1902

September 15
Tuesday. Melba expected at Moreton Bay on board the Miowera. (Brisbane Courier Mail, Sept 18, 1902.)

September 17
Wednesday. Melba arrives at Moreton Bay trains to Brisbane and spends night at the Gresham Hotel. (Brisbane Courier Mail, Sept 18, 1902.)

September 18
Thursday. Left Brisbane for Sydney early in the morning. (Brisbane Courier Mail, Sept 18, 1902.)

September 19
Friday. Arrived in Sydney to tremendous reception. Due to meet with former PLC students but cancelled due to the ship’s delayed arrival. (The Argus, Sept 20, 1902.)

September 20
Saturday. Melba arrived at Spencer Street, Melbourne to a tremendous welcome. (The Argus, Sept 22, 1902.)

September 23
Tuesday. Melba attended PLC reception with old school chums. (Table Talk newspaper Sept 25, 1902.)

September 24
Wednesday. Melba’s first concert scheduled in Melbourne Town Hall was cancelled due to late arrival. (Melbourne Leader, Sept 27, 1902.)

September 25
Thursday. Melba attended a special performance of Sweet Nell starring Miss Nellie Stewart as Melba wanted to see her on stage.(Melbourne Leader, Sept 27, 1902.)

September 27
Saturday. Melba’s first Melbourne concert in Melbourne Town Hall. (The Argus,, Sept 29, 1902.)

September 30
Tuesday. Melba’s second Melbourne Concert in Melbourne Town Hall. (The Argus,, Oct 1, 1902.)

October 1
Wednesday. Afternoon reception at the Melbourne Conservatorium. (Table Talk, Oct 2, 1902.)

October 2
Thursday. Third Melbourne Concert in Melbourne Town Hall. (The Argus, Oct 3, 1902.)

October 3
Friday. Melba visited the Melbourne Hospital and donated a 100 pound cheque. (The Argus,, October 4, 1902.)

October 4
Saturday. Melba’s fourth Melbourne Concert in Melbourne Town Hall. (The Argus, Oct 6, 1902.)

October 5
Sunday. Melba entertained friends at Myoora. The friends included General and Lady Hutton, Lord Richard Nevill, Commander and Mrs Collins and Miss Bush.
(Table Talk October 9, 1902)

October 6
Monday. Presentation to Melba by the Victorian Musical Profession at Glen’s-hall, Collins St. (The Argus,, Oct 9, 1902/Table Talk Oct 9, 1902.)

October 6
Monday. Lady Madden’s “At Home” for Melba at “Cloyne”. (Wife of Victorian Chief Justice, Sir John Madden, from 1887 to 1913). (Table Talk, Oct 9, 1902.)

October 7
Tuesday. Melba’s fifth and final concert in Melbourne Town Hall. Melba hosted a supper for 40 people at Myoora after the concert. (The Argus, Oct 8, 1902.)

October 8
Command Afternoon by the Governor-General and Lady Tennyson for Mademoiselle Sassoli, included Melba. (Table Talk, Oct 16, 1902.)

October 8
Conversazione Reception for Melba hosted by the Mayor and Mayoress Sir Samuel and Lady Gillott at the Melbourne Town Hall. (The Argus,, October 9, 1902.)

October 9
Thursday. Melba left Melbourne for Sydney. (The Argus,, Oct 10, 1902.)

October 10
Friday. Melba arrived in Sydney at midday. (Sydney Morning Herald, Oct 11, 1902.)

October 11
Saturday. First concert in Sydney Town Hall. (Sydney Morning Herald, Oct 13, 1902.)

October 14
Tuesday. Second concert in Sydney Town Hall. (Sydney Morning Herald, Oct 15, 1902.)

October 16
Thursday. Third Sydney concert scheduled but cancelled due to relaxed throat. (Sydney Morning Herald, Oct 16, 1902.)

October 17
Friday. Mayoress of Sydney Mrs Thomas Hughes held a reception for Melba at the Sydney Town Hall. (Punch, Oct 23, 1902.)

October 18
Saturday. Melba’s fourth Sydney concert scheduled but cancelled due to relaxed throat. (Sydney Morning Herald, Oct 16, 1902.)

October 20
Monday. Melba’s Third Sydney concert held in Sydney Town Hall. (Sydney Morning Herald, Oct 21, 1902.)

October 24
Friday. Melba’s fourth concert at Sydney Town Hall and left for Brisbane. (Sydney Morning Herald, Oct 24, 1902.)

October 25
Saturday. Arrived in Brisbane in the evening and was welcomed by the Minister for Agriculture and the Mayor. (The Argus,, Oct 27, 1902.)

October 27
Monday. Melba’s First Brisbane concert. (Brisbane Courier Mail Oct 28, 1902.)

October 27
Melba Australian concert tour, 1902. Program of her first Queensland concert held in the Exhibition Hall, Brisbane. (Queensland Library Collection.)

October 29
Wednesday. Melba’s Second Brisbane concert. (Brisbane Courier Mail Oct 29, 1902.)

October 30
Thursday. Punch announces Melba will sing opera in Melbourne. Called recitals will feature scenes from three operas supported by a company and scenery. (Punch, Oct 30, 1902.)

November 1
Melba attended the Derby as the guest of the Governor-General and Lady Tennyson. (Weekly Times, Nov 8, 1902.)

November 3
Monday. Melba formed a drought fund and appealed to wealthy Europeans and Americans to donated funds. (The Argus, Nov 3, 1902.)

November 3
Monday. Melba attended the Cup Night dance at Government-house hosted by Acting Governor-General and Lady Tennyson. (The Argus, Nov 4, 1902.)

November 4
Tuesday. Melbourne Cup Day. Melba did not attend due to the heat and her concert the following night. (Weekly Times, Nov 8, 1902.)

November 5
Melba’s letter withdrawing her Melba fund and urging people to donate to the Mayor’s fund. (The Argus,, Nov 5, 1902.)

November 5
Wednesday. Special Cup Week concert at the Melbourne Town Hall under the baton of Herr Slapoffski. (The Argus, Nov 5, 1902.)

November 6
Thursday. Reception at State Government House by Governor and Lady Clarke. (The Argus,, Nov 7, 1902.)

November 7
Friday. Melba travelled by train to Yering to stay at St Hubert’s. (The Argus, Nov 10, 1902.)

November 8
Saturday. Public reception in Lilydale and at Cave Hill and returned to Myoora in the evening. (The Argus,, Nov 10, 1902.)

November 10
Monday. Melba left Melbourne by express train and was officially welcomed by the Mayor of Ballarat. (Register, Nov 11, 1902.)

November 11
Tuesday. Melba  stayed at the York Hotel in Adelaide. (Register, Nov 13, 1902.)

November 11
Tuesday. Melba arrived in Adelaide in the morning. (Register, Nov 11, 1902.)

November 12
Wednesday. First Adelaide Concert. (Register Nov 13, 1902.)

November 13
Thursday. Visited the Children’s Hospital. (Register, Nov 17, 1902.)

November 15
Saturday. Second Adelaide Concert. (Register, Nov 17, 1902.)

November 16
Sunday. Melba drove to Marble Hill and spent the day as guest of the Lieutenant Governor Sir Samuel Way. (Register, Nov 17, 1902.)

November 16
Sunday. In the evening Melba dined at Government House. (Register, Nov 17, 1902.)

November 17
Monday. Melba left by express train for Melbourne. (Register, Nov 17, 1902.)

November 18
Tuesday. Melba presented the Alliance Francaise awards at the Independent Hall, Russell Street. (The Argus,, Nov 19, 1902.)

November 22
Saturday. First Grand Opera performance at Princess’s Theatre, Melbourne. (The Argus,, Nov 10, 1902.)

November 26
Wednesday. Second Grand Opera performance at Princess’s Theatre Melbourne. (The Argus,, Nov 10, 1902.)

November 28
Friday. Melba attended the Bijou Theatre to see the final performance of “A Message from Mars”. (The Argus,, Nov 27, 1902.)

November 29
Saturday. Third Grand Opera performance at Princess’s Theatre, Melbourne was postponed due to Melba’s fatigue. (The Argus, Nov 29, 1902.)

December 1
Monday. Melba visited Ormond College of Music in Melbourne. (Punch, Dec 4, 1902.)

December 3
Wednesday. Re-scheduled Third Grand Opera performance at the Princess’s Theatre. (The Argus,, Nov 29, 1902.)

December 4
Thursday. Melba and the company left by train for Sydney in the evening. (Sydney Morning Herald, Dec 5, 1902.)

December 6
Saturday. First Grand Opera performances in Theatre Royal, Sydney. (Punch, Dec 4, 1902/Sydney Morning Herald, Dec 8, 1902.)

December 9
Tuesday. Melba appeared at Sydney Town Hall to hear the 1,000 children prepare for a concert for the Martinque Disaster Appeal. (Sydney Morning Herald, Dec 10, 1902.)

December 10
Wednesday. Second Grand Opera performances in Theatre Royal, Sydney. (Punch, Dec 4, 1902/ Sydney Morning Herald, Dec 8, 1902.)

December 13
Saturday. Third Grand Opera performances in Theatre Royal, Sydney. (Punch, Dec 4, 1902/Sydney Morning Herald, Dec 8, 1902.)

December 20
Saturday. Melba gave farewell dinner at Myoora for Captain Wallington. (The Argus,, Dec 26, 1902.)

December 21
Wednesday. Melba  returned to Melbourne by the morning train. (Warrnambool Standard, Dec 30, 1902.)

December 23
Tuesday. Melba arrived by Special train at 2.30pm and rested at Craig’s Hotel before the evening concert at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Ballarat. (Ballarat Courier, Dec 18, /Dec 24,1902.)

December 25
Thursday. Melba spent Christmas with her family.

December 27
In an article published in The The Argus headed: THE MOTOR-CAR.   WHY IS IT NOT POPULAR IN AUSTRALIA? – Melba receives a mention:
“Madame Melba owns a beautiful electric car on which she intended bringing to Australia but that her stay in each capital would be so short and the cost of sending it over the long intervening distances, either by rail or water, so great. The electric car has never been quite satisfactory, owing to the weight of apparatus an ordinary light car is required to carry, but Edison is said to be experimenting on the subject, with the purpose of making the electric motor more convenient.” (The Argus, Saturday December 27, 1902 pg 5)

December 29
Monday. Melba arrived in Warrnambool by express train. (The Argus, Dec 31, 1902.)

December 30
Tuesday. Melba gave a concert in the Warrnambool Town Hall. (Warrnambool Standard, Dec 30, 1902.)

1903

January 6
Tuesday. Melba and her concert party left Melbourne on the RMS Oruba for Western Australia. (The Argus, Jan 7, 1903.)

January 12
Monday. Melba arrived in Fremantle and went to Perth and received a great reception. (The Argus,, Jan 13, 1903.)

January 13
Report Melba’s Kalgoolie concert cancelled (no date given). (West Australian, Jan 13, 1903.)

January 13
Tuesday. Melba’s first concert. (West Australian, Jan 14, 1903.)

January 14
Wednesday. interview with Melba at Esplanade Hotel. (West Australian, Jan 15 1903.)

January 14
Wednesday. Melba serenaded by a local quartette outside the Esplanade Hotel. (West Australian, Jan 15, 1903.)

January 15
Thursday. Melba’s second concert. (West Australian, Jan 16, 1903.)

January 15
Thursday. Melba commissioned Tom Roberts to paint her portrait. Sitting will be done in London. (The Argus,, Jan 15, 1903.)

January 16
Friday. One more concert was organised. (West Australian, Jan 16, 1903.)

January 17
Saturday. Advertisement postponing extra concert. Re-scheduled for Jan 20. (West Australian, Jan 16, 1903.)

January 18
Melba sailed on the Swan River to Fremantle. (West Australian, Jan 19, 1903.)

January 19
Monday. Melba planted a tree in the park to commemorate her visit at the invitation of Sir John Forrest President of the Perth Park Board (The Argus, Jan 20, 1903)

January 19
Monday. Reception held at Town Hall for visiting state and federal politicians. Melba attended. (West Australian, Jan 20, 1903.)

January 20
Tuesday. Melba’s third concert at Queen’s Hall. (West Australian, Jan 21, 1903.)

January 21
Wednesday. Melba’s final Farewell concert in Perth. (The Argus,, Jan 20. 1903.)

January 22
Melba left Fremantle for Melbourne on board the Omrah. (West Australian, Jan 23, 1903.)
January 31
Saturday. Benefit concert for Armes Beaumont – Melbourne Town Hall. (The Argus,, Jan 5, 1903.)

February 6
Friday. Melba held an “At Home” at Myoora in Toorak (The Argus, Feb 7, 1902)

February 10
Tuesday. Arrived in Launceston after a rough crossing on the SS Coogee. (The Argus, Feb 13, 1903.)

February 11
Wednesday. Rested all day but unable to give the concert on Thursday. (The Argus,, Feb 13, 1903.)

February 12
Thursday. Concert at the Albert-hall. Launceston cancelled. (The Argus,, Feb 13, 1903.)

February 12
Thursday. In the afternoon, left Launceston for Hobart by train. (The Argus, Feb 13, 1903.)

February 13
Friday. Melba boarded the Moeraki and left Hobart for New Zealand. (The Argus,, Feb 13, 1903.)