Summary

Medal issued to commemorate the establishment of the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901. It includes an image of Duke and Duchess of York, who visited in May 1901 to open the first Commonwealth Parliament. Their tour was one of the most lavish undertaken by the monarchy. An Orient steamship liner had to be chartered for the voyage as no royal yacht could span the required distances between coaling ports. The Daily Telegraph's 'London correspondent' reported that the 'The tour of the Duke and Duchess of York is likely to cost the British ratepayer a cool quarter of a million...' The royal visitors were received with great enthusiasm.

Obverse Description

Conjoined busts of Duke and Duchess of York

Reverse Description

FEDERATED / AUSTRALIA / 1901

Edge Description

Plain

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