The Royal Baby

In 1959 Mrs Rosemary Geppert gave birth to a baby boy at the Queen Victoria Hospital, Melbourne.

Baby Robert was the first baby born at the hospital after HRH Princess Alexandra had arrived in Australia for a tour that year.  As a result, Mrs Geppert had the honour of receiving a prize winning knitted layette for her baby, presented by HRH Princess Alexandra at the Royal Melbourne Show.

The winning layette (consisting of four pieces - carrying coat, dress, bonnet and bootees) was judged from a record 591 entries received in the Royal Melbourne Show baby layette competition sponsored by New Idea magazine. Mrs T Freeman from Middle Swan, Western Australia created the winning set and was awarded the significant prize of 100 pounds.  

Dubbed the Royal Baby by the media, Robert accompanied his mother to the Show presentation. Perhaps not surprisingly, the layette is no longer in existence 60 years later but the Geppert family have retained souvenirs of the momentous event in a family scrapbook. 

Thanks to the Geppert Family for their assistance with this story.