Labour Day originates from the eight-hour day movement - eight hours for work, eight hours for recreation, and eight hours for rest. On 21 April 1856 Stonemasons and building workers on building sites around Melbourne, Australia, stopped work and marched from the University of Melbourne to Parliament House to achieve an eight-hour day. Their direct action protest was a success, and they are noted as the first organised workers in the world to achieve an eight-hour day with no loss of pay, which subsequently inspired the celebration of Labour Day and May Day. (Wikipedia, 12 March 2019: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_holidays_in_Australia#Labour_Day) The eight-hours campaign ran contemporaneously in Ballarat. -------- The Labour day parade is an annual event in Ballarat. All unions and individuals are welcome to attend. Ballarat Labour Day march is held at the same date as the Begonia Festival parade; inception of the Begonia Festival was several decades later in 1953. -------- Photo 1 Labour Day march: We are Union banner and AMIWU banner with people. Photo 2 Labour Day march: We are Union, Trades Hall, Free West Papua banners, Trades Hall ute, various individuals including Don Henderson, Jenny Beacham, Tracey Brown, Simon Hammersley, Moses, Ben Davison, Angela McCarthy, Eddie Beacham, Gary Carton, Bob Bassett, Colin Muir, et al. Photo 3 Labour Day march: We are Union, ANMF, Trades Hall banners, various individuals including Don Henderson, Jenny Beacham, Tracey Brown, Simon Hammersley, Moses, Ben Davison, Angela McCarthy, Eddie Beacham, Gary Carton, Bob Bassett, Colin Muir, Ron Woods et al. Photo 4 Labour Day march: Change the Rules and AMIWU banners, various persons including Chris Kelly, Angela McCarthy, Ross Kenna, et al. Photo 5 Labour Day barbeque: Various persons including Allen Townsend, Fred Ladiges, Cameron McIntyre, Judy Henderson, Don Henderson, Cameron Bannam, Janine Brownlee, Dave Brownlee, Bernie Constable, Ian Fullerton, Ben Davison, et al. Photo 6 Labour Day barbeque group photograph: Various persons including Moses, Emma Pritchard, Kamuda, Allen Townsend, Tess Marshall, Chris Kelly, Fred Ladiges, Ross Kenna, Ben Davison, Don Henderson, Judy Henderson, Gabriel Waldron, Cameron McIntyre, Orry Pilven, Lana Cormie, Bob Bassett, Clinton Bannam, Angela McCarthy, Tracey Brown, Ron Woods, Ian Fullerton, Colin Muir, et al. Photo 7 Labour Day barbeque group photograph: Various persons including Moses, Emma Pritchard, Kamuda, Allen Townsend, Tess Marshall, Chris Kelly, Fred Ladiges, Ross Kenna, Ben Davison, Don Henderson, Judy Henderson, Gabriel Waldron, Cameron McIntyre, Orry Pilven, Lana Cormie, Bob Bassett, Clinton Bannam, Angela McCarthy, Tracey Brown, Ron Woods, Ian Fullerton, Colin Muir, et al. Photo 8 Labour Day March: We are Union banner, various persons including Chris Kelly, Angela McCarthy, Clinton Bannam, Orrie and Gem Pilven, Janine Brownlee, et al.Significant to the inception of the eight hour day, history of unions and campaigns in Australia and the current Change the Rules campaign.8 colour photographs; soft copy.btlc, ballarat trades hall, ballarat trades and labour council, labour day - 2019, unions - delegates, change the rules, amiwu, anmf, we are union, unions - campaigns, early closing association, begonia festival - ballarat

This postal note was purchased at Hobart West Post Office but was not cashed in. Postal notes (or postal orders) were introduced as a means of transmitting smaller amounts of currency within a country. They were sanctioned by the Universal Postal Union and upon joining this body, each colony was required to issue them. Money orders were later introduced for larger sums. The post office became responsible for postal notes in 1890. Postal notes were a way of sending money through the post. They were replaced by money orders. Duplicate money orders were issued as replacements.This item is an example of a form of currency which has been superseded by postal and money orders. Postal orders are not legal tender, but a type of promissory note, similar to a cheque.A postal note -black print on green background. The amount is 2/- and it is dated Feb 9 1942 , Number 337582currency postal-note

This special edition was issued as a souvenir of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth 11. The coronation of Queen Elizabeth II as monarch of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Union of South Africa, Pakistan, and Ceylon took place on 2 June 1953. Elizabeth ascended the throne at the age of 25, upon the death of her father, King George VI, on 6 February 1952. The Evening News was an evening newspaper published in London from 1881 to 1980 and was very popular. The paper was founded by Coleridge Kennard and Harry Marks with the first issue appearing on July 26, 1881. On the 2nd June 1953, the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II took place and the commonwealth countries, including Australia joined in the celebration. Saving an item dedicated to the royal family is typical of the general feeling of respect and admiration felt by the rural communities towards the British Royal Family, especially towards Queen Elizabeth II.A newspaper of 8 pp, The Evening News Souvenir Edition of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth 11. It contains b/w photographs of the coronation as well as advertisements, stories, comic strips and puzzles.royal-family elizabeth-coronation newspaper evening-news

This is a computer-generated coupon used in the telling transactions of customers at the Australia and New Zealand Bank in Warrnambool. The A.N. Z. Bank, the fourth largest banking group in Australia, is derived from the Bank of Australasia which was established in Sydney in 1835. The Bank of Australasia came to Warrnambool in 1854 and in 1860 large premises were built at the corner of Timor and Kepler Streets. In 1951 the Bank of Australasia merged with the Union Bank to form the A.N.Z. Bank Limited and in 1970 the E.S. & A. Bank and the London Bank of Australia merged with the A.N.Z. Bank Limited to form the A.N.Z. Banking Group Limited. This coupon is of minor interest as an example of the type of coupon used for customer banking in Warrnambool today.This is a small piece of white paper used for the telling transactions of clients in the A.N.Z. Bank in Warrnambool. It has black print on a white surface and the logo of the A.N.Z. Bank is in the right hand corner. ‘3900 Warrnambool Telling Transactions A165 30/10/2015’ ‘14.29 A.N.Z.’ a.n.z. bank warrnambool, banks in warrnambool, warrnambool history

Copy of the agreement with the "Hawthorn Tramways Trust" with printed cover and first sheet for the Hawthorn Tramways Trust. Provides details of the agreement with the Australian Tramways Employees Association (ATEA), including wages for various classifications, leave, working conditions, uniform, union badges (to be worn on their watch chains), discipline and signatures to the agreement. Signed by J I Abfalter and T Jewell for the ATEA, D W Dureau, KJ Vindoille, and L S Cleveland for the HTT and Mr Justice Henry Higgins for the Arbitration court. Dated Oct. 1919. Includes the Melbourne Brunswick & Coburg Tramways Trust.Yields information about the industrial agreements with the ATEA, HTT and the MBCTTTwenty-four page booklet + grey card covers, centre stapled.tramways, trams, hawthorn, htt, unions, agreements, atea, mbctt

Copy of the agreement with the "Prahran and Malvern Tramways Trust" with printed cover and first sheet for the Trust. Provides details of the agreement with the Australian Tramways Employees Association (ATEA), including wages for various classifications, leave, working conditions, uniform, union badges (to be worn on their watch chains), discipline and signatures to the agreement. Signed by J I Abfalter and T Jewell for the ATEA, Alex Cameron, W G Hiscock and R H Shackell for the PMTT and Mr Justice Henry Higgins for the Arbitration court. Dated Oct. 1919. Includes references to the Melbourne Brunswick & Coburg Tramways Trust.Yields information about the industrial agreements with the ATEA, PMTT and the MBCTTTwenty-four page booklet + green card covers, centre stapled.tramways, trams, hawthorn, unions, agreements, atea, mbctt

Photograph of Melbourne MMTB No. 117 - now unnumbered - in Sturt St, 16-12-1945, Photo Wal Jack. See also Reg Items 7590 and 7595 for other photos of this car running, probably the same date. Has the National Mutual and Commonwealth Bank buildings in the background. Not the sign on the side of the National Mutual building, advertising Commercial Union and Deopel Lilly & Taylor. See image i2 for rear of photograph. See image i3 for hi res scan of print. See image i4 for hi res scan of negativeYields information about the first trip of a bogie tram in Ballarat following its arrival in Ballarat and other commissioning trips in a series of photographs within the Wal Jack album.Negative and Digital image from the Wal Jack Ballarat AlbumIn ink on rear " SEC Ballarat Tramways bogie tram (running without a no. (No. 22, Ex M&MTB 117, (Tram Centre), looking east (City - Gardens Run) - 16-12-45" with number "T538" within Wal Jack photo stamp.trams, tramways, sturt st, bogie trams, tram 117, tram 22

Photograph shows tramway traffic inspectors looking at Gibson ticket machine that has caused a strike at the Footscray bus depot over the use of one-man buses. Details of the event are give in the Melbourne Herald 20/11/1953 - see first reference for the Trove link. The strike also stopped the tram services. Des Shooter Union Delegate was suspended over the issue - Reference trove link 2 and 3 for for developments of the story. Note the "traffic" numbers on the caps of the inspectors - see item 8336 for these. See item 9321 for another report on a dispute in 1955.Yields information about a dispute at Footscray depot in 1953 over one man buses and ticket machines.Black and white photograph with an undated press cutting on the rear."Misc-trams-employees" in red ink, a unreadable date stamp and "Trams Vict" on rear in pencil.tramcars, tramways, drivers, buses, footscray, strikes, ticket machines, one-man buses

Copy of the agreement with the "Prahran and Malvern Tramways Trust" with printed cover and first sheet for the Trust. Provides details of the agreement with the Australian Tramways Employees Association (ATEA), including wages for various classifications, leave, working conditions, uniform, union badges (to be worn on their watch chains), discipline and signatures to the agreement. Signed by J I Abfalter and T Jewell for the ATEA, Alex Cameron, W G Hiscock and R H Shackell for the PMTT and Mr Justice Henry Higgins for the Arbitration court. Dated Oct. 1919. Includes references to the Melbourne Brunswick & Coburg Tramways Trust. Yields information about the industrial agreements with the ATEA, PMTT and the MBCTT.Twenty-four page booklet + green card covers, centre stapled.trams, tramways, melbourne, atea, unions, agreements, pmtt, mbctt

Wally Ives was a fruiterer who had a shop in Union Road. He was an active participant in the Empire Day parades of the 1930s. The donor Jean Boucher was the daughter of Wally Ives. She was an early active member of the History Nook at the Surrey Hills Neighbourhood Centre and member of the Surrey Hills Historical Society. The Oakland Motor Car Company was based in Pontiac, Michigan and was a division of General Motors. Although it was purchased by General Motors in 1909, the company continued to produce modestly priced automobiles until 1931 when the brand was dropped in favour of the division's Pontiac make. B&W photo of a decorated vehicle (Oakland car) parked in a street without kerbs or guttering. There is a Victorian-style house in the background.38. in black pen in top LH corner.(mr) wally ives, transport, croydon road, empire day, festivals and celebrations, cars, oakland car, walter ives

Button worn by Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) members and staff as an ongoing campaign in the 1990s to 2000s to secure minimum nurse staffing in the public healthcare sector. 'no more than 1 to 4' denotes a ratio of one nurse to a maximum of four patients. During this period, staffing ratios were secured as part of bargaining negotiations between unions and employer groups. After decades of campaigning from the ANF/ANMF, ratios were legislated for the public sector in Victoria with the passing of the Safe Patient Care (Nurse to Patient and Midwife to Patient) Bill in 2015.Circular black and yellow badge. Silver metal, plastic-coated, with safety pin fastener adhered to back. Badge printed with 'no more than 1 to 4'.nursing, nurses, ratios, workforce, staffing, badges, buttons, pins, campaigning, safe patient care (nurse to patient and midwife to patient ratios) act 2015, victoria

This is a printed invitation for the Annual Reunion for the Presbyterian Church Bacchus Marsh. The Presbyterian church organised many social events in Bacchus Marsh. This particular event was promoted in the Bacchus Marsh Express in this way, "The Bacchus Marsh Presbyterian re union takes place on Friday, 16th inst, when a good programme is promised. Mr. C. Thompson, S.M., has been successful in securing a number of items from talented friends in Melbourne. Miss Alice Grant, and Miss Belle Morton, will be amongst the local performers. A full programme will be given in next week's issue."Printed ticket on card. Rectangular shape.saint andrews presbyterian church bacchus marsh, churches bacchus marsh

Map of the system shown at two inches = 1 mile. Drawing No. P5799. Shows crossovers, track layouts at junctions, signal cabins roads, railways, and stations. Originally signed by Perway Engineer - 20/12/1940, though originally drawn in 1922. Has been marked up in colour pencil to show the all-night routes and the individual services. The plan shows the lines to Maribyrnong Munitions works along Cordite Ave and Wests Road and the track from Moonee Ponds to Union Road, opened in July 1941, but not the extension to Essendon Airport built in 1942.Demonstrates a detail drawing of Melbourne tramways, junctions and pole numbers.Drawings - dyeline cloth-backed print - titled - "Route Map showing the location of special work and pole numbers" and subtitled - "All night tram routes in colours". trams, tramways, mmtb, trackwork, tramways, junction, map, world war 2, night trams

Copy of the agreement with the "Hawthorn Tramways Trust" with printed cover and first sheet for the Hawthorn Tramways Trust. Provides details of the agreement with the Australian Tramways Employees Association (ATEA), including wages for various classifications, leave, working conditions, uniform, union badges (to be worn on their watch chains), discipline and signatures to the agreement. Signed by J I Abfalter and T Jewell for the ATEA, D W Dureau, KJ Vindoille, and L S Cleveland for the HTT and Mr Justice Henry Higgins for the Arbitration court. Dated Oct. 1919. Includes the Melbourne Brunswick & Coburg Tramways Trust.Yields information about the industrial agreements with the ATEA, HTT and the MBCTTTwenty-four page booklet + light dark grey card covers, centre stapled.'1919" in red pencil on front cover and "p1-(24) leave" on the first page in pencil.tramways, trams, hawthorn, htt, unions, agreements, atea, mbctt

Green and white soft covered booklet of 48 pages. SMB Crest is on the front cover. The content include the Mt Helen site, site planning, student residences, sporting facilities, roads and parking, pedestrian circulation, engineering services, and landscaping. Illustrations include: Plan of Mt Helen Site (July 1969, existing buildings, Functional relationship, Roads and Parking, Pedestrian Circulation, engineering Services, Landscaping, Development Plan, Plan of Academic area, Library and union Courtyards, Birds Eye View of Academic Area from north-west, etc. the master plan projects student numbers.non-fictionuniversity of ballarat, ballarat institute of advanced education, mount helen, master plan, landscape, harrison, vernon, great hall, geoff harrison, john vernon, m.b. john, contour map, student accomodation, landscaping, development plan, campus plan

Henry James (1860-1932) was an agent and auctioneer. Record secretary of the Snowy River Shipping company. Shire councillor. Foundation member of Butter Factory.Henry James was a prominent Orbost identity who was very much involved in the local community.Invitation to James, H. (Mr) to the opening of Federal Parliament by the Prime Minister Edmund Bartonon 9 May 1901. Framed in wood, white paper with print of the young queen on a horse holding court. Colour invitations shows a young woman with armour and sword dismounting from a white horse in front of an older woman who has a crown in front of her. Several other women look on. The room is hung with heraldic bunting and shields, including one of the Union Jack and one showing the Southern Cross. The older woman is dressed as Britannia, and her shield and trident are at rest beside her.Printed: His Majesty's Ministers of State for the Commonwealth of Australia/ request the honour of the presence of... / in the Exhibition Building, Melbourne, on Thursday, 9th May, to witness/ the Opening of the Parliament of the Commonwealth./ Edmund Barton/ Prime Minister invitation 1901 parliament james-harry federation snowy-river-shipping-company

TEXT OF TALK - ''THE FIRST 50 YEARS OF FREEMASONRY IN BENDIGO''. (Stamped on first and last page with name of Mc.G W Morse 'Dunmaghlas' 36 Thomas St, Kangaroo Flat. (author?; no date provided). Typed pages cut and mounted on 17 stapled pages. References to: W C Vahland; ''The Golden Lodge of Bendigo''; organ; Corinthian Lodge of Sandhurst; ''Black Liners''; Eaglehawk Lodge; Zenith Lodge; Golden and Corinthian Lodge; Art Union; Masonic Charity Sunday; Sandhurst Lodge; Corona Lodge; Royal Golden Chapter; Kinghts Templar; Mark Master Masons Degree;mcG. W. Morse, Dunmaghlas, 36 Thomas Street Kangaroo Flat. 3555clubs, social, freemasonry, bro. w.c. vahland, boltons brothers, bendigo gold rush, freemasons, brother r.c. mackenzie, criterian hotel, brother w. scott, brother edward salaman, grant's cafe.

Document. Malone Collection. Small white card with raised outer edge. On the left is a gold ship's mast with rigging lines. One line has 9 small flags, grouped in 3's attached to it. The flags are various combinations of white, blue, red and gold. Another line has two flags on it, the top one is larger and is white with a red cross with the Union Jack in the top left corner. The lower one is smaller and has 3 red and 2 white vertical strips. Printed on the front in gold: We'll meet the future full of Faith and Hope. (signalled.) A Happy Christmas.person, greeting cards, malone collection, malone collection, greeting cards

Sepia photograph of workers employed ' on making the Bendigo Railway'. Workmen seated on rails with small girl. Group of men standing and seated in front of corrugated iron shed with Union Jack flag on pole. Adult females back left of photo. Hills with trees in background. Inscriptions: on back - handwritten in pen 'Employees in the making of the Bendigo Railway'. Top front R corner 'GP85'. On back - handwritten in ball point pen 'Presented to the Bendigo Historical Society by Stevenson McGilchrist, great grandson of the late William Robertson of 'Woding' Estate near Gisborne'. History: Prev. Acc. No. GP85person, group, male group of workers

Yields information about the approach of the SEC to one man trams, the history, issues and impacts on the costs of operation., Yields information about the approach of the SEC to one man trams, the history, issues and impacts on the costs of operation.Set of three memorandum concerning the operation of one-man trams. All with rounded corners. .1 - Memo dated 23/5/1962, forwarding various documents re one-man trams. .2 - Report to the Acting Secretary (TRB?) - looking at the use of one-man trams in order to have economies, issues, problems with traffic, problems of one door in use, safety, costs of duplication, savings, cheaper to run buses. .3 - Report - looks at the history of one-man trams, ESCo, fare boxes, post war, unions, bogie trams, and the Eaglehawk line. trams, tramways, closure, letters, one man trams, unions, history, fare boxes, esco

Magazine 40 page, with pink page cover and plain white paper inside cantered stapled - "The Tramway Record December 1987" - with title in black ink and Australian Tramway and Motor Omnibus Employees Association logo on the front cover and a photo of No. 1 cable tram set and hand Witten note "These contraptions are slow compared to the car! Features history of the Union, list of office bearers, President page noting the opening of the St Kilda Beach Light Rail, extract from the MMTB Instruction to Motormen in Electric car driving for the Eastern system and general news from the depots. trams, tramways, unions, melbourne, mmtb, instructions, drivers, motormen

Yields information about Lydiard St North near the Railway Station and its use by trams running special tours.Set of four 35mm slides - two Hanimex light blue grey plastic mounts and two Anscochrome white plastic mounts of trams in Lydiard St North. .1 - No. 39 and 26 waiting at the station stop. No. 26 is showing "Special". .2 - ditto with photographers in the background. No. 26 is entering the double track, indicating that the trams are returning to the depot. .3 - No. 33 arriving at the end of the double track with a passenger leaving the tram, with St Paul's Technical College in the background. .4 - ditto Have the St Paul's Technical College, S.F Motors Pty Ltd and Union Fidelity Trustee Company in the background.tramways, trams, lydiard st north, special trams, tram 39, tram 26, tram 33

ATMOEA Vic. Branch (Tramways Union) badge No. 1938. Badge made on a brass/gold backing with painted enamel on front. On central portion of the badge, had the ATMOEA logo, with words "Vic" with red enamel backing and on outer edge of badge "Aust Tramway & Motor Omnibus Employees Association" with a royal blue background. On back of badge has clip for fitting through an opening on a jacket or coat lapel. On top of back of badge has number stamped in "1938" and bottom words "K. G. Luke / Melb." indicating manufacture. See image files for front and back of badge.tramways, trams, unions, badges, atmoea, employees

Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), Tuesday 26 October 1937, page 16 Pioneers' Day. Novemher 19 has been fixed as Pioneers' day The annual historical service organised by tho Pioneers' Association will be held in the Melbourne General Cemetery on Sunday. November 21. Addresses will be delivered by Messrs. W. A. Sanderson. J. Selby. E. Tozer. 13. W. Mylrea and C. R. Long. The memorial over the grave of William Pascoe Crook will be unveiled by Rev. W. Alblston. president of the Congregational Union. An aboriginal concert will be held in the Central Hall on November 10.

A5 size publication of the Gipps-Land Gate, September 2001 featuring an old picture of Dandenong on the cover. An Interesting Character ThaT I Remember -Jim Snell Dandenong Art Club Disbanded 1964-2001 The History Of Credit Unions In Australia Douglas Hebry Raymond Mummery 1916-1998 Dandenong Power Station Vale: Joyce Elaine Oldmeadow 1921-2001 Vale: Jean Spence Searle 1909-2001 Vale: Warren Titcher 1933-2001 Presidents Report 200-2001 Research Requests Harking Back 50 Years Harking Back 100 Years An interesting group of Early Dandenong Personalities, Places and Eventshotel history, early education in dandenong, interesting milestones, family histories

Inside the suit it is labelled with abroad arrow mark Code No. 8848 Stores Ref No. 22C/1013 Size MEDIUM Serial No. 1064 Inspector 7

Group photograph of thirty-four Scouts, a leader (probably R.J. Poewrie) and an unknown male dignitary in their uniforms, lined up in front of a huge Union Jack. All of the Scouts are wearing the trademark Scout Hat – which given its four dimples were colloquially known as ‘lemon squeezers’. The leader is wearing a military-style uniform, which was not uncommon during this early period of Scouting. Placed in front of the Scouts are two drums and three bugles. At this time, it was not unusual for a Scout Troop to have a small ‘bugle band’, which would have led the Scouts when on parade or marching.scouts - kew (vic), 1st kew scout troop, bugle band

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.)

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