page_title: Royal visits to Australia
section_title: Early 20th century (1901–1950)
hierarchical_section_title: Royal visits to Australia / Early 20th century (1901–1950)
caption_attribution_description: The opening of the Parliament of Australia on 9 May 1901, Melbourne, Australia.
context_page_description: Since 1867, there have been over fifty visits by a member of the Royal Family to Australia, though only six of those came before 1954. Elizabeth II is the only reigning monarch of Australia to have set foot on Australian soil; she first did so on 3 February 1954. She was only 27 when she first visited Australia. During her sixteen journeys the Queen has visited every Australian state and the two major territories.
context_section_description: In 1901, Albert Edward, Prince of Wales and his wife Alexandra were planning an Empire tour. However, the death of Queen Victoria on 22 January 1901 meant that the couple had to prepare for a coronation in 1902. Consequently, Edward's son Prince George, Duke of Cornwall and York, and Mary, were assigned to undertake the voyage instead. Arriving at Albany, Western Australia, on SS Ophir, they sailed to Melbourne, where he opened the first Australian federal parliament. The royal couple later travelled by train to Sydney. They visited Queensland from 20 to 25 May, where they laid the foundation stone of St John's Cathedral (Brisbane).
caption: In 1901, Prince George, Duke of Cornwall and York opened the first Australian parliament. Prince George visited Australia with his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall and York.
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