Federation Day - January 1st 1901 - CentennialPark - New South Wales
On The 1st January 1901
A British Act Was Declared, Making Australia A Federation Of States Called The Commonwealth Of Australia, & Establishing It’s Constitution & Form Of Government
On That Day, Australia’s First Head, it’s Governor General Lord Hopetoun Was Sworn In, As Was Its First Prime Minister, Edmund Barton & Australia’s First Federal Cabinet
On That Day in 1901, A Procession Of Dignitries Bands Soldiers, & Horse Drawn Floats Passed Through Sydney City Centre & Marched 5 & A Half Miles To Centennial Park. The Streets & Balconies Were Lined With Thousands Of People. Buildings were elaborately Decorated Celebratring The Event
The Slogan of The federation Was “ One People – One Destiny”
Special Arches Were Set Up for The occasion
There Was An Arch From France. There was an Arch From The United States Of America There Was A Wool Growers Association Arch, There Was Coal industry Arch. There Was A Permanent Commonwealth Arch In Bridge Street
The Procession Also Went Past The Statue Of Queen Victoria.
In A Packed Centennial Park, Lord Hopetoun, The Governor General Elect, Primate Of Sydney’s Church of England, Arch Bishop William Smith, The New Prime Minister Edmund Barton & Other Dignitries Gathered In The Specially Constructed Pavillion
The Choir Of St Andrews Church Sang The Hymn “O God Our Help In Ages Past”
The Crowd Stood With Beared Heads. With Deep Intonation, Arch Bishop Read The Prayers For The Commonwealth
“O Lord God Almighty, High Above All Heights, Whose Lifetime Is Eternity
We Thine Unworthy Servants Give Thee Most Humble & Hearty Thanks For All Thy Goodness & Loving Kindness. We glorify Thee That Thou Has Been pleased In Thy Providence To Unite Australia In The Bonds Of Brotherly Love & Accord, & In One Commonwealth
Under Our Most Gracious Sovereign Lady Queen Victoria
We Beseech Thee. Grant Unto This Union Thy Grace, & Heavenly Benediction That A Strong People May Arise, To Hallow Thy Name, To Do Justly, & To Love Mercy, & To Walk Humbly Before Thee In Reveranve & Righteousness Of Life
Furthermore We Pray Thee To Make Our Empire Always A Faithful & Fearless Leader Among The Nations, In All That Is Good,
& To Bless Our Queen & Those Who Are Put In Authority Under Her, More Especially In This Land. Let Thy Wisdom Be Their Guide. Strengthen Them In Uprightness. Direct & Rule Their Hearts, That They May Govern According To Thy Holy Will, & Vouch Safe That All Things May Be Ordered & Settled Upon The Best & Surest Foundations
That Peace & Happiness, Truth & Justice, Religion & Piuty May Be Deepened, & Increased Among Us, & That We Thy People May Perpetually Praise From Generation To Generation
Blessed Be Thy Name Forever & Ever. Through Jesus Our Lord. Amen
The Followed The Prayer For The Governor General, Then The Lords Prayer Followed
The Supreme Moment Had Arrived. As Guns Brought Fourth A Salute, As Lord Hopetoun Signed His Name, That He Had Assumed His Official Duties, & Was Vested With All The Powers Conferred
A New Nation Had Been Born
Ta Dam La Dammus – A Hymn Of Christian Praise And Affirmation Of God & Chirst
After The Swearing In Of The First Prime Minister & Australia’s Federal Cabinet, The Ceremonies Came To An End.
The Celebrations Went On In Sydney For 2 Weeks, & There Was Celebrations Across All States. On The 9th May 1901, The 1st Federal Parliament Was Opened In Melbourne
So We Celebrate
