Today, June 4th, holds special significance in Melbourne’s rich history. While we go about our daily lives in Australia’s cultural capital, it’s fascinating to reflect on the events that have shaped this great city and state on this very date throughout history.
Melbourne’s 150th Anniversary Celebrations – June 4, 1985
Exactly 40 years ago today, on June 4, 1985, Melbourne was in the midst of celebrating Victoria’s remarkable 150th anniversary – a momentous sesquicentenary celebration that had begun in 1984 and continued through 1985. The theme of these historic celebrations was “Growing Together,” symbolizing how the diverse communities of Victoria had developed and flourished since European settlement.
The 1985 sesquicentenary was one of the largest celebration events in Melbourne’s history. The State Government’s 150th Committee had distributed grants to every municipality, encouraging community participation in commemorative projects across the state. The celebrations were truly spectacular and included:
Extraordinary Community Events
Swanston Street Garden Party: In an unprecedented move, Swanston Street was transformed into a massive garden for a weekend celebration that attracted an incredible half a million people. Imagine Melbourne’s main thoroughfare completely given over to festivities, with residents from across the city coming together to celebrate their shared heritage.
Cultural Renaissance: Museums and art galleries throughout Melbourne held special historical exhibitions, bringing Victoria’s past to life for a new generation. The celebrations even led to the founding of the Living Museum of the West, a lasting legacy that continues to preserve and share our local history.
Honoring Heroes: Bronze plaques were installed to honor prominent Victorians, including Indigenous leader Billibellari and women’s rights activist Vida Goldstein, ensuring their contributions to our city’s development would never be forgotten.
Infrastructure and Legacy Projects
The sesquicentenary wasn’t just about parties and parades. Lasting improvements were made to Melbourne’s infrastructure, including the construction of a bicycle path along the Merri Creek – an early example of Melbourne’s commitment to sustainable transport that continues today with our extensive bike network.
Perhaps most memorably for sports fans, the lights were officially turned on at the Melbourne Cricket Ground during the celebrations, transforming the “people’s ground” and enabling the night games that have become such an integral part of Melbourne’s sporting culture.
Historical Context: Why 1985?
The 150th anniversary commemorated the beginning of European settlement in what would become Victoria. While Melbourne was founded by John Batman in 1835, Victoria’s first successful British settlement was actually at Portland in 1834 by the Henty family. Victoria officially became a separate colony in 1851 and achieved self-government in 1855.
The 1984-1985 celebrations were particularly significant as they came at a time when Australia was developing a more nuanced understanding of its history, acknowledging both the achievements of European settlement and the impact on Indigenous Australians who had called this land home for tens of thousands of years.
Other Notable June 4th Events
While 1985’s anniversary celebration is the most Melbourne-specific event for this date, June 4th has witnessed other significant moments in history:
1981: Victorian Premier Rupert Hamer resigned on June 4th after losing party support, marking the end of an era in Victorian politics.
Global Significance: June 4th has seen major world events including the completion of the Dunkirk evacuation in 1940, the beginning of the Battle of Midway in 1942, and the passage of the 19th Amendment in the US Congress in 1919, granting women the right to vote.
Melbourne Today: Living History
As we walk through Melbourne’s streets today, we’re surrounded by the legacy of that 1985 celebration. Many of the cultural institutions that were highlighted during the sesquicentenary continue to thrive. The Queen Victoria Market, Federation Square (though built later), our extensive tram network, and the sporting precincts all represent the “Growing Together” spirit that defined those celebrations.
The bicycle paths that began with the Merri Creek project have evolved into Melbourne’s comprehensive cycling infrastructure. The MCG lights that were celebrated in 1985 now illuminate some of the world’s greatest sporting spectacles, from AFL Grand Finals to Boxing Day cricket tests.
Reflecting on 40 Years of Growth
Forty years after the sesquicentenary celebrations, Melbourne has continued to grow and evolve. From a city of approximately 2.8 million in 1985, we’ve grown to over 5 million today. We’ve become more multicultural, more connected globally, and more conscious of our environmental responsibilities.
The “Growing Together” theme of 1985 seems remarkably prescient today as Melbourne consistently ranks among the world’s most liveable cities, celebrated for exactly that quality – our ability to grow and evolve while maintaining our sense of community and shared identity.
Today, as we navigate our winter Wednesday with temperatures around 8-14°C and the possibility of morning frost, we’re part of an ongoing story that stretches back through those jubilant celebrations of 1985, through the founding of our city in 1835, and back tens of thousands of years to the original inhabitants of this land.
So next time you’re walking down Swanston Street, remember that exactly 40 years ago today, this very street was transformed into a garden party for half a million Melburnians celebrating our remarkable city’s heritage. The spirit of that celebration – community, diversity, and optimism about the future – continues to define Melbourne today.
#MelbourneHistory #June4 #Melbourne150 #VictoriaSesquicentenary #MelbourneHeritage #GrowingTogether
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