Representing Colonial Australia at British, American and European International Exhibitions

The Victorian display, featuring a pillar of gold, at the International Exhibition, London, 1862 by Joseph Nash watercolour and pencil State Library of Victoria Representing colonial Australia at British, American and European international exhibitions by Louise Douglas I have just minuted a paper sent to me by should be sufficient and then only to first rate Sir Robert Duff asking me to join in an capitals of Europe. (Letter, George R Dibbs, exhibition in Antwerp in 1894 to say that Premier of New South Wales, to Lord Jersey, the colony will not join. I am full of affairs 12 August 1893)1 of this sort; our work is to be done at home. Besides, nine times out of ten the result is In venting his frustrations about the too costly … once in a quarter of a century potential participation of New South Wales reCollections: Journal of the National Museum of Australia Volume 3, Number 1, March 2008, pp. 13–32 in yet another international exhibition, The international fashion Premier Dibbs neatly encapsulates the for exhibitions views held by many nations, states and colonies caught up in the ‘exhibition fever’ The tradition of modern international gripping the world in the latter half of the exhibitions is commonly agreed to nineteenth century. Australian colonies have commenced in 1851, setting off a had been enthusiastic participants since hectic timetable with exhibitions held all extant colonies first exhibited at the approximately every two years somewhere inaugural Great Exhibition of the Works of around the world until 1893. Findling and Industry of All Nations in London’s Crystal Pelle identify 39 exhibitions significant in Palace in 1851. However, 42 years later, terms of foreign representation and the in 1893, only New South Wales — on universality and breadth of their themes a grand scale — exhibited at the World’s (usually focused on ‘industrial progress’) Columbian Exhibition in Chicago. This paper and an additional 173 events with a narrower focus.6 London hosted two international summarises aspects of the development of exhibitions in 1851 (which established the colonial displays and explores the challenges template for categorising exhibits — ‘Raw colonial organisers faced in negotiating materials’, ‘Machinery’, ‘Manufactures’ and colonial identities through the displays. ‘Fine arts’) and 1862, before opting for It suggests that Australia’s colonies were exhibitions limited to specific categories caught between their desire to present in the 1870s. In 1886, Britain changed a picture of modernity, democracy and its approach again, initiating a series of civilisation and the perception of them as exhibitions only for members of the British places for exploitation, and at the very best, Empire.7 Paris hosted four increasingly 2 of opportunity and potential. extravagant expositions universelles in 1855, International exhibitions have become 1867, 1878 and 1889. Although Australia a lively field of scholarship with the had sent displays to other countries publication of both overviews of American, from 1851, it did not host its first major British and French events and in-depth international exhibition until the Sydney 3 studies of specific exhibitions. Interest in International Exhibition in 1879. Modest the representation of indigenous cultures in comparison to British, European and has increased while exploration of the role American events of the same period, it exhibitions played in the development of nevertheless proved immensely popular with nation-states has only recently begun.4 Work colonial society. The two major exhibitions on Australia’s role as exhibition host and which followed in Melbourne in 1880 and participant has been underway for some time, 1888 were equally popular.8 America (where with Judith McKay’s comprehensive history these events were generally called ‘world’s of Queensland’s representation the most fairs’) began unsuccessfully in 1853 in notable Australian scholarship. Important New York but went on to great triumphs collections of essays have appeared on the in Philadelphia (1876) and Chicago (1893). 1879 Sydney exhibition and the 1880 and The 1893 event was the most extravagant, 1888 Melbourne exhibitions, and recent expensive and largest exhibition — with unpublished doctorates have substantially 50 nations and 37 colonies foreign advanced our knowledge of Australasian participants — and also the last great participation in international exhibitions.5 exhibition of the nineteenth century.9 14 Representing colonial Australia at British, American and European international exhibitions Promoters, backers and patrons, in the of tangible, measurable benefits and the interests of making their events bigger and substantial cost, particularly in relation to more successful, made overblown claims that hosting exhibitions. The debate crystallised exhibitions enhanced peace and harmony, in a British Board of Trade enquiry set up developed prosperous societies, advanced in 1907 to investigate ‘the nature and extent progress and strengthened global trade.10 of the benefit … [and] whether the results Sir William Henry Preece, prominent have been such as to warrant His Majesty’s engineer and organiser of British exhibitions, Government in giving financial support to illustrated the rhetoric surrounding similar exhibitions in future’.13 Evidence exhibitions when he said in 1907 that they came from many key figures responsible ‘stimulate enterprise’, ‘encourage national for exhibitions in the period 1860–90 and, emulation’ and ‘… advertise novelties, they while they identified fundamental issues excite invention, they impart knowledge, in the organisation of exhibitions, their and they tend very much indeed to promote evidence was generally favourable. The only the progress of industry, craftsmanship and Australian to give evidence was George art’.11 The claims that exhibitions offered Collins Levey, an organiser of Victoria’s everything that was new in the world — exhibitions since 1873, who presented ‘discovery’, ‘invention’ and ‘originality’ a more sanguine view when he reflected featured heavily in the promotional language that ‘the modern exhibition is a sort of of exhibitions — were partially true. Britain’s megalomania, and each has tried to be larger Post Office, for example, adopted new than the other; but they defeat their own developments in the electrical industry seen purpose’.14 The significance of the enquiry is for the first time at the 1889 Exposition not so much in its conclusion − that it was Universelle in Paris.12 impossible for Britain, or any nation, not to The prospect of seeing something participate — but in the crescendo new and modern and the opportunity of complaint that created it. for self-improvement was motivating for some visitors, particularly businessmen and women interested in the latest technological The colonial advances in their field. However, the exhibitionary impulse increasingly large, and architecturally fantastic, amusement areas were as much Despite the debates over the efficacy of a drawcard. Exhibitions advertised they participation, most nations, states and colonies had ‘something for everyone’ and indeed found it difficult to resist the opportunity for enormous numbers of people from across promotion to such vast audiences. In an age all classes visited these events. The 1851 of rising nationalism, exhibitions were the exhibition attracted 6 million visitors, rising most glamorous promotional vehicle of the to more than 27 million for the 1893 event day. In 1862, Victoria’s JG Knight saw this in Chicago. Attendance statistics in turn with great clarity: became part of the battery of arguments The lifeblood of success in trade, commerce used by organisers to attract support and and the arts is publicity, and exhibitions are justify the next event which was always more pre-eminently useful in imparting information extravagant than the last. in this most popular form … Experience has Yet exhibitions did not have unanimous shown that Exhibitions afford the cheapest support, with concerns focusing on the lack and most effective means of advertising, Louise Douglas 15 The New South Wales display at the Chicago exhibition, 1893 Government Printing Office collection, State Library of New South Wales without which, in some form or other, but a Victoria, the colony with the most few people engaged in trade and commerce at advanced manufacturing industry from the present day meet with success.15 the 1860s onwards, was not surprisingly the most active and aggressive colonial For Tasmania’s Lieutenant Governor, participant. As McKay has demonstrated, William Thomas Denison, himself a frequent Queensland, which separated from New exhibitor, the possibility that exposure to South Wales in 1859, was a very active developments in other countries would and proud exhibitor from the 1860s. New elevate ‘slovenly’ colonial agricultural practices was a prime motivation.16 Pragmatism South Wales, less economically developed combined with lofty goals were articulated than Victoria but nevertheless the most by organisers such as Robert Burdett Smith, senior colony, was also a constant presence New South Wales Commissioner for the at exhibitions. The less wealthy colonies Colonial and Indian Exhibition of 1886, who did not exhibit at the same level. Tasmania argued that ‘these displays … do an immense (formerly Van Diemen’s Land), the oldest deal of good, to take the lowest view they colony after New South Wales, was an early give a great deal of employment, and … and energetic

Load more