There was great excitement when the Duke and Duchess of York made a fleeting visit to Launceston on Easter Monday, April 18, 1927 and, although they were in the city for only five hours, preparations had taken months of enthusiastic work.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Royal procession's route from the railway station was decorated with hundreds of flags, bunting, greenery, archways and latticework.
Military guards of honour stationed along parts of the route, together with several brass and pipe bands added to the impressiveness of the Royal progress.
Although the Royal train did not arrive until 12.10pm, thousands of people took their positions on the streets soon after breakfast.
IN OTHER NEWS:
Accompanied by tremendous cheering, the Duke and Duchess proceeded along Tamar Street, passing by a model aeroplane suspended above the corner of Cameron and George streets with a motor turning the propeller.
Outside the AMP Chambers in Cameron Street the procession passed through a huge agricultural arch decorated with wool, apples and sheaves of wheat representing our rural industries.
Mayor HCL Barber presented an address outside the Town Hall, flanked with pylons in the Duke's colours of red and gold and displaying the city's crest.
Around the corner in Paterson Street the procession stopped outside the freshly-painted Anzac Hostel before proceeding under an arch at the Royal Park entrance.
More than 3000 flag-waving children cheered the entourage and sang the National Anthem and two other patriotic songs conducted by Chester Edwards.
More from the Our History series:
After a stop outside the Commercial Travellers' Association building in Charles Street, the Royal couple enjoyed luncheon at the Brisbane Hotel with representatives of public and state organisations.
The crowd surged towards City Park for the public reception at 2.50pm.
An Advocate reporter wrote that for 40 minutes they poured "along the path in a living stream, while the Royal couple smilingly acknowledged the salutations of the Empire's subjects."
The Duke and Duchess admired the animals in the City Park zoo; the superintendent William McGowan gifted them two 'flying squirrels' and a young kangaroo.
With some time to spare, the visitors enjoyed a stroll along the pathway into the Gorge after the mayor had joked at lunch that if they could "cut out the visit to Canberra" to open Parliament House, they would have time to see this city's most famous beauty spot.
It was soon time to leave by train and again the crowds waved and cheered the Duke and Duchess on their way.