The Impact of Queen Victoria's Death on Australia

Queen Victoria's Death

Queen Victoria's reign, lasted 63 years, from 1837 to 1901. She ascended the throne of Great Britain, when she was 18. Despite being the Queen of Britain, and a very influential and prominent person, she also had an impact on Australian history. In Australia the most apparent legacy of Queen Victoria's reign is manifested in the names of the two states, Victoria and Queensland. There are also a large number of other important buildings and places, named in her honor such as, the Queen Victoria Building, in Sydney.

Victoria was loved and respected by her subjects, and Australian society at the time was affected greatly by the loss of their beloved Queen. An example of the affection and grief felt by the Australian people is apparent in the following poem, written by J D Horne of Castlemaine, Victoria.

"Who can recall to memory the life

Of one so loved, so dear Ð'--

A devoted mother, Queen and wife

A friend when few drew near Ð'--

And not in silent agony

Be melted into tears.

A nation weeps her,

The whole world mourns her...

Dead, did I say? Ah! No! She lives

In every loving heart.

A nation's grief is not assuaged Ð'-

No time can heal the smart.

She lives forever, and her deeds

Will live in memory too,

And history recount her praise

For all the ages through.

For never monarch lived on earth

So worthy of our song..."

The Victorian era, as it became known, was the time of Queen Victoria's reign. Victoria's death signaled the end of an era. It was a rich and significant period in Britain, which had a positive influence on Australia also. It saw profound social changes culminating in the rise of the middle class, population growth, and an increase in wealth. Victoria was Queen and so it was seen as a product of her reign and so the love for her increased. Victoria's death created a feeling of insecurity and uncertainty of what would result. However, it also created the feeling of opportunity and a new beginning. "There was a sense not only in London but in all the capitals of the world that an age had come to an end, a stronger sense than there had been when the 19th century itself drew to a close." (1).

There were mixed feelings with the end of Victoria's reign. At the time Australian culture still revolved around Britain and most Australian's were either born in Britain, or had relatives residing there. Victoria was the Queen of Great Britain for such a long time period that by the time of her death no one under the age of 60 remembered another sovereign's reign. This meant that the vast majority of Australians had great sentimental attachment to Victoria, although they did not look negatively on the coming reign of Edward VII. This is supported by this quote from Encarta, "For most of her subjects, an age seemed to have come to an end, and for all the sorrowful tributes there were many people who looked forward not only to a new reign but a new future."(1).

On 9 July 1900, Queen Victoria proclaimed the Commonwealth of Australia to come into being on 1st January 1901. Federation unified Australia as a country. Both Victoria and Britain supported this, which intensified the love felt for their Queen. Australia was still very British based at the time of federation, so royal support from Britain, encouraged federation to occur. A link between the people of Australia and Queen Victoria had grown and developed during the 10 years of the federation process with the decline of radical nationalism in Australia.

In 1901, there was a real and deep affection for Queen Victoria, the spectacular Diamond Jubilee of 1897 and with the ageing of the Queen herself. As her personal power and strength declined, public attachment to the monarchy increased. Previous critics grew nervous of appearing to insult a worthy, now frail, old woman, who was also a mother and grandmother. Above all, the Queen was represented as a symbol of peace and goodness, and as a universal and loving mother. This is why her death was taken particularly bad in Australia, and all Australians felt it personally.

Queen Victoria died only three weeks after the celebration of Australia's nationhood. This meant that affection for the Queen was particularly high, so the grief was intensified. The Sydney Mail reported that the severity of her illness had been played down so as not to spoil the celebration.

The Australian Economy in the early 19th century was largely dependent

on primary production, especially it's wool industry and it's exports. Britain was it's main export