Historical information

This is an Invitation to attend the Inaugural Celebrations of the Commonwealth of Australia, to celebrate the Federation of Australia's united Colonies. It was created on behalf of the Government of New South Wales. January 1st, 1901, is the official date of Australia's Federation. There is no recipient's name on the invitation.

The illustrations on the invitation represent the Federation of Australian States, with their historic symbols carried on the sailing ship, representing the colonisation of Australia. The 'rising sun' possibly represents the rising of the young Australia.

The Sough Australian symbol appears to be the historic seal of South Australia, depicting Britania meeting an Australian Aboriginal seated on the beach. The symbol was replaced in 1904.

The Victorian symbol of a crown above the Southern Cross appears on the flag at the back of the ship, with a crown and the Southern Cross beside each other.

The invitation was originally framed by G.U. Petterd, a picture framer and plush worker in Warrnambool, Victoria.

Significance

The invitation holds great significance, representing a point in Australia's history when the British Colony became an independent nation, with the states uniting under a Federal government. The symbols on the invitation represent those used by each state at the time, many of which have evolved and changed since that time.
The decorative and careful creation of the certificate represents the importance placed on the celebrations.

Physical description

Invitation; rectangular page printed in colour with text and illustrations, and attached to cardboard. The document has a floral border with a symbol in each corner. The illustration includes a wooden sailing ship with six figures with long fair hair wearing white robes, and holding six flags or symbols. The mast holds a swallow-tailed banner showing a flag and text. The invitation is from the Government of New South Wales, for the recipient to attend the inaugural celebrations in Sydney on 1st January 1901, for the official date of the Federation of Australia.
There is a purple oval stamp on the revers with inscriptions. The picture was originally framed by G.U. Petterd, Warrnambool

Inscriptions & markings

STAMP: "G.U. PETTERD, WARRNAMBOOL / PICTURE FRAMER & PLUSH / WORKER"
TEST: - "Commonwealth of Australia. / INAUGURAL CELEBRATIONS / AT SYDNEY / COMMENCING on the 1st JANUARY 1901"
"The GOVERNMENT of NEW SOUTH WALES / requests the honour of / (blank line) / presence at the Celebrations to take place / in connection with the inauguration of the Commonwealth of Australia"
Symbols: -
[white flag, blue cross, Union Jack] (Australian Federation Flag)
[blue Maltese cross with crown in centre] (Queensland symbol)
[red St George cross with a lion in the centre] (New South Wales symbol)
[white with a symbol on one side (crown?) with a blue flag with Southern Cross on the other] (Victoria's symbols of Crown above Southern Cross)
[red lion on white] (Tasmanian symbol)
[black swan on yellow] (Western Australia badge)
[two figures, one standing and one seated] (South Australian seal)
and image of (rising sun on the horizon)