Historical information
On Armistice Day, 11 November 1934, an estimated third of Melbourne’s population, assembled for the Dedication Ceremony of the Shrine of Remembrance by Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester.
Featured in "Newsworthy: Melbourne in photographs 1933-1936" exhibition at East Melbourne Library, October to December 2023
Photographer notations on slide: "Shrine and multitude afield B62"
Description:
“Shrine and multitude afield”
On Armistice Day, 11 November 1934, an estimated third of Melbourne’s population, assembled for the Dedication Ceremony of the Shrine of Remembrance by Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester.
The Argus reported the following day: “10,000 Pigeons Released. With whirring wings, 10,000 pigeons rose above the Shrine like a huge puff of smoke when they were released from the second balcony at 11.43am, after the ceremony of dedication. The pigeons had come from all parts of the metropolitan area and from places as far away as Shepparton, Broadford, and Trentham. They hovered above the Shrine for a moment or two, taking their bearings, and then flew away toward their homes. A boy at Burnley reported later that one of his pigeons had returned and entered its box two minutes after the liberation. The pigeons were assembled in metropolitan clubrooms of the Victorian Homing Pigeon Association on Saturday night, and transported in 75 panniers to the Shrine, carried up stairways, and placed in readiness on the balcony. A man remained in charge of them all night. In the early hours of the morning he had a busy time covering the panniers with a tarpaulin to protect the birds from the rain.”
In the foreground can be seen three women standing with their backs to the Shrine, looking upwards. In the same coverage, The Argus noted: “Women, unconscious probably of the fact that they were resorting to the principle of the periscope of the days of the war which had brought this vast assemblage together, turned their backs upon the scene the better to view it by looking into mirrors held high in one hand.” FRC
Featured in "Newsworthy: Melbourne in photographs 1933-1936" exhibition at East Melbourne Library, October to December 2023. Exhibition caption by project volunteer, Fiona Collyer.
References:
President Roosevelt's Tribute (1934, November 13). The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 - 1954), p. 16. Retrieved November 8, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article35018382
Here, There and Everywhere (1934, November 12). The Sun News-Pictorial (Melbourne, Vic. : 1922 - 1954; 1956), p. 7. Retrieved June 19, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article277075769
DAY OF SOLEMNITY (1934, November 12). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 9. Retrieved November 8, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article10992864
Physical description
Glass plate negative
Inscriptions & markings
Photographer notations on slide: "Shrine and multitude afield B62".
