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Queensland Federation medallion

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CC BY-SA 4.0
CC BY-SA 4.0
Type
Medallions
Date
1901
Place
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Materials
Metal - non specific
Collection
George and Sylvia Milne collection
Accession number
2010.0011.0005

Description

A gold coloured, Queensland Australian Commonwealth Federation souvenir medallion with a suspender ring at top. In the centre of one side is a crest with the motto 'AUDAX ET FIDELIS' in a ribbon below. Text around the edge reads 'THE STATE OF QUEENSLAND / 1901'. On the opposite side is a Greco-Roman figure sitting beneath an arch holding a staff and shield. Text in ribbon below reads 'ADVANCE'. Text across the top of arch reads 'UNITY IN STRENGTH' and 'FEDER- / ATION / 1901'.

Central crest on obverse is the Shield of Queensland and Audax at Fidelis is the Queensland motto (Bold but Faithful). Figure on reverse is Britannia and shield depicts Union Jack.

About the collection

Associated with the Federation celebrations of 1901, this collection consists of six decorative and souvenir objects. The vendor acquired the collection in approximately 2001 during research into the social history of Federation. A Federation flag and two pieces of bunting depicting the Union Jack and portraits of royalty were thought to have been used in street decorations. Two souvenir medallions and a souvenir silver teaspoon were produced as souvenirs for the Australian public. All objects are in a good state of conservation. Federation provided an opportunity for the new nation to assert its position within the British Empire and was enthusiastically celebrated by the Australian public. As documented in archival collections, this collection may be examined as an example of the commercial aspect of street decoration in many urban centres across the country. It also illustrates the centrality of small promotional souvenirs to many individuals' participation in the celebrations surrounding Federation.

Read live from the Museum's Collection API (12/11/2026, 4:58:12 am). Record last updated by the Museum 2025-06-30. Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/.