MY photo this week shows the stone memorial cairn and flagstaff at the bottom of William Street in the early 1960s and an unknown lady reading the panels. A time capsule, containing some historical documents and other items, was placed inside the construction during its erection. This is part two of this story.
During the opening ceremony which took place on May 4, 1930, Royal Australian Historical Society president Dr H. Norrie referred to the many changes that had taken place since Governor Macquarie proclaimed Bathurst in 1815.
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He touched on a century’s progress in mechanical inventions that had changed citizens’ lives.
Australia had come from “being the one continent in the world in which a white man did not exist, to its present condition of feeding and clothing the cold and hungry of Europe”, he said.
He asked those in attendance to think back 100 years when horses and bullock-wagons were the only means of transport and communication even among themselves was limited to letter or verbal messages carried by runners or on horseback. Most of the local architecture was represented by slab huts or tents.
Captain J.H. Watson spoke of the men of Governor Macquarie’s time, mentioning, among others, representatives of the Campbell, Antill, Oxley and Cox families as possessing the true pioneering spirit.
He contrasted the old days with the present and said: “You are all trained now to go to somebody else to give you something. In the old days, people did things for themselves.”
He reminded the gathering that official records showed that Governor Macquarie had “christened” Bathurst, and in so doing had “Christianised” the town. When Captain Watson unfurled the flag, Bugler J. Holland sounded Reveille and the District Band played Land Of Hope And Glory.
Mr C. A. Kelly, M.L.A., said he was delighted to be present for two reasons.
The first was to do honour to the man who had founded the city of Bathurst. No governor before or since had proved superior to Governor Macquarie, who was known as the “building Governor” and had explored as much of NSW as it was possible to do in those early days, he said.
Macquarie’s memory also deserved to be cherished for his humanitarian attitudes towards the emancipists in the face of fierce opposition, he said.
Mr Kelly said the second reason he was pleased to be present was because he regarded Bathurst as supreme in Australia for beauty and unsurpassed in that respect by any city he had visited in his travels in different parts of the world.
Referring to the first divine service held in Bathurst which that ceremony commemorated, Mr Kelly said anyone who thought civilisation could go on without Christianity made a big mistake.
Governor Macquarie had been imbued with the Christian ideal and had shown it by giving men who had made a slip in life a chance to rehabilitate themselves, he said.
He said Bathurst citizens should feel pride in the fact their city had been founded by such a noble soul as Governor Macquarie.
The mayor then deposited in the cairn the historical documents dating back to 1815. Archdeacon Oakes again moved a comprehensive vote of thanks to all who had contributed to the establishment and opening of the monument.
These included the Royal Historical Society visitors, the Bathurst Council, Mr A. Sambrook. Messrs Hopper and Stanley, Miss Barker, Mr L. Bryant, Mr R.S. Fraser, the two Bathurst bands, and Bugler Holland.
Canon Holmes seconded the motion, which was carried by acclamation. Appropriate musical selections were rendered during the afternoon by the District Band under Mr S. Lewins, and the City Model Band conducted by Mr P. Appleby. The proceedings closed with the national anthem.
