1901 opening of the first Commonwealth parliament invitations

Williams and his wife were invited to four events associated with the opening of parliament. Each event had its own elaborately designed invitation.  

The first event was the Conversazione, an evening hosted by the Victorian Government, which kicked off the celebrations two days prior to the opening itself. The Conversazione was held in the Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne. The Gippsland Farmers' Journal described the event as: 'Without, it was a fairy palace glittering like a glorious constellation; within, a vision of greenery, glorious colour, sparkling eyes and wondrous uniforms.' 

The invitation features a painting of the Royal Exhibition Building where many of the celebrations were to take place, surrounded by the shields of each of the states that had joined the Commonwealth. The invitation was designed by George Brougham Hubert Austin, an architect in the Victorian Department of Public Works. Austin's background as an architect can be seen in the faithful representations of the Royal Exhibition Building and the skylines of Australia's major cities. 

The second event was the opening of federal parliament, presided over by the Duke of Cornwall and York, who would later become King George V. Over 12,000 people packed into the Melbourne Exhibition Building to witness the historic moment. The highlight of the occasion was the swearing in of Australia's first senators and members of the House of Representatives, and the Duke reading a proclamation from his father, King Edward VII.  

'It is His Majesty's earnest prayer that this union so happily achieved may, under God's blessing, prove an instrument for still further promoting the welfare and advancement of his subjects in Australia and for the strengthening and consolidation of his Empire.' 

The image on the invitation is based on the poem Commonwealth Ode by Rudyard Kipling, in which a Young Australia is recognised by Mother Britain. An extract of the poem is included on the invitation.  

'Her hand was still on her sword hilt – the spur was still on her heel; 
She had not cast her harness of grey war-dinted steel; 
High on her red-splashed charger, beautiful, bold, and browned; 
Bright-eyed out of the battle, the young Queen rode to be crowned. 
Loyal she gave the greeting, royal she bowed her head, crying "Crown me, my mother," and the old Queen stood and said...' 

Williams and his wife also attended the reception that evening, which was described by the Evening Journal as, 'On a scale of brilliancy rarely equalled even in England'. It was held by the newly sworn in federal ministers who were described by the Western Mail as, 'Resplendent in Court uniforms with white stockings, Sir John Forrest and Sir George Turner looking particularly gorgeous in their massive gold lace embroideries.' 

The evening reception was an opportunity to meet the Duke and Duchess, so the invitation draws upon British imagery rather than Australian. This invitation features oak leaves rather than Australian natives alongside the Royal Coat of Arms. The figure on the right could represent the state of Victoria or the Commonwealth of Australia, it's a counterpoint to the figure on the left representing Britannia.