Melbourne - the seat of government
Melbourne was the home of the Australian parliament for 26
years.
The opening of the parliament was held at the Royal Exhibition Building in
Carlton Gardens in May 1901. After the opening, the federal parliament met in
Spring Street and the Victorian State Parliament moved into the Exhibition
Building. This continued until the parliament moved to its new home in Canberra
in 1927.
Federal Parliament in Melbourne
On
9 May 1901 His Royal Highness the Duke of Cornwall and York, amidst much pomp
and grandeur, opened the first Federal Parliament of Australia at the Royal
Exhibition Building in Melbourne, Victoria.
This much anticipated event was surrounded by a 10 day programme of
celebrations.
Following the opening, the new Federal Parliament took over the Victorian State
Parliament building. The State Parliament moved their proceedings to the
Exhibition Building. The business of both legislatures was conducted in these
temporary accommodations for a quarter of a century.
It was not until 1927 that the Federal Parliament moved to its permanent home
in the new Australian capital city of Canberra and the Victorian State
Parliament regained its building.
Melbourne became the long term temporary home for the Federal Parliament as a
result of negotiations between the colonies over the Federal Constitution.
In 1898, the referendum
on the Constitution Bill was carried in South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania
(it was not contested in Queensland or Western Australia). In New South Wales,
despite winning a majority of the vote (52%), the 'yes' case failed to attract
the 80,000 votes required in that state for it to be carried. (It fell 9,000
short).
New South Wales Premier George Reid was roundly blamed by the federal movement
for the referendum loss. Reid, though, took the next step towards Federation
when he instigated a meeting of the colonial premiers in Melbourne. This meeting
is generally known as the Secret
Premiers Conference. During an intense few days between 29 January and 2
February 1899 the Premiers hammered out an agreement on amendments to the draft
constitution. One of the issues agreed on was the siting of a new Australian
capital in New South Wales, but not within 100 miles of Sydney. In the interim
it was agreed to house the Federal Parliament in Melbourne. These decisions are
reflected in Section 125 of the Australian Constitution.
Reid pronounced his satisfaction at the outcome of this meeting. Alfred Deakin,
Reid's implacable opponent, saw Reid's attacks on the Constitution Bill as
"merely tactical". He felt the requirement for the capital to be in
New South Wales as just a "vote catching proviso" and a "local
bribe".
Regarding the choice of Melbourne as the temporary home of Federal Parliament
Deakin added "If he (Reid) had been a little more exigent, the last
provision in favour of Melbourne would not have been insisted upon. The
Victorians were quite prepared to accept a share of the parliamentary annual
sittings pending the choice of a permanent capital and to have allowed Sydney a
similar compliment and if necessary Brisbane and Adelaide as well." (Federal
Story: the inner history of the Federal cause by Alfred Deakin, Melbourne,
Roberston and Mullens, 1944 p.192)
This
arduous conference lay the foundation for the success of the 1899
referendum and the Federation of the colonies. It was also at this meeting
where it was agreed that Melbourne be the temporary home of the Federal
Parliament until a new capital was built.
Celebrations
Melbourne grandly celebrated the opening of the first Federal Parliament. Sydney
had been an extravagent host of the Commonwealth Celebrations of 1 January 1901
when the interim government of Barton had been sworn in.
Melbourne had looked northwards with a little envy at the tumultuous welcome
given to the Commonwealth by Sydney. Now, following Barton's success in the
Federal election (29 and 30 March 1901), it was Melbourne's moment.
The celebrations were centred around the royal visit and included the obligatory
receptions, concerts and official dinners. There were also fireworks displays, a
procession of Australian stockmen, a Chinese
dragon parade along Little Bourke Street, a military tattoo, street bands
and illuminations of various parts of the city.
The city was abundantly
decorated with flags and bunting. The Argus (Melbourne) breathlessly
reported that for the celebrations Melbourne had been transformed into "a
veritable Paris of the South, the city of a faerie dreamland. Not however the
mere baseless faerie vision which leaves not a wrack behind but such a
reminiscence of the civic glories of the older world as leaves the noble
suggestion of a future glory for the new…." (The Argus
7 May 1901 p.10)
Parallel lines of Venetian masts (1264 in all) lined the tramways, dividing the
city streets into three avenues. Each mast had a shield and a flag. Lines ran
between the masts and trailed 8,240 pennants. Many of the city buildings were
draped in decorations often in the colours of the British Flag. One feature of
the celebrations was the construction of many celebratory arches.
The opening in Melbourne of the first Federal Parliament was an opportunity to
express great civic pride. The citizens so did in great numbers.
