Photograph, George Burton Coop, The Royal Train enroute to Lilydale, near Croydon, 6 Mar. 1954

Historical information

Believed to have been taken bewteen Croydon Railway Station and the Dorset Road bridge. Taken late afternnon by George Coop's father. There is a Landrover parked on the grass with a person standing on it - believed to be Security. George recalls originally being located closer to the fence and being ushered up the hill where it was 'safer' to stand.

In 1954 at age 27, Queen Elizabeth II was the first reigning British monarch to visit Australia.. She visited Victoria between March 1-10.

Where to see the Queen (1954, January 21). Fern Tree Gully and District Times (Boronia, Vic. : 1953-1954), p. 5. Retrieved October 25, 2021, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article264220429
“The Lilydale Shire President, Cr. Burgi, stated that the Royal train en route for Warburton on Saturday, March 6th, would slow down at Croydon and Lilydale. There was little possibility that it would stop at either of these towns. The train would pass through Lilydale at 5.52 p.m. Council had appointed a sub-committee to arrange matters, and had allocated £400 towards expenses. It was suggested that the train slow down between the railway station and Dorset Rd. bridge at Croydon, and between the Cave Hill Quarry and railway station at Lilydale.”

An album of images of the Queen's visit to Victoria is available on the PROV Flickr account at https://www.flickr.com/photos/public-record-office-victoria/7252885616

Physical description

Digital TIFF file
Scan of Kopdak 620 black and white negative transparency

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