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CELEBRATING THE CENTENARY OF FEDERATION IN PORT PHILLIP
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7 May 2001
The City of Port Phillip will celebrate its pivotal role in the history of Federation with two displays which open on 14 May. The display at St Kilda Town Hall from 14 May - 31 August focuses on the landing of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York at St Kilda Pier on 6 May 1901 to open Australia's first Parliament. The other, opening at St Kilda Library, features everyday life around the time of Federation in the former Cities of St Kilda, South Melbourne and Port Melbourne. It travels to Emerald Hill Library on 11 June, Albert Park Library on 9 July and Port Melbourne Library from 6 - 31 August. Both displays draw on photographs and records held in the council archives and the local history collection. Port Phillip mayor, Julian Hill, said that Federation was a huge occasion for the municipality. "The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York disembarked at St Kilda Pier from the paddle-steamer Hygeia St Kilda on 6 May 1901. Spanning the pier was the St Kilda Yacht Club arch. The Salvation Army film unit, the official documentary film unit for Federation, recorded this key event in the history of our nation for posterity. It's only four minutes worth but thank God for the Salvos! "After walking the length of the pier, the Royal Party then led a spectacular procession to the city, passing under a ceremonial arch erected by the St Kilda and Prahran Councils. Later that day, the former Cities of St Kilda, Port Melbourne and South Melbourne also participated in the presentation of illuminated addresses to the Duke of York and the Governor-General, Lord Hopetoun," he said. Cr Hill said that St Kilda had the honour of welcoming the royal party to Australian soil but there had been municipal rivalry over the privilege. A poem from the period included the following description of events:
Port Melbourne Council met in debate The Mayor, one Edwards, rose with looks irate And said, in angry tones, with fiery snort - Some folks has made remarks as didn't ought; Kemp, of St Kilda Council has the face To say Port Melbourne is a tin-pot place, St Kilda is the spot! The bare idea In a small launch to land his Highness there! . . . While at South Melbourne City Council, Sloss Said: Strike me pink, St Kilda shan't be boss! Cr Hill said that Federation celebrations continued for days with a fireworks display at Albert Park Lake on 8 May, football matches on 9 May, the day of the official opening of Parliament and a State School's Demonstration at the Exhibition Oval on 11 May. On 13 May, the hulls, masts, yards and funnels of the warships in Port Phillip Bay were illuminated and picked out by searchlights. Crowds of people assembled along the foreshore of Port Phillip and Williamstown to witness the spectacle. Local businesses joined in the festivities, with G Tuff advertising his winter goods sales with a poem entitled "The Duke's Visit":
Build your arches Have your marches Bands of music, sports and tableaux; God bless the lad, And the King, his dad, But - have you seen Our Winter Show? The Duke and Duchess of York were due to leave for Brisbane from Station Pier in Port Melbourne but an outbreak of bubonic plague at the port of Brisbane lead to a change of plans. So that the residents of Port and South Melbourne didn't miss out, the couple travelled through South Melbourne and Port Melbourne and then boarded the royal train at Beach Street, Port Melbourne. Cr Hill said local residents and organisations played an active role in the campaign for Federation. "The Australian Natives' Association, which had branches in Port Melbourne, South Melbourne and St Kilda, held numerous meetings in support of federation. The father of federation, Alfred Deakin, who is buried in the St Kilda General Cemetery, spoke at a meeting at the Port Melbourne Town Hall in 1897 and a year later the former Port Melbourne Council carried a resolution supporting Federation. "The success of the campaigning was reflected in the overwhelming 'Yes' vote for Federation across the municipality in the 1898 and 1899 referenda. In 1999, the Federal seat of Melbourne Ports which covers all of the municipality and a bit more recorded the second highest national vote in favour of a republic," he said. Cr Hill said that the display about everyday life from 1895 - 1905 revealed just how much had changed in the last hundred years. "Sanitary conditions were a hot issue. Sewage seeping through to open drains, the condition of milk and contagious diseases were big concerns. Residents also campaigned about roads and lighting. However, there are certain continuities such as the foreshore environment and poo - though a hundred years ago it was cow and horse manure, not dog poo, which was the big problem," he said. A brochure detailing the displays is available from the three town halls and the five libraries in Port Phillip. For enquiries regarding the display or local history, ring Kay Rowan, Local History Librarian on 9209 6558. Written by:
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