Summary

Colour invitation sent to Mr and Mrs JL Menzies. The invitation is to the Royal Review held at Flemington racecourse on Friday 10 May 1901. It was printed by Sands & McDougall.

The Menzies were on the official guest list for the celebrations surrounding the inauguration of the Commonwealth of Australia. John Menzies (1859-1948) founded the stock and share broking firm 'Menzies and Moule' and was a member of the Stock Exchange committee (1893-1900).

Physical Description

The coloured invitation is printed onto card with a mount. The invitation is brightly coloured, with black and white images of the event and the royal visit in each of the four corners. There is a head-and-shoulders image of the Duke and the Duchess of Cornwall and York. A coat of arms is at the top of the invitation, and there are coloured drawings of an infantry man and a mounted soldier on the left, and a sailor with a mounted soldier on the right. At the bottom appear a series of flags, against a backdrop of cannon, swords and bayonets. Shields of the States of Australia also form part of the design. Black and white photographs show a scene from the lawn at Flemington, a group of men relaxing possibly outside the members' stand, the arrival of carriages outside the Maribyrnong Stand, and another group of picnicking men. The invitation was produced by Sands & McDougall Limited, Melbourne. The coloured section of the invitation is bordered in white, green and grey/gold, and colours in the invitation include red, green gold, white, yellow, blue, khaki and brown.

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