This ticket is a reminder of the extensive range of activities and entertainments that followed the official declaration of the Commonwealth of Australia in Sydney on 1 January 1901. After decades of argument over the terms of Federation compromise was finally reached in 1899. On 9 July 1900 Queen Victoria signed the Australian Commonwealth (Constitution) Act and the same pen, inkstand and table were used at the ceremony in Sydney on 1 January 1901.

The official signing of the documents in Centennial Park followed a parade through the city streets from the Domain, along Macquarie Street and out through Pitt Street to Oxford Street. Firefighters, police, stockmen, trade unionists, representatives of foreign governments, British Empire troops and Australia's first governor general, Lord Hopetoun, marched through the lavishly decorated streets watched by a crowd of 250,000. Ten plaster arches spanned the roadway representing aspects of Australian life. The Inauguration was followed by a state banquet in the Sydney Town Hall and nine days of celebrations including a military review, a reenactment of Captain Cook's landing at Botany Bay, sporting and musical carnivals, fireworks and illuminations.

This ticket was made by the Worker Trades Union Print, Kent St.

The Commonwealth of Australia was inaugurated on 1 January 1901 in a ceremony in Sydney's Centennial Park. The official signing of the documents followed a parade through the city streets from the Domain, along Macquarie Street and out through Pitt Street to Oxford Street. Firefighters, police, stockmen, trade unionists, representatives of foreign governments, British Empire troops and Australia's first governor general, Lord Hopetoun, marched through the lavishly decorated streets watched by a crowd of 250,000. Ten plaster arches spanned the roadway representing aspects of Asutralian life. A special pavilion, designed by NSW Government Architect Walter Vernon was erected in Centennial Park for the Declaration of the Commonwealth and the swearing in of Lord Hopetoun, the first Prime Minister Edmund Barton and his ministry. The same pen, inkstand and table were used as had been used by Queen Victoria when she signed the Australian Commonwealth (Constitution) Act on 9 July 1900. The Ceremony ended with a massed choir singing God save the Queen and the Hallelujah chorus followed by 10,000 school children singing Advance Australia fair and Rule Britannia.

Ticket, 'Demonstration and Sports', paper, made for the United Friendly Societies and Trade Unions, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 5/1/1901

A ticket made from a rectangular piece of white card with blue printing. The ticket is for a 'United Friendly Societies and Trade Unions Demonstration and Sports'. The event formed part of the 1901 'Commonwealth Celebrations'.

Made: 1900


Used: 1901

Blue text across the ticket reads in part 'Commonwealth Celebrations. / UNITED FRIENDLY SOCIETIES' AND / TRADE UNIONS' / Demonstration and Sports / JANUARY 5, 1901 / J.P. COCHRAN / THOS. H. THROWER, / Joint Secretaries / Trade Union Committee.'

P3155-11

1900

90 mm

114 mm