Coronation Ceremonial Tree Planting at NSW Government House

Coronation Ceremonial Tree Planting at NSW Government House

by | May 18, 2023 | RAHS News | 0 comments

On Saturday 6 May, RAHS President Iain Stuart attended a ceremonial tree planting at Government House to celebrate the coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla.

The event began with a smoking ceremony by the Koomurri Dancers and included the National Anthem and Royal Anthem played by the Australian Army Band. Short addresses were delivered by His Excellency the Honourable Andrew Bell, Lieutenant-Governor of New South Wales, and Lottie Dalziel, NSW Young Australian of the Year.

The melaleuca tree sapling planted during the ceremony was grown from a cutting of the tree planted at Government House by Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II during her 1954 visit to Australia. This tree continues to stand tall by the Government House driveway.

The RAHS has a long association with the monarchy, having been granted the title ‘Royal’ in 1918. Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC, Governor of New South Wales, and Mr Dennis Wilson are joint patrons of the Society. In 2020, the RAHS published Playing Their Part: Vice-Regal Consorts of New South Wales, 1788–2019, which tells the stories of the wives, daughters, sisters and husbands of the Governors of New South Wales.

Find out more about the ceremony at the Governor of NSW’s website.

Published online 18 May 2023

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Vale Queen Elizabeth II (1926-2022)

Vale Queen Elizabeth II (1926-2022)

by | Sep 9, 2022 | Australian History, RAHS News | 0 comments

Sepia photograph of Queen Elizabeth II, the 27-year-old Queen, and her husband, Prince PhilipThe RAHS would like to offer condolences to those close to Queen Elizabeth II who are experiencing a profound personal loss at her death. As the longest-reigning monarch in British history, the late Queen will be remembered for her enormous dedication to the role she performed for more than seventy years.

To commemorate her passing, the RAHS has shared images and articles of the 1954 Royal Tour of Queen Elizabeth II, when the 27-year-old Queen and her husband, Prince Philip, spent eight weeks touring Australia.

The State Library of NSW also has resources on its website about the royal visit when ‘ the crowds were tumultuous, the press was effusive in its praise and every street the royals paraded along was festooned with decorations’.

The RAHS Library holds a copy of the Official Souvenir Program for the 1954 visit of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip.

Here is a downloadable digitised version of the Official Souvenir Programme: The Royal Visit to New South Wales, 3 February – 18 March 1954. Printed by Government Printer Sydney [RAHS Collection].

The RAHS also holds a collection of 78 photographs taken of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip on 3 February 1954, on what was the first day of their 58-day tour of Australia. A selection of these photographs has been compiled below.

Queen Elizabeth steps off a boat onto Sydney Harbour. Prince Philip follows her. A man in military attire salutes her. Men in naval attire flank her.
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip are greeted by men who are dressed in judges’ robes.
Queen Elizabeth reads a speech into a microphone. A man in mayoral regalia stands nearby.
Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth lay a wreath at the Martin Place Cenotaph.
Queen Elizabeth walks with Prince Philip. She is dressed in formal regalia and a tiara crown. Philip is in white naval attire.
Queen Elizabeth stands in roofless car and waves to crowds of people as she passes by.
Queen Elizabeth is shown around the Botanic Gardens. She wears a white lace dress and white gloves. Prince Philip follows behind her.
Queen Elizabeth attends a ball dressed in a formal gown. Cameramen snap her photo.

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Playing Their Part: Official Book Launch at Government House

Playing Their Part: Official Book Launch at Government House

by | Mar 11, 2022 | NSW History, RAHS News | 0 comments

Playing Their Part: Official Book Launch at Government House

Mr Denis (consort to Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC QC, Governor of NSW) alongside Mrs Linda Hurley (consort to His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd) Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia as they both officially launch the book at Government House, Sydney on Wednesday 23 February 2022.

MRS LINDA HURLEY AND MR DENNIS WILSON LAUNCHING ‘PLAYING THEIR PART: VICE-REGAL CONSORTS OF NSW’ AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE, SYDNEY ON 23 FEBRUARY 2022 [PHOTO CREDIT: GOVERNMENT HOUSE SYDNEY]

Playing Their Part: Vice-Regal Consorts of NSW, 1788-2019 (published 2020) was officially launched at Government House, Sydney on Wednesday 23 February 2022.

The book was launched by Mr Dennis Wilson (consort to Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC QC, Governor of NSW) alongside Mrs Linda Hurley (consort to His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC [Retd], Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia).

In attendance were some of the 22 authors who contributed biographical profiles for the vice-regal women and one man that comprise the book, and the volunteer editors of the book, RAHS President Carol Liston AO, Joy Hughes and Christine Wright.

Amongst the luminaries in attendance were the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley, the Honourable TF Bathurst AC, Chief Justice and Lieutenant-Governor of NSW, Lady Suzanne Martin, widow of Sir David Martin, 34th Governor of NSW, and the State Library of NSW’s Dr John Vallance.

The audience (which was restricted due to COVID protocols) were treated to two interesting speeches, followed by afternoon tea. Mr Wilson discussed his admiration for Eliza Kent (consort to Governor John Hunter) and Mrs Hurley outlined how her curiosity inspired her to approach the RAHS to find out more about past vice-regal women. She also spoke in admiration of her favourite consort, Anna Josepha King (wife of the third Governor of NSW, Philip Gidley King).

To close the proceedings, Mrs Hurley treated the audience to a musical rendition of her own making, which celebrated the lives of the past consorts.

Playing Their Part is available from the RAHS shop as a hardcopy book and digital e-book. You can find out more about the book by visiting our dedicated website which features stories about the project, published articles and recorded lectures.

Coloured photo of the book cover of “Playing Their Part” Vice-Regal consorts of New South Wales 1788 - 2019. Photo containers photos of all the Consorts both men and women.

 

 

 

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