Summary

Australia Victoria
Medal - National Agricultural Society of Victoria Silver Prize 1887 (AD)
Mint:
Awarded to: D. Altson
Other Details: Awarded as 1st Prize for a plough harness. The National Agricultural Society of Victoria (now known as Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria), formed in 1870 from the Port Phillip Farmers' Society. Farmers' societies were formed with the intention of improving agricultural practices to meet the needs of a steadily increasing Australian population. The newly formed National Agricultural Society of Victoria set up a new show site at Emerald Hill in South Melbourne. The show moved to Ascot Vale in 1882, where shows are held to this day.

Physical Description

A silver prize medal (35 mm diameter) of the National Agricultural Society of Victoria awarded to D. Altson in 1887; it features Victoria standing facing holding a block of butter and surrounded by agricultural scenes. The medal has a loop attached into the edge near 12.

Obverse Description

Victoria standing facing holding a block of butter and surrounded by agricultural scene which includes two horses, two sheep a bull a plough and a traction Engine

Reverse Description

Around wreath of wheat; NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF VICTORIA; within, AWARDED TO / David Altson & Co / 1st Prize / PLOUGH HARNESS / 1887

Edge Description

Plain

Significance

The National Agricultural Society of Victoria (now known as Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria) was formed in 1870 from the Port Phillip Farmers' Society. Farmers' societies were formed with the intention of matching farming methods with the needs of a steadily increasing Australian population. In 1870 the National Agricultural Society of Victoria set up a new show site at Emerald Hill in South Melbourne. The current showgrounds in Ascot Vale were established in 1882, and have been the base for the Royal Melbourne Show ever since.

In May 1890 Queen Victoria assented to the use of the 'Royal' prefix by the Society in recognition of its ongoing contribution to the improvement of agriculture. The Society then became the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria and the Show, the Royal Melbourne Show. -Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria web site http://www.rasv.com.au/; Essendon Network for Employment, Education and Training web site http://www.enet.org.au/historyonline/mccracken/peter.htm; Glyn Rimmington, University of Melbourne, web site http://rimmo.mur.csu.edu.au/rimmo/hyperbook/5/5.4.html -D. Tout-Smith 2/10/2003.

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