Summary

Australia Victoria Shire of East Loddon
Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee 1897 (AD)
Mint: not recorded
Other Details: Queen Victoria's diamond jubilee in 1897 was celebrated the great enthusiasm throughout the British Empire. It prompted many Australian local governments to issue commemorative medals. The Shire of East Lodden, in the County of Bendigo, was no exception. In 1843 the East Loddon area was tied up in large holdings used for the grazing of sheep, but the Victorian Land Act of 1862 saw the holdings broken up and replaced by wheat farming. Centres of trade and business began to develop in the area, which benefited from through traffic since it was located on a major stock route connecting the Riverina of New South Wales, the Western District of Victoria and the markets of southern Victoria. Serpentine became the administrative centre of the East Loddon Shire, proclaimed on 28 July 1871. In 1995 it became part of the new Loddon Shire Council.

Obverse Description

Jugate busts, young & old Queen Victoria; around, QUEEN VICTORIA'S 60TH YEAR OF REIGN * 1837 TO 1897 * (stops on either side of date in form of stars). Mint name, STOKES & SONS in tiny letters on rim below date.

Reverse Description

At centre within wide rim front view of Shire Hall with fence and gate; above, SERPENTINE, in exergue, S.C. JONES, SECY. around on broad rim, SHIRE OF EAST LODDON + J.B. McCREA, PRESIDENT +

Edge Description

Plain

Significance

Queen Victoria's diamond jubilee in 1897 was celebrated the great enthusiasm throughout the British Empire. It prompted many Australian local governments to issue commemorative medals. The Shire of East Lodden was no exception. East Loddon was a shire in the County of Bendigo. In 1843 the entire area was tied up in large holdings used for the grazing of sheep, but the Victorian Land Act of 1862 saw the holdings broken up and replaced by wheat farming. Centres of trade and business began to develop in the area, and Serpentine emerged on Serpentine Creek, an offshoot of the Loddon River. It grew up around a post office, established in 1848, a bullock driver's camp and a changing place for a coaching company. The area benefited from through traffic since it was located on a major stock route connecting the Riverina of New South Wales, the Western District of Victoria, and the markets of southern Victoria. The road district of East Loddon was created on 28 December 1864, and a hall was constructed at Serpentine as a meeting place in 1867-68. Serpentine therefore became the administrative centre of the East Loddon Shire, proclaimed on 28 July 1871. The Shire enjoyed a plentiful supply of water, and supply channels were established in the early 1880s, the earliest water supply system in Victoria. Later they became the basis for an extensive irrigation system. -Blake, L. 1977. Place Names of Victoria; Walkabout Australian Travel Guide, Fairfex F2 web site http://www.walkabout.com.au/locations/VICSerpentine.shtml. -D. Tout-Smith 25/11/2003.

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