royaltour1954

Queen Elizabeth II visited the Queensland Parliament on numerous occasions, including: In 1954, the Queen became the first reigning British monarch to visit Australia with her husband Prince Phillip. During this tour, she visited the Queensland Parliament on 9 March for a State reception at Parliament House, and the following day for a parliamentary luncheon. Source: www.parliament.qld.gov.au/Global/Her-Majesty-The-Queen

In 1946, the Premier of Queensland, Ned Hanlon, offered the post of Governor of Queensland to Lieutenant General Sir Leslie Morshead, who declined. Hanlon then offered the post to Lavarack, who accepted and was sworn in on 1 October—the second Australian-born person to hold a governorship in Australia (Sir John Northcott had been made Governor of New South Wales two months previously).[6] After completing his five-year term in 1951, Lavarack's governorship was extended by another five years to 1956. In February 1952, he proclaimed Queen Elizabeth II as the monarch in Queensland, following the death of her father King George VI. Lavarack's oath of allegiance and oath of office was then re-administered (at his request) to reflect the new monarch.[7] He was then reappointed for a further year from 1 October 1956, but due to ill health, Lavarack only served four months of the extended term and was relieved of his duties on 25 January 1957 by his lieutenant governor, although he officially remained governor until September 1957. Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Lavarack

The Queensland itinerary featured Brisbane from 9-10 and 16-18 March, and the regional cities Bundaberg and Toowoomba on 11 March, Townsville on 12 March, Cairns on 13 March, and Mackay and Rockhampton on 15 March. The Queen traveled 2600 km by plane, and the Townsville–Cairns–Mackay legs on the Royal yacht. Despite the distance, the Queen’s trip never took her inland from the Queensland coast further than Toowoomba, but many Queenslanders traveled inland to see their Queen. Rockhampton marked the end of the tour of regional Queensland and the couple returned to Brisbane for a free day and then another day of engagements before departing for Broken Hill and Adelaide on 18 March. The scene of the couple leaving Queensland was described after the event with great emotion, ‘Elizabeth and Philip drove out along the crowded way from Government House to the airport, and as the singing of “God Save the Queen” came to its full-throated climax, there were many tears in their eyes.’ Perhaps over-protected from the heat and conditions of inland Queensland in 1954, the Queen's itinerary for later tours included Mount Isa and Longreach. Source: www.qhatlas.com.au/content/queen-queensland-1954

The triumphant 1954 tour was to be the first of a total of eight visits she would make to Queensland. On the first visit, Queen Elizabeth was accompanied by her husband, Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh, and spent seven days in Queensland. Public holidays were declared and people turned out in their thousands to see the Royal couple. From childhood, The Queen was held in great affection by Queenslanders and was respected and admired throughout her long and successful reign for the impeccable, gracious and dignified service she gave. Source: www.govhouse.qld.gov.au/government-house/office-of-the-go...