourne in May, 1901 in the newly established capital of Australia, Canberra, the federal parliament sat in 1927.Australian shaped stylised pin attached to original card with wrapping.federation

Roy Staughton was a member of the Staughton family who were among the early and prominent pastoralists in the Bacchus Marsh and Melton area. His Father was Samuel Thomas Staughton Snr a member of the Parliament of Victoria for over 20 years and whose properties included Eynesbury near Melton. Samuel Staughton died in 1901. In 1910 while working in New South Wales Roy Staughton contracted Typhoid and died aged only 22. This portrait was first presented to the Bacchus Marsh Branch of the Australian Natives Association a few months after his death by his Mother Mrs. Eliza. Staughton, Framed portrait photograph of Roy Staughton. The image is framed within an oval shaped inner frame with an inscribed plaque at the bottom of the frame which reads: ‘Mr Roy Staughton, born May 16th 1888, Died Feby (sic) 22nd 1910’.‘Mr Roy Staughton, born May 16th 1888, Died Feby (sic) 22nd 1910’.roy staughton 1888-1910, staughton family bacchus marsh

A framed photo of the first president of Melbourne Legacy, Legatee Harold Cohen. Harold Edward Cohen (1881-1946), soldier, lawyer, politician and businessman, was born on 25 November 1881. In 1901 Cohen was commissioned in the Field Artillery Brigade, Australian Military Forces, and was promoted captain in 1905 and major in 1909. In 1915 he was appointed commanding officer of the 6th Army Brigade, Australian Field Artillery Regiment, Australian Imperial Force, with the rank of lieutenant-colonel, serving in the Middle East, England and France until June 1919. Twice wounded and twice mentioned in dispatches, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order in 1917 and created C.M.G. in 1918. He was awarded the Volunteer Decoration in 1921 and the CBE in 1934. In 1929 Brigadier Cohen entered Parliament as the member for Melbourne South in the Legislative Council, and in 1935 transferred to the Assembly as member for Caulfield, which seat he held until 1943. During the Second World War Brigadier Cohen served in the Middle East as honorary Red Cross Commissioner overseas. Returning to Australia in 1942 he was appointed director of amenities, and subsequently Deputy Adjutant-General to the AMF, which post he held until his retirement in 1944.A record of the past presidents being honoured in a prominent position at Legacy House.Black and white photograph in a wooden frame of Legatee Harold Cohen.Plaque on the frame is engraved 'Legatee Harold Cohen First President, Melbourne Legacy 1923-24'.past presidents, harold cohen

Commemorating the opening of the Australian Federal Parliament in 1901. Property of late Hilda Sebire as a child (1899 - 1906)Commemorative medal, gold crest shape with yellow ribbon.commemorative medals

This gilt bronze medal was issued to school children to commemorate the opening of the first Australian Federal Parliament which opened in Melbourne on 9 May, 1901. This item was used to commemorate an important Australian historical event.A gilt bronze medal in a shield shape with a crown at the top. On on the obverse side are images of Queen Victoria and Edward VII and an inscription. On the reverse side are images of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York and an inscription.Obverse side at top: "AUST. COMMONWEALTH/EST. 1 JAN. 1901/63D of VICTORIA, R.I". Below the images "FIRST PARLIAMENT OPENED/MAY 1902/1ST of EDWARD VII. Along the bottom rim: WA TAS NSW VIC SA QLD. Reverse side at the top:" OPENING OF THE FIRST /FEDERAL PARLIAMENT". Below the images: "T.R.H/ THE DUKE & DUCHESS OF CORNWALL/AND , MAY 1904"medallion, australian federal parliament opening, federal parliament melbourne

A book bound in red leather-look fabric. The book features facsimiles of the addresses made to the Duke of Cornwall and York and the Governor-General, facsimile pages showing signatures of mayors, councillors and town clerks, views of municipal buildings, and the replies sent by the Duke and Governor-General.This book titled 'Addresses to His Royal Highness the Duke of Cornwall and York and to His Excellency the Governor-General From The Municipalities of Victoria' was published by the Municipal Association of Victoria to commemorate the inauguration of the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901. It was printed by McCarron, Bird & Co in Melbourne. It contains copies of messages from each of the municipalities of Victoria. The addresses were made on the occasion of the Duke & Duchess of Cornwall & York's visit to Melbourne in May 1901. They were in the city for the opening of Federal Parliament which took place at the Exhibition Building in Carlton Gardens on 9 May 1901. The image of the message representing the Shire of Wodonga is signed by Henry Beardmore (President), Councillors John Bassett, W McFarlane, Robert Morrison, Geo. Leighton, James Henry McGeoch, A. E. Muller, John Whan, Joseph Pollard and Secretary John Woodland.australian federation 1901, municipal governments victoria, duke of cornwall

This book was published by the Municipal Association of Victoria to commemorate the inauguration of the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901. The addresses were made on the occasion of the Duke &​ Duchess of Cornwall &​ York's visit to Melbourne for the opening of Federal Parliament at the Royal Exhibition Buildings in Carlton Gardens on 9 May 1901.Red hard cover book with gold gilded text. federation, royalty, municipal

A newspaper photo of returned servicemen and nurses marching past the original First World War memorial during an Anzac Day march in 1928. It was published as a centre page spread on 5 May 1928 in the The Weekly Times. '25,000 Returned Soldiers, Headed By Their Leader, Sir John Monash, Marched Past The Cenotaph On Anzac Day.' A war memorial to the 1914-1918 war was originally erected in Spring Street outside the Victorian Parliament Building (at that time it was the being used by the Australian Federal Parliament, from 1901-1927 when it moved to Canberra). Anzac Day services were held at this memorial in the 1920s and early 1930s. Items were in an envelope with other photos and programmes from different items relating to the Shrine of Remembrance - including discussions on its location and design. Labelled 'Shrine of Remembrance S1 - S14' it was part of an old archive numbering system (S=Shrine), that showed there has been efforts in the past to collect, order and save items of Legacy's history. From articles in Trove: The temporary cenotaph was the original first world war memorial until the Shrine of Remembrance was dedicated in 1937. The cenotaph was a half size replica of the London Symbol of Remembrance in Whitehall. It was made from timber and plaster and was initially meant to only last for the 1926 Anzac day service and be removed. With annual upkeep it remained until at least 1934 when ex-service men proceeded from the incomplete Shrine to the cenotaph on the steps of Parliament House on Anzac day.A record of an Anzac Day ceremony at the old First World War memorial in Spring Street in 1928. Not many photos are available of the original memorial. The size of the march past (reported as 25,000 soldiers) points to the enormous number of Victorians who served in the First World War. Black and white newspaper article about ANZAC Day at the old First World War memorial in Spring Street in 1928.Title: '25,000 Returned Soldiers, Headed By Their Leader, Sir John Monash, Marched Past The Cenotaph On Anzac Day.' Caption: " Scene at Parliament House, Melbourne, where the Governor, Lord Somers, took the salute, as returned Soldiers and Nurses passed, on they way to the Commemorative Service at the Exhibition.'anzac day, wreath laying ceremony

A portrait of Legatee Harold Edward Cohen CMG, CBE, DSO, VD, MLC, he served in both World Wars, attained the rank of Brigadier. He was the first president of Legacy in 1923 to 1924. The portrait was in an album of photos taken in the 1940s (mostly 1945). Harold Edward Cohen (1881-1946), soldier, lawyer, politician and businessman, was born on 25 November 1881. His early interest in soldiering led to him being first commissioned in the Australian Military Forces in 1901 in the Field Artillery. On the outbreak of the First World War he took overseas the 6th Australian Field Artillery Brigade, seeing service in France and Egypt, and being awarded the CMG and DSO, and being twice mentioned in despatches. He was twice wounded in action. He was awarded the Volunteer Decoration in 1921 and the CBE in 1934. In 1929 Brigadier Cohen entered Parliament as the member for Melbourne South in the Legislative Council, and in 1935 transferred to the Assembly as member for Caulfield, which seat he held until 1943. During the Second World War Brigadier Cohen served in the Middle East as honorary Red Cross Commissioner overseas. Returning to Australia in 1942 he was appointed director of amenities, and subsequently Deputy Adjutant-General to the AMF, which post he held until his retirement in 1944. A different photo of Legatee Cohen is framed and hung in the Level 2 function room (see 03991).A record of a prominent legatee who was President of Legacy.Black and white portrait of Harold E Cohen, who was the first president of Legacy in 1923. Part of a photo album with blue leather look back and front cover. From one of 20 pages with black and white photos.legatee, portrait, past president, harold cohen

Presented to Australian school children on the opening of the First Federal Parliament in May 1901. The opening of Parliament was attended by the Duke and Duchess of Cornwell and York. The Australian states became a Federation during the reign of Queen Victoria, however by the time Parliament opened, Edward VII had ascended the throne.Gilt bronze medal, in shape of shield, with crown at top. Obverse of medal has portraits of Queen Victoria and King Edward VII, and wording "Aust. Commonwealth Est 1 Jan 1901 / 63D. of Victoria, R. I. / First Parliament Opened May 1901-1st of Edward V11". Reverse of medal has portraits of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York, and wording "Opening of the First Federal Parliament / TRH The Duke and Duchess of Cornwell and York / Melbourne, May 1901".medals, australian federation 1901, parliament of australia

Invitations received by 'George Hale and Lady' for functions associated with the Opening of the Commonwealth Parliament in Melbourne in 1901. George Hale was the Buninyong Shire Secretary at the time.Framed set of six full sized photographic copies of invitations to events associated with the opening of the Commonwealth Parliament in 1901. Set in a dark brown wooden frame with green mountboard. Issued to George Hale, Buninyong Shire Secretary.commonwealth of australia, federation, parliament

These type of cigarette silks were included in WD & HO Wills cigarette packets to induce women in particular to take up smoking.|The Word 'Cartophilic?|It is believed that this unusual word was coined in the 1920s by Col. Bagnall, an Englishman, who was the father of the hobby of cigarette card and trade card collecting. It is thought to be a combination of a Latin word, 'carto' meaning 'card and the Greek word 'philic', meaning 'love'.- lover of cards. The term originally related to the collection of the two types mentioned, however, our Society has included postcards in the range of items collected by our members.|The Cigarette Card|The cigarette card began its evolution in the United States of America, in the early 1880s as a plain piece of cardboard used by tobacconists to protect the cigarettes which were sold in that era, not in packets, but loosely. A purchaser would buy his cigarettes then wrap them in paper around the small piece of cardboard, which acted as a stiffener. In fact, for many decades, cigarette cards were known as 'stiffeners' in the USA.|The card depicting 'The Marquis of Lome' is reputed to be the first known cigarette card issued. This is thought to have been in 1879. It did not take long for an enterprising entrepreneur to recognise the advertising potential of the cigarette card, and, very soon, the cards began displaying popular images, often in sets. This had the effect of youngsters, wishing to complete their sets, harassing their fathers to buy a specific brand of cigarettes. The kids who collected cards in the days when they were being issued in the cigarette packets, would hang around outside the local tobacconist's shop, pestering the men who had just bought a packet of cigarette, with the cry: 'can I have the cig can mister?'|It is a proven fact that, here in Australia during the 1930s, at least one set had one card deliberately withheld and issued very sparingly. This card is No. 86 (Mrs Jack Crawford) in the Carreras 'Turf Personality Series'. Thus, in a set of reasonably easy cards to get, this one card is a constant source of frustration for the collector, and as such, commands a premium when it comes to price. It is not hard to imagine the young collector nagging his to Dad to keep buying 'Turf' cigarettes to enable him to finish the set.|From small beginnings the cigarette card soon gave rise to a booming industry in itself. Artists and writers were|employed to produce the cards, which were miniature works of art and served as little encyclopaedia's for the children of the day. By the 1930s cards were being issued in the countless millions. It has been stated, in one book on the history of cards; that 450 million sets of a series produced and issued by the prolific issuer of cards in the United Kingdom, WD & HO Wills. As each set contained 50 cards you would need a calculator with a very long result window to see the answer to how many cards of that series were in circulation.|Australia's involvement would appear to have its beginnings with the English and American firms who shipped their tobacco products here and the cards of American Tobacco Company (ATC) are found in great numbers in early Australian collections; many featuring Australian subjects, e.g. 'Australian Parliament a 1901 issue. Earlier U.S. sets depicting Australians included Goodwin & Co's, so called. 'Australian Series' with cricketers and Australian Rules footballers who were on the sporting scene during the 1880s. The caption of one of theses cards reads:|'W.Hannysee. Captain Port Melbourne Football Club' which enables us to pinpoint the year of issue to either 1889 or 1890.|On the Australian scene the first local manufacturer who issued cards seems to have been The National Cigarette Company of Australia Proprietary Limited, whose 'Tally Ho' packets contained cards from a series of thirteen featuring the touring 'English Cricket Team 1897-8' Of the few Australian manufacturers who issued cards, only two companies issued more the two sets.|Undoubtedly the cards issued by the Melbourne firm Sniders & Abrahams (later Sniders & Abrahams Pty Ltd) are the 'jewels in the crown' of Australian card issues. They issued some thirty-three series, with numerous sub-series and allied issues such as metal badges, metal football shields, celluloid flags etc., which ensured that the hobbyist had a vast range from which to collect. Sporting themes – football, cricket, horse racing – dominate, indicating the Australians' love of sport and the outdoors was as strong in those earlier times as it is today. Military, animals and birds themes were also to the fore, with a touch of culture being provided by 'Shakespeare', 'Dickens', actresses and even classical 'Statuary'. Humour was not forgotten with 'Cartoons and Caricatures', 'Naval and Cricket (double meaning) Terms' and the 'Jokes' series. Art and history were covered by the artist, S.T. Gill's 'Views of Victoria in 1857' while the stereoscopic 'Views of the World' expanded the collectors' knowledge of the world as a whole.|The Sniders & Abrahams series began in 1904 and by 1919 the company was in decline and was eventually taken over by G.G. Goode & Co. Ltd. This company produced one set only, the highly collectable 'Prominent Cricketer Series' issued in 1924. During the early to mid-1920s, J.J. Schuh Tobacco Pty Ltd issued eight series, again containing the popular subjects of sport and war. At least two provincial tobacconists, Lentens of Bendigo and Baillies of Warrnambool, issued private football series. The last series of cards issued by a truly Australian firm was Dudgeon & Arnell's '1934 Australian Cricket Team'.|The Australian market was not neglected by the English companies with WD & HO Wills, Godfrey Phillips and Ogdens all making their contributions. By far the most active issuer was the long-established company Wills, whose 'Cricketers' of 1901 heralded the flood of Australian series, which continued into the mid-thirties.|The onset of the 1939-45 World War sounded the death knell of the cigarette card and very few post-war issues were made, certainly not here in Australia.|The Trade Card|The Trade Card is a non-tobacco item used by manufacturers to promote and advertise their products, in the same way that cigarette cards were. It is uncertain exactly when they were first produced, but in the USA, non-collectable cards were issued by firms in the early 1800s. These were more akin to a latter day 'business card'. It was not until the 1850s, when coloured and pictorial cards were issued to advertise and promote products that the Trade Card|became a collectable item. Many beautiful lithographic cards were produced in this early era and they are very mu sought after by collectors. By the 1870s the issues of Trade Cards became more prolific and it is from this era that more cards are seen.|Again, it is difficult to pinpoint the exact date of the first Australian Trade Card and it may be that the highly collectable and extremely rare 'American Candy Co's' - 'Pure Caramels' Australian Rules football card, issued i 1891, is the earliest series. This confectionery firm was located in Fitzroy, a Melbourne suburb. To date only two subjects have been seen.|Another early set was 'Flags', issued by F.H.Fauldings & Co. It featured testimonials of seven English cricketers who toured Australia with the 1894/5 Test team. Fauldings was an Adelaide based firm which manufactured medicinal toiletries, soaps and oils, using the distinctly Australian eucalyptus oil. During the 20th century a multitude of Australian businesses issued trade cards, with confectionery manufacturers such as Hoadleys, Allens, Sweetacres and Australian Licorice producing the majority of them. Again sporting themes dominated with the ever popular Aussie Rules football cards being the most numerous. Cricket issues ran a close second.|Apart from sporting cards, almost every subject imaginable was covered by the Trade Card, making it the most diverse and interesting branch of cartophilly. In contrast to the Cigarette Card, which had its demise prior to the Second World War, the Trade Card is still alive and well.|We all are aware of the long running 'Birds of Australasia' series put out by Tuck-fields Tea and 1 doubt if there is a kitchen drawer in Australia that has not got one or two of these informative and attractive cards floating about in it. These cards were first produced in the early 1960s and are still being inserted in that company's packets of tea. Such is also the case with Sanitarium Health Foods, manufacturers of the well known Weetbix, who began issuing cards, with a wide range of subjects, in the early 1940s and continue to do so.|The 1940s and 1950s saw the two breakfast food giants, Kornies and Weeties dominating the card scene. Kornies footballers were in production fora decade from 1948 to 1959. Four years later in 1963, we saw the start of four decades of Scanlens bubble-gum card issues, both football and cricket. In the mid 1990s, with the end of the Scanlens/Stimorol cards, the Trading Card came on the scene. These cards do not fit under the umbrella of the Trade Card, having been produced and marketed purely as a 'collectable' with no connection whatsoever to any product, which of course is necessary for an item to be classified as a Trade Card.|The earliest British postcard was issued in 1870 and was designed to send short messages; the stamp was printed on the card, therefore it did not require an envelope. It was considered by many to be lowering the postal standards because the texts were no longer private. However the cards were a great success as on the first day of issue in 1870, half a million passed through the London postal centre.|The first illustrated postcards are said to be those introduced by a French stationer in 1870. He realized that French troops fighting in the Franco-Prussian War needed to be able to send short messages to their families and designed a 'postcard' to suit the purpose. As many of the soldiers were illiterate they decorated their cards with sketches of their many activities at the front rather than writing; thus creating a picture postcard. Private enterprise soon saw the great financial possibilities of this new easy and attractive way of communication by post; also sending a postcard cost less than postage for letters. It was correctly assumed that postcards were likely to overtake letter writing in many instances.|Between 1875 and 1882 every state in Australia introduced official postcards, N.S.W. first and Tasmania last. Each state produced a simple type of postcard with a pre printed stamp allied to that state. The stamp side stated 'The Address Only To Be Written On This Side'; the reverse side sometimes carried a simple illustration or decoration with space fora short message, each state extolling their own state's virtues. In 1901, with the advent of Federation, the new Government became responsible for all postal services in Australia and produced postcards for sale in every state. With several mail deliveries each day in most towns, postcards were used for many purposes. One 1906 postcard, with an illustration of fruit, was sent from Mrs X in the morning to her greengrocer ordering her fruit and vegetables to be delivered that afternoon. Another lady asks her charlady to 'come this afternoon'.|Australian private enterprise also began selling pictorial postcards, most companies using the very experienced German printing works who were the worlds best in the field of lithography and fine detailed colour-printing. Many of these beautiful German cards still exist today, 100 years later. Australia did have a few fine printers but they were in the minority. Black and white postcards printed in Australia in the early 1900s were often of good quality e.g. postcards printed by 'The Bulletin', illustrating the works of 'The Bulletins' top artists.|Between c1903-09 The Melbourne company Osboldstone and Atkins etc. printed coloured reproductions of 46 J.A. Turner bush/rural life paintings, which were generally of good quality and became hugely popular and still sought after today. Like thousands of homes in Europe, Britain and U.S.A., many Australia homes had albums of cherished postcards, which were given pride of place for visitors to see and enjoy.|Postcard collecting remained popular but was changing with the times. About 1912 the Australian photographer George Rose of Melbourne began to produce topographical B/W real photographic postcards covering most of Australia and other photographers began to do likewise. These cards soon found their way into collections as well.|WWI and the horrors of war suddenly changed the world; postcards were still in great demand but the subject matter was far more serious. Thousands of postcards from the trenches in European war zones arrived in Australia to be included in family albums. Propaganda and recruitment messages were produced to encourage enlistment. Australian postcard producers began to create cards decorated with gum leaves, boomerangs, wattle etc., which were designed for sending to Australian troops serving overseas. Very few 'pretty' cards were available, as access to the Gentian printing works was no longer possible and exporting of postcards from Britain was very limited. By the end of WWI people had other more serious problems to contend with and the avid postcard collecting hobby declined, fold greetings took over and topographical photographic postcards became a small but steady income for the producers and newsagents etc. in every town.|Fortunately many of these old postcards still exist and are avidly collected by a new generation or postcard collectors. The Australian Cartophilic Society Inc. is one of four postcard/cigarette card organizations in Australia. They are, N.S.W. Post Card Collectors Society; Queensland Card Collectors' Society Inc. and West Australian Card Collectors|Society, and across the Tasman there is a New Zealand Postcard Society.|References:|Picture Postcards of the Golden Age A Collector's Guide by Toni & Valmai Holt. Picture Postcards in Australia 1898 - 1920 by David CookBox of Cigarette Silks ( 10 ) depicting animal motifs, which were placed in cigarette packets as an incentive for women in particular to smoke.|WD & HO Wills|Produced 1911 - 1917personal effects, smoking accessories, recreations, collections

1951 was a year of celebration in Victoria. 9th May 1951 marked the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Australian Federal Parliament in 1901, which at that time met in Melbourne, Victoria. 13th November marked the Centenary of the opening of the first Victorian Parliament. Cities and towns held activities and celebrations to recognise the occasion. A "Back to Wodonga" was held from Friday 9th to Saturday 7th November 1951. Friday: Children’s Sport and Children’s Concert. Saturday: Welcome to Visitors, Official Luncheon, Gymkhana, Official Opening and Barbecue. Sunday: Church services, various denominations. Monday: Ladies’ Day (Bowls, Tennis, Croquet etc.) Afternoon Garden Parties, Boxing Tournament. Tuesday: Procession, Basket Lunch, Apex Sports Carnival, 50-50 Dance. Wednesday: Tour of district and visit to factories. Re-unions of various organisations. Thursday: All-day Street Fair and Carnival. Friday: Back to School (Higher Elementary School), Wodonga Hospital Ball. Saturday: Bonegilla Race Club meeting, Competition Sports, (Cricket, Bowls, Tennis, etc.) Farewell Parties by various organisations.This Badge is significant because it is a memento of an important community celebration in Wodonga.A small enamel badge featuring both the blue and red Australian ensigns in the centre on a white background surrounded by blue text.Around the edge; BACK TO WODONGA CELEBRATIONS 1951back to wodonga 1951, opening victorian parliament, australian federal parliament opening