Queen Victoria Died in 1901

This week is the anniversary of Queen Victoria’s death on 22 January 1901. Born on 24 May 1819 at Kensington Palace England, she was named Alexandrina Victoria. At the age of 18 she became the “Queen of United Kingdom” and in her later years also became the “Empress of India”. At that time, Queen Victoria was the longest reigning monarch, she reigned for 63 years and seven months, her coronation was held on 28 June 1838. Victoria died 22 January 1901, at the age of 81, with her heir Edward VII and Emperor Wilhelm II at her side. She was succeeded by her oldest son, Edward VII, and was buried next to Albert at the Frogmore Mausoleum near Windsor.

This internet site has interesting information about Queen Victoria.

The Death of Queen Victoria | Royal Museums Greenwich (rmg.co.uk)

Queen Victoria has strong links to Norfolk Island, and if you visit the beautiful “Queen Victoria Garden” which are open to the public to stroll in, plus you can enjoy the Queen Victoria history display, along with the gardens’ delightful plants and artwork. The “Queen Victoria Garden” are at the beginning of Queen Elizabeth Avenue, on the property of Ms Marie Bailey next to Hilli’s Restaurant and Cyclorama.

On the 24 May 2009, Queen Victoria's birthday, Marie Bailey invited the community to the opening of "Queen Victoria Gardens”, which she had established so that the Norfolk Island community could honour the Queen who made such a generous gesture to the Pitcairners over 160 years ago.

In the middle of the gardens, there is a rotunda with a bust of Queen Victoria mounted in the centre surrounded by a wonderful information resources relating to the special bond and history between Queen Victoria and the Norfolk Islanders. The Pitcairn family names are displayed on the signs on the eight sides of the rotunda.

http://www.pitcairners.org/experiment.html

“Queen Victoria granted permission for the Pitcairn Islanders to move to Norfolk Island and they arrived here on 8 June 1856, and the families were given land grants. It was the aim of Queen Victoria in granting Norfolk Island to the Pitcairners to make their new home, that the race remains isolated and the effect of this isolation from the surrounding world be studied. Thus, Her Majesty instructed the Governor that he preserve and maintain the laws and usages of the Pitcairn people. The Pitcairners were to be allowed to continue their self-government, compulsory education and universal suffrage in the same way as they had done on Pitcairn Island.”

Norfolk Island early history also has recorded links with Queen Victoria. During the British Second Penal Settlement, Alexander Maconochie, the Norfolk Island Governor, gave the convicts a day off and declared a public holiday and let them freely wander the island to celebrate Queen Victoria’s birthday on 24 May 1840. The day was filled with entertainment, a concert, sports and a meal with fresh meat, fireworks and even a sip of rum from Maconochie’s own supply to toast of the Queen’s health. Two 18-pound guns were moved from the Norfolk Island Government House to Flagstaff Hill above the Kingston Pier to fire a Royal Salute, and these guns were never returned to Government House.

For the Queen's Golden Jubilee, the elders of Norfolk Island established a Queen Victoria Scholarship to mark the occasion. The scholarship was for the school students and the first scholarship was presented in January 1887 and it continues to this day.

Here on Norfolk Island, Queen Victoria’s history still lives on with this lovely garden and its historic display. What Marie has given to this island is an extremely generous gesture, the “Queen Victoria Garden” and the gazebo have greatly enhanced and beautified this part of the island, and the street, which is, fittingly, called Queen Elizabeth Avenue. It was so named for Elizabeth II's Coronation.

Hopefully you can take the time to visit and remember Queen Victoria, a very special lady.

If you would like to read more about the lovely Queen Victoria Gardens check out these internet sites:

http://devonhouse.blogspot.com.au/2009/05/queen-victoria-gardens-name-of-queen.html

Betty Matthews

20 January 2025