Displayed in History House.Facsimile book bound in blue cloth board covers with burgundy leather spine and edges.

Blue hard covered 35 page book with an address, a reponse from Prince Alfred, and a number of signatures.To his Rotal highness Prince Alfred Ernest Albert Duke of Edinburgh K.G. &c &c &c May it please Your Royal Highness. We the undersigned, being Colonists of Victoria wirh expressions of a Century and upwards venture to approach you Royal Highness with expressions of unaltered loyalty to Her Majesty's throne and person, and our very sincere and heart congratulations to your Royal Highnedd on your auspicious visit to his distant dependency of the British Empire. We can confiently assure your Royal Highness that however attractive Republicans Institutions may be to many young communitites generally Victoria is in the main free from the taint of any such prediliction. The loyalty and attachment to Monarchial Government of those numbered amonst her older Colonists have been strenghtened bu their enlarged and by the deep connection ever increasing with their ripening years that their material interests will be best protected by the perpetuation of the intimate connexion with the Great Empire over which Her Majesty rules - an Empire the Language, Laws, Customs and Institutions of which it is their privelige to inherit. We may be allowed to esteem the visit of your Royal Highness to these shores as of teh utmost importance, regarded from the Imperial as well as from a Colonial point of view. Your Royal Highness has now had an opportunity of satisfying yourself, and may bear testimony on your return to Europe that the Colonists of Victoria, although they have left their Mother COuntry, have not lost the spirit of enterprise, the energy, the self-reliance, the love of law and order which distinguish the British Race - and that in common with their fellow countrymen at home they possess qualities, the possessoin of which by her peple has made England great and glorious amongst the nations - while your presence here proves to the Colony at large, be especially to our Colonial born youth that Her Majesty 's solicitude for our welfare is unabted. Wish a sincere hope that the visit of your Royal Highness to the other COlonies of the Australian Group may be gratifying to you, and your ultimate return to the Royal Circle safe and attended with every happiness. We beg leave to remain, With the greatest respect, Your Royal Highness' Most humble and most obedient servants, Signature Date of arrival in the Colony. Edward Henty Novr 19th 1834 Francis Henty Decr 9th 1834 John Pascoe Fawkner Oct 9th 1835 Many ignatures follow including John Wilson Novr 1841 Joseph Bickett 27 September 1842 Theophilis Dredge January 1839 Archibald Fisken August 1839 Samuel Legge April 1841 David Coghill March 1838 Joseph L'Estrange 1849 December Thomas W. Wills Dec 1839 James Cuthbert November 1840 John Lamb May 1838 John Hogan November 1839 William Higgenbotham Born Oct 19th 1840 Richard Winter January 1840 Alexander Aitken Born Melbourne June 30 1842 William Cross Yuille February 1837 George Black Decr 1840 Peter Scott Sept 1840 Robert Hoddle March 1837 Henry Darlot September 1839 W. Bacchus 1837 C.B. Hutton Feby 17th 1842 H. Gerrard Feby 1839 Thomas P. Scott 10 August 1838 William Rutledge 19th Decr 1829 in Sydney, at Melbourne in July 1838 Rodk Urquhart March 1842 Thomas Black Septr 1842 J.B. Were November 1839 Thomas Anderson 1839 John Bull June 1842old colonists, prince alfred, address, edward henty, francis henty

The Galatea was a British ship built in 1859. In 1866, Prince Alfred, the Duke of Edinburgh and the son of Queen Victoria, was given command of the ship. He travelled on it to Australia for a Royal Tour in 1867. A procession was held in his honour in Bendigo. Later that evening a large model of his ship was drawn down Pall Mall towards the Shamrock Hotel where there was to be a fireworks display. As well as 2 adults, 9 young boys were on the float, taking the part of seamen. About halfway down Pall Mall, a cracker, thrown from the crowd ignited the fireworks that were on the deck of the float, causing explosions and fire. Three boys, John Langton McGrath (aged 7), Sylvester Francis Cahill (aged 9) and Thomas Michael Walters (aged 10) later died from burns received in the explosion. Public subscriptions purchased the memorial that stands over their grave at the Bendigo Cemetery.50 years since the accidental death of three boys (John Langton McGrath, Sylvester Francis Cahill & Thomas Michael Walters) burned on the model ship "The Galatia" 18 December 2017Newspaper article undated or attributed for the noting the Galatea Tragedy for the death of three young boys on Monday 18th December 1867 - 2017; commemorating 150 years since the death of three young boys all accidentally burned on the model ship "The Galatea" during the visit to Sandhurst by H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh on Wednesday 18th December 1867. commemorative bookle, the galatia accidental deaths