Historical information

Although the name of the Mayor and Mayoress, and the year of the invitation are not stated, the fact that music was provided by 'Miss Gertrude Emily Johnson' provides a possible clue as to the date. Gertrude Emily Johnson (1894-1973), coloratura soprano and theatre administrator, was born on 13 September 1894 at Prahran, Melbourne. She was a student of (Dame) Nellie Melba at the women's singing school that Melba founded at the Albert Street Conservatorium, East Melbourne (later the Melba Memorial Conservatorium). The date specified in the invitation, Thursday 19th December, indicates that the event was either in 1918 or 1929. As Gertrude Johnson moved to London in February 1921 and returned to Australia in 1935, when she retired from her singing career, it appears likely that the invitation to the mayoral dinner was for 19 December 1918. Elsie Fraser would have accompanied her on the piano.

Physical description

Cream coloured card printed in gold and with Christmas bells and holly in green and red, being an invitation for dinner with the Mayor and Mayoress of St Kilda

Inscriptions & markings

To mark the Festive Season, and the end of the Year, the Mayor and Mayoress of St Kilda would be very pleased if ... will take Dinner with them in the Mayoress' Room, on Thursday, 19th December, at 7pm. Music by Miss Gertrude Johnson and Miss Elsie Fraser. RSVP before 12th December.