Meet and greet: Queen Elizabeth II visiting Echuca in 1954 during the Victorian leg of her Australian tour, escorted by Mayor L. J. Lord.
On Friday, Australians woke to the news that Queen Elizabeth II had died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, aged 96.
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Her Majesty was the longest serving monarch in British history, celebrating her Platinum Jubilee earlier this year, and just two years into her reign, she made a stop in Echuca Moama.
Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, the late Prince Phillip, The Duke of Edinburgh, visited Australia on an extensive royal tour from February until April in 1954.
The Victorian leg of the tour lasted 10 days, with her historic visit to the twin towns taking place on Friday, March 5, 1954, with the royal couple arriving at Echuca by Royal Train at 2pm.
According to the official program of the visit, Her Majesty and His Royal Highness alighted from the Royal Train at the Special Railway Platform adjacent to the Civic Centre, and were welcomed by Victorian Premier John Cain.
They then proceeded to the front of the Civic Offices, where they were tendered an Address of Welcome to the Borough of Echuca by Mayor L. J. Lord.
The Royal Standard was flown over the Civic Centre, and the Echuca Federal Band played the national anthem.
The royals then travelled a set route around Echuca before departing at 2.20pm.
According to the Riverine Herald at the time, it was expected that 20,000 people would be out in force to catch a glimpse of the young Queen.
In actuality, 25,000 attended the stop on the royal tour.
“The reception and progress was a triumph of organisation, and matters went like clockwork,” wrote the Riv at the time.
“However, it was the final five minutes which made the visit a memorable one for the several thousand who clustered around the Royal Train.
“As the Queen ascended the platform to enter the train, hundreds of children broke from their reserves and dashed towards the platform, eluding a police barrier.
“The Queen and Duke appeared to enjoy this greatly, for she favoured cheering children with a wealth of smiles as the train remained at the platform for several minutes.”
The Riv also reported that the Royal Train had overshot the platform when it arrived, delaying the royal couple’s alightment.
“When there was a minor hold-up before the departure of the train, the Duke, chatting informally with the Mayor, made light of the earlier hitch: “They apparently didn’t want us to land at your platform, and now they don’t want to take us away. We are sorry to be going,” the Duke told Cr Lord.
Queen Elizabeth II is succeeded by her eldest child, His Majesty, King Charles III.
Front page news: The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh's visit to Echuca Moama was front page news for the Riverine Herald in 1954.
Animal lover: In this July 5, 1936 file photo, Britain's Princess Elizabeth, right, holds a Pembrokeshire corgi as her sister Princess Margaret feeds it a biscuit. Photo: AP
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