August 2018 marked the 150th anniversary of the opening of Queensland’s Parliament House in Brisbane. The impressive building was commenced in 1864, first occupied in 1868, and completed 25 years later in 1889.
In 1922, columnist W.H.T. recorded his personal account of events surrounding Prince Alfred’s visit to Brisbane in February 1868, some three years after the Parliamentary foundation stone was laid by his Excellency the Governor Sir George Bowen. Victoria’s Sailor Prince: visit to Queensland.
Artist impression of Parliament House; Pen and ink drawing. Source: Brisbane and its Institutions, The Daily Mail (Brisbane, Qld.: 1903 – 1926, Sat 21 Jan 1922.
… "As a self-governing colony Queensland was little more than eight years old; yet, in that brief period Brisbane, the capital, with a population of 14,000 had done its best to make progress and of that progress it had no need to be ashamed. Prince Alfred, early in 1867, when 23 years of age was appointed to the command of H.M. frigate Galatea, which sailed from Plymouth South on 26 February on a world tour. Several months later the Galatea accompanied by three or four other ships of the line reached Australia and at each port of call the enthusiasm of the people was unbounded.
It was through seeing an engraving of the Prince’s reception in Brisbane …republished in a collection of pictures of “Old Brisbane” the event was recalled. Early in December 1867, both Houses of the Queensland Parliament appointed a committee to draft an address of welcome and the Government obtained a vote of £1,250 to be spent on the reception of the Prince…the honour of entertaining the Prince falling to Acting Governor, the Hon. Charles O’Connell, following the departure of Queensland’s first Governor, Sir George and Lady Bowen”. Pg 11.
With a flag signal hoisted on top of the Windmill Observatory in Wickham Street, officials boarded the government steamer Kate, to welcome Queensland’s first royal visitor on 25 February.
The procession commenced at the Queens Botanic Gardens and followed along Edward, Mary and Eagle Streets into Queen Street and under a Triumphal Arch specifically erected to welcome the Prince. It was noted, following the suggestion by Mr John Petrie, that two aboriginal men scaled the Arch to stand on each side of the central anchor on the very top. John Petrie was Brisbane's first Mayor and first born son of Andrew Petrie.
Following the National Anthem led by a choir of children, the royal carriage moved in the direction of Government House, escorted by mounted police.
The Prince attended several events over the next few days, taking in the sights of Toowoomba and Ipswich, horse racing at Eagle Farm, and a citizen’s ball and entertainment by the German Club.
On 29 February, the Prince planted two trees at the entrance to Parliament House and laid a foundation stone at Brisbane’s first grammar school.
Anne Scheu - Engagement Officer, State Library of Queensland
More Reading:
A brief history of Parliament House, Queensland.
Parliament House - history in pictures by Myles Sinnamon, State Library of Queensland;
Australian Dictionary of Biography – John Petrie, son of Andrew Petrie
Newspaper Sources
Victoria’s Sailor Prince: visit to Queensland, 1868: The Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld.:1872 - 1947), Sat 8 Jul 1922
Laying the Foundation Stone of the new Parliamentary buildings, The Brisbane Courier (Qld.: 1864 – 1933) Tues 18 July 1865
Brisbane and its Institutions, The Daily Mail (Brisbane, Qld.: 1903 – 1926, Sat 21 Jan 1922
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