The Daily Telegraph turns 140: 1900-1909 sees Federation, Queen Victoria’s death and bubonic plague
Federation was the birth of new nation but Australians still identified with Britain. As the country forged ahead, cars replaced horses, women got the vote and the first life saving club sprung up in Bondi. But the bubonic plague still lurked in Sydney’s backstreets and poverty was widespread. 140 YEARS PART III
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In part three of our 140th birthday celebrations, we take a look at 1900-1909.
A new nation was born with Federation, but Australians still identified with Britain. And the death of Queen Victoria ushered in a new Edwardian era with the high-living King Edward VII as monarch.
As the country forged ahead, cars became more prevalent, women got the vote and Bondi Surf Bathers Life Saving Club was formed — leading to a movement that would become a unique part of Australia’s cultural identity. But not all was rosy, with the bubonic plague still lurking in the backstreets of Sydney and poverty widespread.
JANUARY 1, 1901: Australia has at last formed a unified nation, with the six separate colonies officially agreeing to unite as a Commonwealth.
After decades of attempts to bring about the union, the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act was proclaimed in Sydney’s Centennial Park yesterday amid a carnival atmosphere.
More than 500,000 people lined the route from Sydney’s Domain to Centennial Park in a bid to catch a peek of Lord Hopetoun before his swearing in as the new nation’s first Governor-General.
Newfangled light bulbs were switched on throughout, a drawcard for locals excited to see the new “electric” technology.
Overnight the final touches were added to the city’s streets which blossomed into colour thanks to the fluttering brilliance of banners, bunting and streamers, the sun reflecting off colourful emblems of gold, silver and copper.
One overjoyed witness called the scenes “magnificent and enthusiastic”, with celebrations throughout the city and fireworks exploding in the evening skies over Town Hall.
At Centennial Park, Lord Hopetoun swore in Australia’s first Prime Minister, Sir Edmund Barton, and his ministry.
“The Queen commands me to express through you to the people of Australia her majesty’s heartfelt interest in the inauguration of the Commonwealth and her earnest wish that under divine providence it may ensure the increased prosperity and wellbeing for her loyal and beloved subjects in Australia,” Lord Hopetoun said, reading from a telegraph.
Horse-drawn floats, troops, mounted police, military bands and trade unionists joined a parade which traversed a four-mile route through the city. Large crowds also gathered across the country, in towns including Brisbane and Wodonga.
Following the parades, a state banquet was held at Sydney’s Town Hall in the evening, with an illuminated sign declaring “one people one destiny” lit up over the building.
The US, Norway and the Netherlands all sent congratulations to the “new born nation” of Australia.
Former NSW premier Sir Henry Parkes was hailed as being critical to the process, despite not living to see the fruits of his labour. The negotiations to form the Federation flowed directly from conferences Sir Henry pushed for, including the 1890 Federation Conference that many consider to be the “first real step”.
Yesterday’s celebrations come after the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution was passed in the UK on July 5 last year, and given royal assent by Queen Victoria five days later.
The new constitution has established a parliament consisting of two chambers, with a Senate and House of Representatives which will govern the country. A high court has also been established.
The festive mood is expected to stretch on for days, with the Sydney light show to be illuminated at 8pm every night this week.
A parade and celebration will be held on Melbourne on May 9 to mark the opening of the first federal parliament.
The Daily Telegraph understands royal guests from the United Kingdom are considering attending the groundbreaking event.
MILLIONS MOURN DEATH OF OUR QUEEN
JANUARY 22, 1901: Her Majesty Queen Victoria has died, plunging the world into mourning.
The Queen, Empress and Defender of the Faith, who reigned over 400 million people, passed away peacefully at her beloved home, Osborne House on the Isle of Wight.
She died peacefully, aged 81, with her son and successor, King Edward VII, and her eldest grandson, Emperor Wilhelm II, and other members of the royal family at her side.
The scene at her bedside was “inexpressibly sad”, with a grief-stricken King Edward comforted by his nephew.
The death of the Queen, who ruled for 63 years, was described as “the greatest loss the British people ever suffered, from which there was no escape and no remedy”.
Yesterday the Governor-General sent a message expressing the nation’s condolences to the royal family “in the death of the great and good Queen of whom the Empire and all civilised humanity have been bereft”.
In Sydney, with a national sorrow taking hold, the many flag poles, so recently flying joyous welcomes to the newborn Commonwealth, became the bearers of emblems of Australia’s desolation.
On receiving the news, The Stock Exchange, courts, most government offices and businesses closed.
— Fiona Wingett
DIRTY RAT’S TALE
MARCH 22, 1900: Hundreds of terrified people tried to fight their way in to the Board of Health offices to be inoculated against the bubonic plague, which has gripped Sydney since the beginning of the year.
Across Sydney councils have finally mobilised to provide free disinfectant to poor families, and house inspections are being conducted alongside a large-scale rat-catching operation.
IS THIS THE END OF THE ROAD FOR THE HORSE?
APRIL 1900: In a transport breakthrough never before witnessed in Australia, Herbert Thomson and Edward Holmes today completed the nation’s first ever interstate journey by motor car.
The intrepid duo completed their 493-mile voyage from Bathurst to Albury in an astonishing 56 hours and 36 minutes, at an average speed of 8.72 miles per hour.
The pair chose Bathurst rather than Sydney as their departure point because launching a journey from the NSW capital is obviously beyond the technological capacity of even the most advanced motor vehicle.
Their vehicle, a steam-propelled device of Thomson’s own design and construction, had previously amazed crowds last year during demonstration runs at a cricket ground.
“The introduction of the Motor Car must surely go a long way towards giving the colonies better roads, and it is not a rash statement to make that ere long (it will be) speeding along merrily through our country roads excelling our old friend the horse,” Mr Holmes said.
— Tim Blair
WOMEN REFUSE TO SUFFRAGE MALE FOOLS GLADLY
AUGUST 18, 1902: Women have finally been given the right to vote in NSW elections after a hard-fought battle which saw the proposal thrown out three times by the state’s upper house.
The Woman’s Franchise Bill was passed yesterday by both houses of the state parliament and it only now requires royal assent for the measure to become law.
Even though women have been able to vote, and stand, in federal elections since early this year — a world first — a hard core of NSW legislators fiercely resisted allowing women a say in choosing politicians for their own state
Up to 300,000 women in NSW will join their sisters in South Australia and West Australia to have the right to vote in state parliamentary elections.
It is still denied to them in Queensland, Victoria, and Tasmania. Spearheading the campaign through The Women’s’ Franchise League have been Lady Mary Windeyer, Maybanke Anderson and Annie Golding, who said the move would introduce a new and powerful factor into social, political, and industrial life.
— Fiona Wingett
REEL TIME RESCUES
MARCH 19, 1907: The first ever surf lifesaving club has been formed at Bondi Beach by a group of expert swimmers.
With the rise in popularity of swimming in the sea — and with many people not understanding its dangers — the Bondi Surf Bathers’ Life Saving Club was launched to respond to emergencies.
The club is to give a demonstration how a lifeline reel is used to save those who have been carried out to sea.
SOUTHS KO EASTS IN FIRST FINAL
AUGUST 28, 1908: South Sydney have been crowned the inaugural winners of the first grade rugby league competition after beating Eastern Suburbs 14-12 in the final of the Royal Agricultural Shield.
In front of a crowd of 3500 at the Royal Agricultural Society Showground, South Sydney won an entertaining but brutal contest in which several players were knocked out.
The match kicked off after an exhibition of boomerang and spear throwing from a group of Aboriginals visiting from Queensland.
Both teams were weakened by the absence of players selected to travel to England on the first Kangaroo tour.
There was little in it in the first half which South Sydney edged 8-7 but after the resumption their backline began to fire. Despite missing a couple of chances, captain Arthur Conlon crossed in the corner to extend the lead to 11-7.
Easts closed the gap to 11-9 with a field goal, but lock Harry Butler scored a vital late try for South Sydney. Easts’ Horrie Miller, the competition’s top points scorer, went over for his second try, a late consolation, but the conversion to tie it up failed.
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