This hat belonged to Mr William Grant, Shire President of Bacchus Marsh. Mr Grant and his wife were invited to the opening of the first Federal Parliament held in the Royal Exhibition Building, Carlton, on the 9th May 1901. The opening was attended by the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York (later George V and Queen Mary) and 12,000 guests. Mr Grant's family were early settlers in Bacchus Marsh, and both he and his father were influential people in the town. They owned the property "Millbank". When William Grant died in 1924, his obituary in the 'Express' listed 17 public positions he held, including severaal terms as Shire President.This item has historical significance at a local, state and national level. It is representative of formal gentlemen's dress in the latter part of the 19th century/early 20th century.Gentleman's black shiny velour top hat with silk ribbon band, bound inside with leather sweat band, adjustable with silk ties. Inscription inside hat. Purple lining with gold embossing. Light canvas coated inside. Protective silver paper sweat band under leather sweat band.Inscription in gold inside hat reads "GREASE PROOF / Prize Medal" / Royal Insignia with motto "Honi soit qui mal y pense" / "VENTILATED / AND / FELT BANDED".1910, top hat, gentlemen s fashion, mr grant, velour, ninteenth century attire, skilled hatter, upper class attire, formal wear, monopoly token, president bacchus marsh shire, federation celebrations 1910, federation, owner millbank, mad hatter, opening parliament 1910, royal exhibition building, original box, greaseproof prize medal royal isignia, the sea breeze, no 5044, size 6, 7 8

Millbank Street is a short street located close to the central business and shopping area of Bacchus Marsh. In the early 1900s works to improve the drainage of the street were discussed and planned by Bacchus Marsh Shire Council. This plan is most probably the plan discussed at a Shire Council meeting in April 1905. Single page plan showing a longitudinal section view of MIllbank Street running from Clarinda Street to Grant Street in Bacchus Marsh. The names of Millbank Street property owners, Cain, Shelley, Oliver and Ramsay are marked on this plan. Scale: Vertical 10 feet to 1 inch. Horizontal: 100 links to 1 inch Part of a set of maps which are pasted into a bound volume containing 76 maps or plans in total. High resolution digital image stored on BMDHS computer network. bacchus marsh victoria maps, millbank street bacchus marsh