Summary

Glass negative stereograph showing the Victorian Mounted Rifles participating in the Royal Procession. It is part of the G. H. Myers Collection which consists of 73 photographs taken by Godfrey Henry Myers, an electrician and amateur photographer, in Melbourne during May 1901. 72 of these photographs depict preparations for the celebrations that surrounded Federation; all but one are glass stereographs. This collection represents Myers' one venture into commercial photography. It is significant for its images of the crowds, which do not feature so prominently in commercial photographs. The remaining photograph is a family portrait.

The opening of the Australian Parliament on May 9 1901 was an occasion for great celebrations in Melbourne. Ten days of festivities (from 6-16 May) were planned to mark the Federation of the new nation and honour the Royal visitors, the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York. The city was transformed with decorations - flags, bunting, colourful lights and festive arches - and a series of public events were held, including a military tattoo and several street parades. Unprecedented numbers of people arrived in Melbourne from the rest of Victoria and throughout Australia to take part in the celebrations.

Description of Content

Victorian Mounted Rifles, Royal Procession, Federation Celebrations, Melbourne, May 1901. Veterans of the Boer War, these troopers were mostly from the bush. They provided their own horses, saddles and uniform. Their headgear reflected their personal preference. Ostensively a felt slouch hat, it took on many shapes, including an earlier trooper's. Unusually, the slouch hats were turned up on the right side. The troopers are carrying rifles. In the background small boys perch in the branches of trees. The procession of 500 mounted troops is passing between a crowd of well dressed onlookers, young children held aloft.

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