Nellie Melba - Honours, Memorials and Legacy

Honours, Memorials and Legacy

Melba was appointed Dame Commander of the British Empire in 1918, along with May Whitty the first stage performer to receive this order, for her charity work during World War I, and was elevated to Dame Grand Cross of the British Empire in 1927. She was the first Australian to appear on the cover of Time magazine, in April 1927. A stained glass window commemorating Melba was erected in 1962 in the Musicians' Memorial Chapel of the Church of St. Sepulchre, London, known as "the musicians' church". She is one of only two singers with a marble bust on the grand staircase of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. The other is Adelina Patti. A blue plaque commemorates Melba at Coombe House, Devey Close in Coombe, Kingston upon Thames, where she lived in 1906.

Melba was closely associated with the Melbourne Conservatorium, and this institution was renamed the Melba Memorial Conservatorium of Music in her honour in 1956. The music hall at the University of Melbourne is known as Melba Hall. The Canberra suburb of Melba is named after her. The current Australian 100 dollar note features the image of her face, and her likeness has also appeared on an Australian stamp. Sydney Town Hall has a marble relief bearing the inscription "Remember Melba", unveiled during a World War II charity concert in memory of Melba and her First World War charity work and patriotic concerts.

Melba's name is associated with four foods, all of which were created in her honour by the French chef Auguste Escoffier:

• Peach Melba, a dessert
• Melba sauce, a sweet purée of raspberries and red currant
• Melba toast, a crisp dry toast
• Melba Garniture, chicken, truffles and mushrooms stuffed into tomatoes with velouté sauce.