Queen VictoriaPrint Page

The statue commemorates Queen Victoria.   

Victoria (24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she adopted the additional title of Empress of India. With a reign of 63 years, seven months and two days, Victoria was the longest -reigning British monarch and the longest-reigning queen regnant in world history until her great-great-granddaughter Queen Elizabeth II surpassed her on 9 September 2015.

Queen Victoria`s birthday, 24th May, used to be called `Empire Day`. There were special assemblies at school with songs praising the British Empire. Children were then given a half-day holiday. Up to the 1950s, Empire Day was celebrated in Australia with huge bonfires and fireworks.

The ceremony of unveiling the statue of Queen Victoria today, presented to the City of Adelaide by Sir Edwin Smith, one of our most liberal and colonists, will be formed with appropriate military and civic display. This will make the third statue presented to Adelaide for adornment of the city, apart from those that make our National Gallery so attractive.

The proceedings will be opened by Lord Kintore asking Lady Smith to unveil the statue, and upon her doing that the Royal Standard will be unfurled, the Militia Band playing and the children singing the National Anthem, and a royal salute will be fired by the Artillery on the North Park Parade-ground. The military forces will present arms, the Town Hall bells burst out with joyous peals, cheers will be given, and Sir Edwin will formally hand the statue over to the Mayor and Corporation of Adelaide.
South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA), 11 August 1894.

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