One of Australia’s most iconic paintings, Big Picture hangs in Parliament House in Canberra, and is the inspiration for Dr Matt Harvey’s 125-year commemorative piece.
It’s now 124 years since the land that abounds in nature’s gifts, and prides itself on mateship and “giving it a crack” was unified to form the Commonwealth we know as Australia.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
However, if it wasn’t for the Corowa People’s Conference of 1893, it was possible the six states may never have united.
This month, the Corowa District Historical Society, in conjunction with constitutional lawyer, and Victoria University senior lecturer, Dr Matt Harvey, is remembering the contribution the town made to the Australia Federation Movement with a very unique project.
The Corowa People’s Conference of 1893 passed a motion proposing a popularly elected Convention to draft the Constitution, taking sole power out of the hands of politicians.
In 1891 a draft constitution for a proposed united Commonwealth of Australia, was the first major step towards the Australian Federation.
But it was at the Corowa People's Conference where the focus shifted from the politicians to the direct participation of the public.
The courthouse was the location of the Federation Conference which commenced in July 1893.
This month’s event, Painting Federation, will celebrate, discuss and highlight Corowa’s significance in the Australian Federation Movement.
Corowa Historical Society committee member Lesley New said it would be great for the event to enlighten people along the border of what really happened in 1893 and why Corowa claims the title, Birthplace of Federation?
Next year also represents 125 years since Tom Roberts painted Big Picture, officially titled The Opening of the First Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia by His Royal Highness the Duke of Cornwall and York, May 9, 1901.
Big Picture is recognised as the most famous painting displayed in the Australian Parliament House and depicts the first-ever sitting of the Australian Parliament at the Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne.
Dr Harvey said he asked himself what Tom Roberts’ painting, Big Picture would look like if it was painted now instead of 125 years ago.
“It also got me thinking ‘what does the Federation look like’,” he said.
“What do we see when we think of Federation?
His thought inspired the idea to create a giant map of Australia on a blank canvas.
The delegates of the 1893 Corowa People’s Conference.
“My idea would be to get people to draw the most striking feature of their postcode,” he said.
“We’ll try and get people together, drawing and painting, and see what happens”
The first brush of the painting will be laid in Wahgunyah before hopefully being completed on a journey around Australia.
Dr Harvey hopes it can be unveiled alongside Big Picture in Melbourne at next year’s anniversary of the opening of the first parliament on May 9.
He said Corowa was the place to talk about Federation and the constitution.
“(In Corowa) they’re living the dream,” he said.
“It is the daily reality that residents of Corowa go down the road and are in Victoria.
“The John Forde bridge, between two states, is a really powerful symbol of Federation.”
Painting Federation is on at the Wahgunyah School of Arts on July 27 from 11.30am – 1.00pm.
A timeline of events leading into 1901 where the Commonwealth of Australia came into existence.
8°C