In Pictures: The Queen in Australia

The Queen's portrait as Queen of Australia. Image from Wikimedia Commons

Queen Elizabeth II has long established a strong bond with Australia. In fact, it is one of her most visited Commonwealth countries, making 16 trips Down Under in the span of her long reign. The first visit was made in 1954 as part of the Commonwealth World Tour, the longest and most extensive trip she ever made. She arrived in Australia on February 3, 1954, the first-ever sovereign to set foot on the Australian soil. She started her tour of Australia at Farm Cove in Sydney and then proceeded to the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Tasmania, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia. She covered about 10,000 miles by air, visiting all major cities except Darwin and 70 country towns via the special "royal trains. This enabled approximately 75 percent of the population to meet Her Majesty at least once during the tour.

She made repeated visits to Australia in the succeeding decades, the latest (her 16th visit) was in 2011. She and Duke of Edinburgh embarked on a 10-day tour that brought them to Canberra, Brisbane, Melbourne before heading to Perth for the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting. It was dubbed as The Queen’s “farewell tour”, which was followed by a huge scale-back on her overseas visits. The 2011 visit came at a time when republican sentiments in Australia was at its lowest.  

Let us relive those days when Queen Elizabeth II visited Australia. Here are some of the images we’ve gathered about the Queen’s many trips Down Under…

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip is given a warn welcome upon arrrival at Bathurst aboard the royal train, February 12, 1954. Image from the State Archives  of New South Wales.

 The Queen delivers a speech at the Mackay Showgrounds on her visit in March 1954. Image from the State Library of Queensland.

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip arrive for the Royal Visit at Farm Cove, Sydney, February 3, 1954. Image from the State Records of New South Wales. 

The Queen at the Queensland State Luncheon. Image from Queensland State Library. 

Queen Elizabeth II and the Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Ald. F. Roberts, move to the Royal Dais at the Royal Ball in the Brisbane City Hall on  March 10, 1954. Image from Queensland State Library.

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip are welcomed upon arrival at Bathurst aboard the royal train.

Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh at the Archibald Fountain in Sydney on February 1, 1963. Image from the State Library of New South Wales.

Royal visit of Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh at the Sydney Showground on February 1, 1953. Image from the State Library of New South Wales. 

Guests at the Garden Party held for The Queen and Prince Philip at Government House in Sydney on March 2, 1963. About 2,500 guests were invited to attend. Image from the State Archives of New South Wales.

On Marh 4, 1963, an Investiture was held by The Queen at Government House in Sydney. Commencing at 4:15pm, about 50 individuals were knighted. Image from the State Archives of New South Wales.

Queen Elizabeth II waves to crowds in Queensland, Australia, some time in 1970. Image from Queensland State Archives

Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip and Princess Anne visit the Lavarack Army Barracks, Townsville, in 1970.

Queen Elizabeth "walkabout" on arriving at Sydney Town Hall for a civic reception during the tour for the Captain Cook Bi-Centenary Celebrations, April 21, 1970. Image from Wikimedia Commons

The Queen Elizabeth is welcomed on arrival at Kingsford-Smith Airport for the Captain Cook Bi-Centenary Celebrations tour by Prime Minister John Gorton. Image from Wikimedia Commons.

The Royal Family with Governor Sir Roden Cutler at an evening reception at Government House, Sydney during their tour for the Captain Cook Bi-Centenary Celebrations in 1970.

In 1980, Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh were in Australia where they met Australian entertainers who performed in a Royal Charity Concert at the Sydney Opera House. Image from National Archives of Australia.

 Queen Elizabeth II opening the Expo 88, Brisbane on April 30, 1988. Image from Queensland State Archives.  

The Queen with Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Marlena Jeffery, and Michael Jeffery (Governor-General of Australia) during the Queen's visit to Australia for the Melbourne Commonwealth Games held in March 2006. Image from the Office of the Official Secretary to the Governor-General, on behalf of the Commonwealth of Australia.

Queen Elizabeth II meets staff and guests of Government House, Canberra during her October 2011 visit to Australia. Image from Office of the Official Secretary to the Governor-General, on behalf of the Commonwealth of Australia.