The 1879 Sydney International Exhibition was Australia's first international exhibition. The exhibition movement had begun in 1851 with London's Great Exhibition. Its success led to many other countries following suit. The first American international exhibition was held in Philadelphia in 1876 and people attending from New South Wales and Victoria were inspired to develop similar exhibitions here.

In December 1878, the New South Wales government committed itself to the Sydney International Exhibition. The Colonial Architect, James Barnet, designed an enormous cruciform building which was erected in Sydney's Domain at a cost of 191,800 pounds. Inside the Garden Palace, twenty kingdoms, republics and colonies were represented. Raw and manufactured goods were arranged in national courts with special displays of machinery, agricultural products and art.

The Department of Education and Sciences was one of seven into which exhibits had been arranged. The Council of Education put together an extensive display of work from the colony's public schools. Boys submitted examples of maps, drawing and illumination whilst girls submitted needlework and drawing. Significantly boys were assessed on skills necessary for employment in trades requiring care and precision whilst girls were assessed principally on needlework, a skill essential for their future roles as wives and mothers. These certificates were awarded to D. Goddard of Paddington Public School for drawing and needlework.

No mention can be found of a D. Goddard in the Record of the Sydney International Exhibition, however E. Goddard and A. Goddard of Paddington Public School both gained an Honourable Mention.

The certificates were printed by the American Bank Note Company, New York, United States of America.

The Sydney International Exhibition opened on 17 September 1879 and closed seven months later on 20 April 1880.The certificates were awarded to D. Goddard, Paddington Public School, Sydney.
The certificates were passed down through the donor's mother's family.

Certificates (2), Sydney International Exhibition 1879, awarded to D Goddard for drawing and needlework, paper, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1879

Two portrait-format certificates printed with a central inscription 'Sydney International Exhibition 1870 Certificate of Award'. Each certificate features a border of Australian floral motifs with produce runing across the top and down the sides with vignettes of mining, pastoralism, industry and the arts. The bottom centre of the certificate bears a personification of New South Wales represented by a young woman holding a laurel wreath rising above the countries of the world. The figure holds the hand of Brittania and stands behind the shield of New South Wales and the British lion. Underneath is an oval cartouche with a representation of the Garden Palace while small cameos depicting Australian flora, fauna and landscape scenes decorate the upper corners.

Printer: American Bank Note Company; New York, United States of America; 1879

See parts

A5937

1879

610 mm

507 mm