Headon acquired the items on loan from the family of Lord Thomas Denman, the Australian Governor-General 100 years ago and they’ll be part of an exhibition he is curating at Parliament House.
The items include the gold “casket” presented by King O’Malley to Lady Denman, the original case she opened which contained the name “Canberra” . According to Headon, they have never been exhibited anywhere before, either in England or Australia.
“The case,” he added, “engraved with the Denman family crest and a special inscription, is well-used. We know that Lady Denman was a heavy a smoker – rare for women of that time – and King O’Malley knew it, too.”
Another item unveiled was the cocked hat with plumes worn by Lord Denman on Canberra’s big occasion, which is encased in an imposing, purpose-made metal container.
The exhibition, “But Once in a History,” will be held in the Presiding Officers’ Exhibition Area of Parliament House from January 14 to April 3, and also marks the 25th anniversary of the opening of Parliament House in 1988.
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