THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA
+Source.+--The Melbourne Argus, 10 May 1901
OPENING OF THE FIRST PARLIAMENT
Ten years after the great conference of 1891, the work of Sir Henry
Parkes and his fellow federationists reached its culmination. The
first truly Australian Parliament was opened by the Duke of
Cornwall and York (King George V).
By the hand of royalty, in the presence of the greatest concourse of
people that Australia has seen in one building, and with splendid pomp
and ceremonial, the legislative machinery of the Commonwealth was
yesterday set in motion. The day was full of smiles and tears, the
smiles predominating. Rising gloomily, the dispersing clouds allowed the
bright sun to peep through, and when the great ceremony was in progress
in the Exhibition-building, the atmosphere was radiant, and illuminated
the vast spaces of the building and the great sea of faces with a bright
Australian glow.
A sight never to be forgotten was the assemblage which, in perfect
order, but with exalted feeling, awaited the arrival of the Duke and
Duchess in the great avenues which branch out from beneath the vast Dome
of the Exhibition-building.
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