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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 market for wool and foreign investments. During the end of Victoria's reign, Australia had one of the highest standards of living in the world. Victoria represented Britain, so the appreciation of the advantages which Britain gave Australia, was diverted to her. Victoria's death symbolized the decline of the British Empire. After her death the British Empire was weakened greatly. They had lost a great leader, although by the time of her death, the monarch's executive power was limited, although, the Queen was a powerful national symbol for the people. Both the decline of the British Empire and federation, distanced Britain from Australia and it became a less British based society. After her death many people felt their connection with Britain was weakened. For many Australians at that time, especially those not born in Britain, they felt they had lost their connection with Britain because Victoria had been the reigning monarch for over half of the century. In conclusion, Queen Victoria …show more content…
Although most of the effects were psychological ones, her death also had repercussions in political and economical aspects of society. Some of these effects are still evident today.
Annotated Bibliography
Queen Victoria, Walter L. Arnstein, Palgrave Macmillan Publishers, September 2003.
This book had good information about Queen Victoria, however little of this was relevant for the essay topic.
Farewell in Splendour: The Passing of Queen Victoria and Her Age, Jerrold M. Packard, E P Dutton Publishers, January 1995.
This book had relevant information about Queen Victoria's death and it's affect, not much of this was about its affect on Australia.
The Life and Times of Victoria (Kings and Queens of England Series), Dorothy Marshall, Cross River Publishers, August 1992.
This book had good illustrations, however it had limited information on the topic.
http://www.naa.gov.au/publications/research_guides/guides/royalty/chapter01.htm, Chapter 1 Queen Victoria, Kate Cummings, December 1998.
This site was particularly appropriate for my topic and had good, relevant information and good illustrations. It also had good quotes from people of the time
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 market for wool and foreign investments. During the end of Victoria's reign, Australia had one of the highest standards of living in the world. Victoria represented Britain, so the appreciation of the advantages which Britain gave Australia, was diverted to her. Victoria's death symbolized the decline of the British Empire. After her death the British Empire was weakened greatly. They had lost a great leader, although by the time of her death, the monarch's executive power was limited, although, the Queen was a powerful national symbol for the people. Both the decline of the British Empire and federation, distanced Britain from Australia and it became a less British based society. After her death many people felt their connection with Britain was weakened. For many Australians at that time, especially those not born in Britain, they felt they had lost their connection with Britain because Victoria had been the reigning monarch for over half of the century. In conclusion, Queen Victoria …show more content…
Although most of the effects were psychological ones, her death also had repercussions in political and economical aspects of society. Some of these effects are still evident today.
Annotated Bibliography
Queen Victoria, Walter L. Arnstein, Palgrave Macmillan Publishers, September 2003.
This book had good information about Queen Victoria, however little of this was relevant for the essay topic.
Farewell in Splendour: The Passing of Queen Victoria and Her Age, Jerrold M. Packard, E P Dutton Publishers, January 1995.
This book had relevant information about Queen Victoria's death and it's affect, not much of this was about its affect on Australia.
The Life and Times of Victoria (Kings and Queens of England Series), Dorothy Marshall, Cross River Publishers, August 1992.
This book had good illustrations, however it had limited information on the topic.
http://www.naa.gov.au/publications/research_guides/guides/royalty/chapter01.htm, Chapter 1 Queen Victoria, Kate Cummings, December 1998.
This site was particularly appropriate for my topic and had good, relevant information and good illustrations. It also had good quotes from people of the time