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Centenary Of Federation To Be Celebrated In Melbourne

May 09, 2001

The centenary of the opening of the first Federal Parliament is being celebrated in Melbourne today.

RobertSeveral thousands guests, mainly past and present Federal and State politicians, and a small contingent of members of the public, will assemble in Melbourne’s Exhibition Building this afternoon for a recreation of the 1901 ceremony.

Opened by the future King George V, the first Federal Parliament followed elections held on March 29 and 30, 1901. The first Prime Minister, Edmund Barton, leader of the Protectionist Party, and the Opposition Leader, George Reid, leader of the Free Traders, sat in a House of Representatives of 75 members, 14 of whom were Labor Party members. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Federation, Opening Parliament, Political History Tagged With: , , ,