The Lord Mayor’s Ball, 1949 1949

Maker unknown

Registration number

1087712

Artist/maker

Maker unknown

Title

The Lord Mayor’s Ball, 1949

Production date

1949

Medium

paper

Dimensions (H x W x D)

40 x 49.5 cm (image); 62 x 71 cm (mount)

Credit line

City of Melbourne Art and Heritage Collection

Keywords

Lord Mayor's Ball, stage decorations, 1949

Summary

Melbourne’s successful bid for the Olympics was made in 1949. Like many notable city events, the bid was given a floral and graphic tribute at the annual Lord Mayor’s Ball. Impending international attention encouraged debate and some anxiety about Australian culture, values and sophistication. A range of symbols was pressed into service, including the graphic parallel suggested between Australia’s ancient indigenous cultures and Greek antiquity represented by the Parthenon.