Summary

Medal - National Agricultural Society of Victoria Commemorative, 1883 (AD)
Mint: not recorded
Other Details: Medal issued by the National Agricultural Society of Victoria (now known as Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria) perhaps to commemorate the first Melbourne Show held at the Ascot Vale site. The Society was 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 1883, where shows are held to this day.

Physical Description

A gilt bronze medal (22 mm diameter) holed - probably originally had a ring through the hole and piece of ribbon through which it could be pinned to clothing. It features the heads of a bull, ram and horse in three circles with bunch of grapes, wheat sheaf and plough between and an Australian shield.

Obverse Description

At centre an Australian Shield quartered bu broad cross bearing the five stars of the Southern Cross; the quarters contain a sailing ship, golden-fleece, mining tools and a sheaf of wheat; around, THE NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF VICTORIA . 1883 .

Reverse Description

The heads of a bull, ram and horse in three circles with bunch of grapes, wheat sheaf and plough between.

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 1883, and have been the base for the Royal Melbourne Show ever since. This medal commemorated the 1883 Melbourne Show.

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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