 |
William Strutt
born England 1825, died England 1915
Thomas Ham (engraver)
born England 1821, died Australia 1870
The opening of Prince’s Bridge, November
15, 1850 1851
coloured engraving
33.5 x 37.0 cm (image)
Collection of Denis Joachim
"The decision of the Home Government caused
great rejoicing throughout the Colony. A general holiday and commemoration
on a grand scale for so young a settlement was organized to take
place, and great preparations were made for the coming holiday,
hereafter to be known as “Separation Day”.
On the arrival of the auspicious day, Mr Charles
Joseph La Trobe … was appointed Lieutenant-Governor and
sworn in …
This done, the National Anthem was played and a
procession formed, when His Excellency, surrounded by the government
officials and an escort of well trained and mounted black police,
riding uncommonly well, wearing a picturesque dark green uniform,
passed through the gaily decorated streets and proceeded to the
official opening of the just-completed Prince’s Bridge over
the River Yarra; this having been effected a salute was fired
by a detachment of the 11th Regiment of Infantry, stationed on
the South Yarra Hill overlooking Melbourne.
The Governor and suite then rode up to the saluting
point, where he drank to the health and prosperity of the young
Colony, henceforth to be designated after the name of her late
Majesty, Victoria … This was for the Colony a day of joy;
indeed I may call it the joy of a new born nation."
Cited Mackaness, G (ed.), ‘The Australian journal
of William Strutt, ARA, 1850–1862’, in Australian
Historical Monographs, part 1, vol. 41, 1958, p. 14.
|
click
image to enlarge
|
