Federation Pavilion facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Federation Pavilion |
|
|---|---|
The pavilion on 1 January 1901
|
|
| Location | Cabarita Road, Cabarita, City of Canada Bay, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1900 |
| Owner | City of Canada Bay Council |
| Official name: Federation Pavilion, Cabarita Park | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 22 December 2000 |
| Reference no. | 1454 |
| Type | Pavilion |
| Category | Community Facilities |
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
The Federation Pavilion was a temporary building set up in Centennial Park for a very important event. This event was the celebration of the Federation of Australia on 1 January 1901. On this day, Australia became one united nation. The pavilion was where the first Governor-General and Prime Minister of Australia were sworn into office.
Originally, the pavilion looked very fancy with lots of detailed plasterwork. But this fancy exterior was not made to last. By 1903, the wooden frame of the building was bought by the Municipality of Concord and moved to Cabarita Park in Cabarita. Today, the City of Canada Bay owns the pavilion. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 22 December 2000. Since 2016, a picture of the pavilion has even appeared on the Australian five-dollar note.
Contents
The Federation Pavilion Story
Cabarita Park's History
The land around Canada Bay, where Cabarita Park is located, was traditionally home to the Wangal clan. They were part of the larger Darug Aboriginal nation. Their lives were closely connected to the harbour, where they gathered food and materials. This area was an important meeting place for Aboriginal people.
European settlers first saw Cabarita Point in February 1788. This was when Captain John Hunter explored the Parramatta River. The park became a recreation area in 1856. People could reach it by steamer boats in the 1850s. In its early days, the park was a popular spot for picnics and watching boat races.
Cabarita Park became a public park in 1880. It was a popular place for families to visit.
The Federation Ceremony
.jpg)
The wooden structure of the Federation Pavilion was the main spot for a huge ceremony. On 1 January 1901, the first Governor-General of Australia, John Hope, 7th Earl of Hopetoun, and the first Prime Minister of Australia, Edmund Barton, were sworn in. This event officially started the federation of the colonies into one country.
The ceremony took place in Centennial Park, Sydney. It was a very grand event with about 60,000 people watching. The oaths were given by Sir Frederick Matthew Darley, who was the Chief Justice of New South Wales.
The pavilion was originally about 14 meters tall. It had many fancy details made from plaster. The New South Wales Government Architect helped with the building, but it's not known who designed it. The work was paid for by a special fund for the celebrations.
A large, six-sided slab of polished granite was placed under the pavilion. This stone represented the six original states that formed the federation. It was called the Commonwealth Stone. In 1904, this stone was placed permanently in the ground. It marked the exact spot where Australia became a nation.
Moving to Cabarita Park
After the big ceremony, the pavilion started to fall apart. The plaster decorations were not meant to last. In 1902, it was in bad condition. So, it was put up for sale. The Municipality of Concord bought the wooden frame for 60 Australian pounds. By then, most of the plaster details had already gone.
The pavilion's wooden frame was moved to Cabarita Park in 1903. It was no longer fancy, just the basic structure. On 9 May 1951, a special ceremony was held at the pavilion in its new home. This was to celebrate 50 years since Federation. A memorial plaque was unveiled. About 10,000 people attended this event.
Over the years, there were ideas to restore the pavilion to its original look. But these plans were not carried out. In 1983, there was a suggestion to move the pavilion back to Centennial Park. However, the Concord Council refused. They pointed out that they had saved and maintained the structure.
Since the 1980s, the pavilion in Cabarita Park has been used for weddings and music performances. In 1988, a new, permanent Federation Pavilion was built in Centennial Park. This new structure stands over the original granite slab.
What the Pavilion Looks Like Now
The Federation Pavilion today looks very different from its original 1901 appearance. Most of its fancy decorations are gone. These included the arches, columns, and the detailed roof.
Now, it is a much simpler building. It is not raised up like it used to be. Instead, it sits on a concrete slab at ground level. The pillars that hold up the dome are plain wooden posts. These posts were the core of the original fancy columns. The arches have been replaced with simple vertical wooden pieces. It is hard to tell exactly how much of the original wood remains.
In 2007, the pavilion was reported to be well looked after and in good condition.
Why the Pavilion is Important
The Federation Pavilion is very important because its timber frame was the actual place where Australia's first Governor-General and Prime Minister were sworn in. This happened at the official start of Federation in Centennial Park on 1 January 1901.
The community highly values this structure. It is a symbol of the official ceremony that created the Commonwealth of Australia. It is also important because it is linked to key figures in Australia's history. These include Edmund Barton, Australia's first Prime Minister, and Lord Hopetoun, the first Governor-General.
The pavilion's move to Cabarita Park in 1903 helped save it. The Federation Pavilion in Cabarita Park was officially listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 22 December 2000.
