Summary
Key used by the Governor of Victoria, Sir Henry Loch, to formally open the Melbourne Centennial International Exhibition on 1 August 1888.
The Exhibition, celebrating a century of Australian settlement, surpassed even the grand scale of the1880 Melbourne International Exhibition. It attracted over two million people, but the Victorian government had to spend £250 000 on it, ten times the amount estimated. The exhibition had a distinctively imperial focus, and a greater emphasis on culture than in 1880, particularly on music and painting. A choir of 5000 sang music old and new, and 500,000 people attended symphony concerts. There were over 3000 paintings on display, including works by artists like JMW Turner and C Lutyens. The Exhibition Building in Carlton Gardens was lit inside and out by electric lights, claimed to be the largest installation of arc lighting in the world.
Obverse Description
Enamelled arms of Melbourne surrounded etc. Motto; 'VIRES ACQUIRIT EUNDO'.
Reverse Description
Arms of Sir Henry Loch motto, 'ASSIDUITATE NON DESIDIA'; small gold nugget below.
More Information
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Collection Names
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Collecting Areas
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Acquisition Information
Purchase from Max Stern & Co. Ltd, 1976
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Date Issued
1888 AD
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Issued By
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Place & Date of Event
Exhibition: 1888 Centennial, Melbourne, Melbourne, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1888
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Place & Date Used
Royal Exhibition Building (REB), Melbourne, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1888
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User
Sir Henry B. Loch, Melbourne, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 01 Aug 1888
This is the key used in the formal ceremony to open the Melbourne Centennial International Exhibition on 1 August 1888 by the Governor of Victoria, Sir Henry Loch. -
Series
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Material
Gold
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Axis
12
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Classification
Public events, Melbourne centennial exhibition 1888, Memorabilia
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Category
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Discipline
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Type of item
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Dimensions
146 mm (Length), 50 mm (Width)
146 *50
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Exhibition Collection Management
10 mm (Length), 50 mm (Width), 157 mm (Height)
box measures: H=37 W=212 D=112
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Shape
Key
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Keywords