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All the newspapers on Saturday published long accounts of the architectural features of the building, and made a particular feature of the use of Australian woods and other products in the internal decorations. The opinion was freely expressed that the building was the most notable public office in the metropolis.

The King and Queen and Princess Mary left the palace a few minutes before noon, and drove in closed carriages through Pall Mall and the Strand. The route was lined by Australian troops, while an Australian guard was drawn up in front of Australia House. Mr Hughes, Mr Cook and Mr Fisher received the Royal party, and conducted them to the dais, where Helen Hughes, the little daughter of the Prime Minister, presented them with bouquets and flowers. Mesdames Hughes and Fisher were among those presented to their Majesties.

The King expressed his pleasure in declaring Australia House open. The Archbishop of Canterbury then offered the prayers. Mr Hughes presented the King with a golden key, and Mr Cook presented the Queen with a replica. The party then moved to the iron gates, which the King opened, and entered the vast exhibition hall, where gathered several hundred Australian wounded soldiers and sailors and nurses. The King and Queen and Princess Mary here spent some minutes conversing with the men. The King invested with the Military Cross Major W. S. King, D.S.O, Chaplain A. A. Mills, Captain F. E. Page (infantry), Captain F. B. Darling (artillery), Lieutenant W. H. Quinem (flying corps), and Lieutenant J. F. Wood (infantry).

The Royal party then ascended by lift to the library on the first floor, where several more presentations took place. Next they inspected Mr Fishers’s room, and signed the visitor’s book. The Royal party then descended and came out through the main door. Lieutenant-General Birdwood, who in the meantime alone had inspected the guard, comprising men of all units which served in Gallipoli and France, accompanied the King on an inspection of the guard. His Majesty spoke to the men, and asked them their home towns, recalling incidents of his colonial tour as Duke of York. The party then entered the carriages, and drove off.

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All the troops stood at the salute, and ringing cheers were given. Among those on the dais were the French, Italian and Japanese ambassadors, the Belgian, Norwegian and Swiss Ministers, the Uruguayan charge d’affaires, Mr W. F. Massey, Sir Joseph Ward, Sir Robert Borden, many members of the Cabinet and Parliament, Mr Walter Long and Lord Cromer. Sir Charles Cust was in attendance on the King, who wore a field-marshal’s uniform. The Queen and Princess Mary were dressed in black, owing to the court being in mourning for the late ex-Czar of Russia.

The King conversed with Major-General Rosenthal, the newly appointed Australian general of division, who has been four times wounded, and who is now in hospital with a sniper’s bullet in his arm. The King expressed pleasure at the splendid appearance of the guard of honor, and expressed the opinion that they would again shortly prove their worth against the Germans.

The Queen showed the keenest interest in Australian affairs, and conversed intimately with many Australian ladies, who were impressed by her Majesty’s geniality. “It seemed like old times, when I met Australians in their own homes,” said the Queen.