Summary

Australia
The National Agricultural Society Of Victoria, 1877 (AD)
Mint: not recorded
Awarded to: Paton, William.
Other Details: Medal awarded in 1877 to William Paton for his dog "Dick" ( a Dandy Dinmont terrier) by the National Agricultural Society of Victoria (now known as Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria). 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 bronze prize medal (51 mm diameter) of the National Agricultural Society of Victoria by the artist Julius Hogarth; awarded to William Panton for his Dandy Dinmont dog "Dick"; it features Victoria standing facing holding a block of butter and surrounded by agricultural scene; details of the winner are stamped on the reverse and the edge.

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; the NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF VICTORIA; stamped within Wm. PATON; below wreath in small letters the artist's name, J. HOGARTH

Edge Description

FIRST PRIZE. DANDY DIMONT DOG "DICK".

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.

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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