The celebration of Queen Victoria's birthday on May 24 was renamed Empire Day in 1903 after her death in 1901. It was celebrated throughout the British Empire, including in Australia. Ballarat schools marched in procession with a salute at the Town Hall before attending church services at their respective churches. By the late 1950s the celebration became Commonwealth Empire Day the reference to Empire being dropped by the 1960s.These form part of a large family collection of bookmarks and local & family history items at Hymettus Cottage, home to the same family for the past 127 years in 2024. They have a well documented provenance and a known owner forming part of a significant and representative historical collection that reflects Ballarat's local history from a family perspective. They contribute to our understanding of social and family life in twentieth century Ballarat and providing interpretative capacity for family, local, and social history themes. These four bookmarks are from 1951-1954.Three Empire Day cardboard bookmarks each featuring an illustrated crown, with crossed Australian and British flags, each bookmark trimmed in gold. The first is simply for Empire Day and two commemorate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II and the 1953 Royal Visit respectively.nil,empire day, royal visit, bookmarks, empire day movement, melbourne, coronation year 1953

Parade of Boy Scouts and Cadets, Through City Streets, Friday 24 May 1946 - 1:30 to 2:20pm Approximately Letter from HS Wooton, Melbourne Town Clerk to the Secretary MMTB advising of Empire Day Movement procession through the city on 24 May 1946. Letter dated 11 April 1946. Memo from Assistant Manger to Officers Concerned. Memorandum - several typed sheets (8"x10.5") - titled "Parade of Boy Scouts and Cadets, Through City Streets, Friday 24 May 1946 - 1:30 to 2:20pm Approximately" from JM Harry, District Traffic Superintendent S.S. to Mr Mazoletti, Malvern Depot, Mr McLean, Hanna Street Depot, and Mr Cliff, Glenhuntly Depot. Memo dated 21 May October and specifies tram shunting and special trams for the procession."Empire Day Movement Procession Fri 24/5/46" written in red pencil on the letter. Date, assembly point and procession route underlined in red pencil. "13 mts to pass ? & City Rds 1.30 to 1.43" initials and date written in black ink. "5 copies" and "23rd" "1947" written in black pencil on Malvern memo "4 copies" and "23rd" "1947" written in black pencil on Hanna Street memo "5 copies" and "23rd" "1947" written in black pencil on Glenhuntly memotrams, tramways, letters, instructions, events

In 1910, this flag was sent to Rutherglen State School No. 522 from a group of schools in Rutherglen Scotland, in exchange for an Australian flag sent to schools in Rutherglen Scotland. This exchange was part of the Empire Day Movement to celebrate Empire Day in 1911. This was one of nearly 300 flags that were exchanged between Australian and United Kingdom schools. The pupils of the woodworking classes of Rutherglen State School made a box to house the flag.Union Jack flag sent from schools in Rutherglen Scotland.schools, rutherglen scotland, rutherglen connection, rutherglen state school

In 1910, a Union Jack flag was sent to Rutherglen State School No. 522 from a group of schools in Rutherglen Scotland, in exchange for an Australian flag previously sent to schools in Rutherglen Scotland. This exchange was part of the Empire Day Movement to celebrate Empire Day in 1911. It was one of nearly 300 flags that were exchanged between Australian and United Kingdom schools. The pupils of the woodworking classes of Rutherglen State School made this box to house the flag.Wooden box with brass plaque on lid.On brass plaque: "Presented to the School Children of Rutherglen, Victoria, Australia by their School Mates in Rutherglen Scotland. June 1910"schools, rutherglen scotland, rutherglen connection, rutherglen state school

Date is approximate. Donor's connection with Armitstead's Woodyard was that Frank Foley was a long term employee. The Empire Day movement was instituted in England in 1904 and on 24 May 1906 a group of Surrey Hills residents pledged to make Empire Day a success. From 1932-1938 large Empire Day celebrations were held in Surrey Hills and business and commercial vehicles were decorated to take part in large processions held in May each year. These attracted large crowds from all over Melbourne. The truck is parked outside Nethercourt Hospital at 15 Barton Street. The Armitstead family had a business in Union Road which supplied wood in winter and ice in summer. Photos such as this one are evidence of the importance once attached to celebrating Empire Day, which was held on 24 May (Queen Victoria’s birthday). From 1905, a range of patriotic activities across Australia were performed on this day. There was a focus on schoolchildren, who were given a half-holiday, and the occasion was often highlighted with bonfires and fireworks in the evening - in this area at Beckett Park. The parade down Union Road was famous throughout Melbourne and attracted large crowds. Floats in the parade were often decked with British flags. The pro-Empire sentiment in the Surrey Hills area in part reflected the background and strong ties of many families.Black and white photo of a delivery truck with bunting and ferns over the cabin and back. The wheels have straws around the rims and more foliage is on the cabin roof and bonnet. The back of the tray is up and boxes, foliage and possibly a lion's head decorate the tray. Behind is a 2 storey (?) rendered building with an external timber staircase broken in 2 by a landing. The house sits behind a simple picket fence.On the cabin door of the truck: "S ARMITS ....[remainder in shadow] / Surrey Hills / phone 10X1816 / [undecipherable]" On back of the original in pencil in top centre left "446a" in Jocelyn Hall's handwriting; centre on a piece of paper stuck on with tape "Mrs D Foley / 39 Sunbury Cres., / Surrey Hills / Phone 8301163".empire day, festival and celebrations, woodyard, parades, processions, hospitals, nethercourt hospital, stephen godfrey armitstead, frank foley, mrs d foley, barton street

Item believed to be from Empire Day celebrations held in Surrey Hills. The Empire Day movement was instituted in England in 1904 and a meeting of Surrey Hills residents on 24th May 1906, pledged to do all in their power to make the day a success. Founding members included Arthur 'Empire' Brooks, James 'Rule Britannia' Sneddon and Harry 'Mafeking' Garrett, whose nicknames stemmed from their activities. Empire Day celebrations from 1906-11 attracted tremendous enthusiasm as reported at the time with 40,000 people attending the procession. The procession included horse drawn floats from local businesses, a torchlight parade headed by mounted troopers and local school bands. Rows of lamps and paper Chinese lanterns strung across the streets and lit at night by candles, while every dwelling had it's own decorations. The Progress Association revived the celebrations between 1933 and 1938 and while the route of the procession varied between these years, it would end with a 'monster bonfire' at Beckett Park.Handkerchief from Empire Day, made from silk or thin cotton. Navy blue with red then white edging. Crowns on each corner and numerous circles on handkerchief with red, blue and crowns. Colour faded in one corner.empire day, empire day celebrations, surrey hills progress association, mr james sneddon, mr arthur brooks, mr harry garrett, beckett park, canterbury road, union road, surrey gardens, handkerchief, festivals and celebrations