Embroidered shabraque : Earl Beauchamp, Governor of New South Wales and Honorary Colonel of 1st Australian Horse

Revue order shabraque for an officer's charger, to be worn over an 1890 pattern officer's saddle with spoon shaped cantle. Myrtle green cloth shabraque has curved seam to cover the shape of the saddle and horse's back, with the seam line oversewn with green worsted tape. Towards the rear of the seam there is a self-fabric bound slit to allow the spoon shape of the cantle to fit through. The shabraque is edged with gold, oak leaf pattern lace leaf pattern 3.3 cm wide. The lace is protected, on the long edge where the rider's leg would rest, with a leather strip 24 x 5.5 cm long. Each of the angled front corners of the shabraque is embroidered with a large gold bullion VR cypher with a crown above it. Both rear angles of the shabraque are embroidered in silver and gold bullion and coloured thread with the following: a silver shield superimposed with a red cross and five silver stars, rifle, sword and boomerang, with a kangaroo, emu and waratah behind the shield; underneath two waratah sprays tied with yellow ribbon and the motto 'FOR HEARTHS & HOMES' embroidered in gold bullion on a black velvet scroll outlined with silver bullion; at the bottom, in large gold bullion letters '1 A.H'. Shabraque is lined with moleskin cloth. Black painted waterproof cloth has been used to line the rear angles of the shabraque where it would cover the horse's flank. Inside front has the remains of green worsted tape to attach the shabraque to the saddle. A black lambskin may originally have been worn over the shabraque to cover the seat of the saddle.

Worn on the charger of Earl Beauchamp. As Governor of New South Wales, Beauchamp was appointed Honorary Colonel of the 1st Australian Horse in May 1899 until his departure in 1901.

The unit, the first to bear the name 'Australian', was formed in 1897 but the uniforms and accoutrements, in a distinctive myrtle green, ordered from England did not arrive until the following year. The use of shabraques in the British Army had been discontinued in 1897 but Beauchamp had one supplied at his own cost.