Summary

Coloured printed invitation to an evening reception held at the Exhibition Building, Melbourne, on the evening of 9 May 1901 at which the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York were in attendance, extended to Professor WB Spencer and Mrs Spencer.
The design was produced by Sydney-based father and son artists, Julian and Howard Ashton, whose names appear in the lower right corner of the design.

Physical Description

Coloured printed invitation to an evening reception held at the Exhibition Building, Melbourne printed on paper mounted on embossed board. The two women represent Britannia on the left, holding an oval shield emblazoned with the Union Jack, and Victoria on the right, holding a shield of the colony of Victoria; a blue cross against a white background and five stars representing the Southern Cross constellation. Oak-leaf foliate tendrils frame the design, while the British coat of arms depicting a lion and a unicorn is centered along the lower margin.

Significance

On 9 May 1901 the Exhibition Building hosted the opening of the first Federal Parliament, where the new federal parliamentarians were sworn in, before an audience of 12,000 dignitaries and their families. Prime Minister Barton wanted the event to be as inclusive as possible and no other public building in Australia could accommodate such a large group of people.

The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York visited Melbourne for the event, creating great excitement as they attended receptions, processions and other functions held in their honour. Melbourne's streets and buildings were elaborately decorated, and people from all over Australia visited for the celebrations surrounding the opening. The Exhibition Building was the venue for many of the events during the week of celebrations which included the opening, a conversazione, evening reception and state schools fete.

Following the opening, the new Federal Parliament sat in Victorian Parliament House until 1927 when Parliament House (now old Parliament House) in Canberra was completed. During this time Victoria's State Parliament sat in a specially designed chamber in the Western Annex of the Exhibition Building.

More Information