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Image Not Available for Queensland state reception for the French cruiser TOURVILLE
Queensland state reception for the French cruiser TOURVILLE
Image Not Available for Queensland state reception for the French cruiser TOURVILLE

Queensland state reception for the French cruiser TOURVILLE

Date1929
Object number00008543
NameInvitation
MediumCard
DimensionsOverall: 90 x 118 mm
Display Dimensions: 87 x 116 mm, 3 mm
ClassificationsEphemera
Credit LineANMM Collection
DescriptionThis invitation relates to the state reception for the officers of the French cruiser TOURVILLE. The function was held at Queensland's Parliament House on Friday, 23 August, 1929. The TOURVILLE visited Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, and Fremantle between 22 August and 24 September 1929 as part of a goodwill cruise. The Melbourne Argus recorded its Australian visit in August 1929: CRUISER TOURVILLE. Arrival at Brisbane. BRISBANE, Thursday. - On a mission to friendly nations throughout the world as a gesture of peace, the French cruiser, Tourville, of 10,000 tons, reached Brisbane yesterday from New Zealand and berthed at New Farm. The cruiser is in command of Captain J. M C. Abrial, who is making his first visit to Australian waters. Upon leaving Brisbane the Tourville will proceed home by way of Sydney, Melbourne, Fremantle, and Java.HistoryThe TOURVILLE was Duquesne class cruiser launched in 1926 and commissioned into the French navy in December 1928. Its 1929 visit to Australia was well recorded in Australian newspapers, including this description of the Queensland state reception in The Brisbane Courier of 24 August 1929: TO HONOUR NAVAL GUESTS. RECEPTION AT PARLIAMENT HOUSE. Not since the visit of the Duke and Duchess of York has there been a social gathering in Parliament House of the size and brilliancy of that given last evening by the Premier (Mr. A. E. Moore) and Mrs. Moore, in honour of the officers of the visiting ships Tourville and Moresby. The house was brightly illuminated, and pot plants, flowers, and ferns, with draped flags, added to the colourful effect produced by the bright hues of the gowns worn by the feminine guests. The Premier and Mrs. Moore received their guests at the head of the main staircase, whence they proceeded into the Legislative Assembly Chamber, which was hung with flags, and further beautified by massed ferns and foliage plants on a central table, in the midst of which were flowering cinerarias, coral-toned azaleas and orchids. In this room a musical programme was rendered, comprising orchestral numbers by the 4QG Studio Orchestra, conducted by Mr. Featherstonhaugh; vocal items by Miss May Jordan, Messr. D. Pike, and J. Land, and the Anglo-Male Quartette. On the entrance to the Chamber of the French naval officers, the orchestra played the Marseillaise, and subsequently his Excellency the Governor (Sir John Goodwin) and Lady Goodwin arrived, with Lieutenant Colonel L. E. C. Worthington-Wilmer (private secretary) in attendance. Shortly afterwards, many of the guests moved to the dining-room, in which dancing took place, and to the balconies and billiard-room, where supper was served at tables decked with sweet peas.