The naming of the capital
Australia’s federal capital was purpose-built from 1909, since neither Sydney nor Melbourne would agree to the other city becoming the capital. The new capital was named ‘Canberra’, apparently from the name of the indigenous people of the area. The capital’s name was kept a secret until it was read out by the Governor-General’s wife, Lady Gertrude Denman.
This film shows the ceremony on 12 March 1913 when the new-born federal capital was formally named. Governor-General Lord Denman and PM Andrew Fisher are seen proceeding to the saluting base where the Australian Light Horse, field battery and lance regiments and Royal Cadets are lined up for inspection. Many of the men in this footage would not return from Gallipoli, the Western Front and other battlefields.
The naming of the capital
Australia’s federal capital was purpose-built from 1909, since neither Sydney nor Melbourne would agree to the other city becoming the capital. The new capital was named ‘Canberra’, apparently from the name of the indigenous people of the area. The capital’s name was kept a secret until it was read out by the Governor-General’s wife, Lady Gertrude Denman.
This film shows the ceremony on 12 March 1913 when the new-born federal capital was formally named. Governor-General Lord Denman and PM Andrew Fisher are seen proceeding to the saluting base where the Australian Light Horse, field battery and lance regiments and Royal Cadets are lined up for inspection. Many of the men in this footage would not return from Gallipoli, the Western Front and other battlefields.
Year: 1913
Length: 05:54
Production Company: Spencer Pictures Ltd.
Credits: Directed by Raymond Longford, Filmed by Ernest Higgins for Spencer Pictures Ltd.
Source: National Film and Sound Archive of Australia
Catalogue Reference: NFSA title: 9382
People: Governor-General Lord Thomas Denman, Hon. A Fisher (PM), King O'Malley (Minister for Home Affairs), Senator Pearce (Minister for Defence), Major-General Sir William Bridges, William 'Billy' Hughes (Federal Attorney General)
Location: Canberra, Australia
Tags: Australia, Canberra, Federal Capital, ceremony, Light Horse, NSW Lancers, infantry, artillery
Subject: Canberra, Federal Capital, ceremony, light horse, artillery
This naming ceremony was a major social event for locals and they arrived in their best attire. Part of the interest of this clip is in seeing the fashions of the day for both women and men. According to the local papers, the wife of the Governor-General, Lady Gertrude Denman wore a striking dress of green and white and a black hat trimmed with an ostrich feather. After she read out the capitals’ name, a military band, seen mounted on pale or white horses, performed ‘Advance Australia Fair’ and ‘God Save the King’.
Also appearing in this film is General William Bridges, one of the first Australian casualties of the Gallipoli Campaign in May 1915. He was buried in Alexandria but his body was returned to Australia where he received a state funeral. He is the only identified Australian killed in the First World War to have his body repatriated.
The NFSA has not been able to identify some of these people in this clip who may well be from local families. There is a warm informality in the way they are assembled and chatting with one another.
The naming of the capital
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Canberra, Australia
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0:00
NAMING THE FEDERAL CAPITAL OF AUSTRALIA MARCH 12TH, 1913 THE CEREMONY. Spencer’s. Australia
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0:10
People arrive in motor cars and horse drawn carriages
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0:48
Group of guests
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1:11
Intertitle: SENATOR PEARCE (MINISTER FOR DEFENCE) AND GENERAL BRIDGES
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1:13
Senator Pearce talking with General Bridges
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1:22
Intertitle: THE HON. W. HUGHES FEDERAL ATTORNEY GENERAL
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1:27
William ‘Billy’ Hughes in conversation
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1:43
Light Horse troops arrive in formation
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2:15
NSW Lancers arrive
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2:52
The footage returns to the Light Horse waiting in formation
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3:08
Crowds have assembled. Mounted police keep order
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3:19
Soldiers in uniform and pith helmets wait in formation
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3:38
Intertitle: LORD DENMAN AND THE HON. A. FISHER PROCEEDING TO THE SALUTING BASE
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3:44
Lord Denman arrives on horseback with escort. Fisher arrives on foot.
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3:58
Intertitle: THE MARCH PAST LORD DENMAN AT THE SALUTING BASE
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4:04
Lord Denman, mounted, salutes while Light Horse and NSW Lancers move forward in formation