Queen Victoria’s Garden

This week was the anniversary of Queen Victoria’s birthday. 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”. Queen Victoria’s coronation was held on 28 June 1838, and she died on 22 January 1901. When Queen Victoria ruled, she had been the longest reigning monarch for 63 years and seven months. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, reign was for 70 years and 127 days, making her the longest reigning English monarch.

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. While visiting 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^th May 2009, Queen Victoria's birthday, Marie Bailey invited the community to the opening of "Queen Victoria Gardens”, which she has established so that the Norfolk Island community could honour the Queen who made such a generous gesture to the Pitcairners over 150 years ago.

There is a rotunda in the middle of the gardens which has a bust of Queen Victoria mounted in the centre surrounded by wonderful information and 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.

“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.”

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

Earlier history linking to Queen Victoria has also been recorded. During the 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.

Queen Victoria’s history still lives on here on Norfolk Island 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. In January, year each the Poinciana trees bloom, a stunning sight that delighted the local community and visitors. The street, which is, fittingly, called Queen Elizabeth Avenue, was so named for Elizabeth II's Coronation.

Hopefully, you can take the time to visit and remember to wish this special lady, Queen Victoria a happy birthday , her birth-date 24 May 1819.

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

May 2023