When the Royals Came to Bathurst
History, Magazine of the Royal Australian Historical Society
September 2026, No. 169, pp. 14–17
Abstract
This article explores royal visits to Bathurst, New South Wales, during the twentieth century, focusing on the Prince of Wales in 1920 and Queen Elizabeth II in 1954 and 1982. Drawing on photographs and objects in the Bathurst District Historical Society collection, it traces how these visits became major public occasions for the regional community.
The article places the Bathurst visits within the broader history of royal tours in Australia, examining their popularity and the strong cultural ties between Australia and the British monarchy. It also reflects on the significance of Queen Elizabeth II’s 1954 tour, the first visit to Australia by a reigning British monarch.