The Decorative collar was gifted to then Prime Minister, Stanley Melbourne Bruce on 9 May 1927 during the opening of Provisional Parliament House in Canberra. It was presented by Diwan Bahadur T. Rangachariar, representative of the city of Madras in the Legislative Assembly and former Deputy-President of the Indian Central Assembly of the British Indian Government.

After the official opening representatives from the British Empire were invited to speak. During Rangachariar’s speech he presented decorative collars to the Duke and Duchess of York (later King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II), as well as Prime Minister Stanley Bruce. Rangachariar also read a Sanskrit poem he had written for the occasion entitled ‘India’s message to Australia’. The poem offered formal greetings and reiterated the bonds formed between Australia and British India during the First World War.

The Decorative collar features inscriptions expressing British India’s friendship and the bonds of Empire. It is made from silver sequins, glass beads, padded silks and tassels, and embroidery with twisted and coiled wire. Some news reports of the day however took some creative liberties, describing the garlands as being woven of solid gold and studded with beautiful jewels.¹

References
1. The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW: 1842 – 1954), p.16, 11 May 1927, National Library of Australia.