Royal Visit to Australia by Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh
18 February - 27 March 1963
1963 Royal Visit program
In partnership with the National Library, the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has shared digital copies of its collection of official Royal Visit programs.
Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh arriving in Australia at the start of their 1963 tour. Image courtesy of the National Archives of Australia. NAA: A1777, R64.
Timeline
PM
- The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh arrive Canberra
- Ceremonial Welcome, Fairbairn
- The Queen receives the Presiding Officers, Chief Justice, Ministers of State, Leaders of the Opposition and wives, Government House
- Attend reception given by the Prime Minister and Dame Pattie Menzies GBE, Parliament House
- Overnight – Government House
AM
- Attend Reception for Heads of Diplomatic Missions, Government House
- Attend Privy Council Meeting, Government House
- Receive accredited press representatives, Government House
PM
- Luncheon, Government House
- The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh leave Canberra and arrive Adelaide
- Ceremonial Arrival, Adelaide Airport
- Private dinner and overnight – HMY BRITANNIA
AM
- Visit Elizabeth and unveil sculptured fountain, Windsor Green, Elizabeth
- Attend assembly of school children, Ridley Road Reserve
- Visit General Motors–Holden’s Pty. Ltd., Elizabeth Plant
PM
- Luncheon, Government House South Australia
- Attend assembly of school children, Victoria Park Racecourse
- Investiture, Government House South Australia
- Dinner Party, HMY BRITANNIA
- The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh leave Adelaide on HMY BRITANNIA for Melbourne
AM
- The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh arrive Melbourne on HMY BRITANNIA
- Official call by the Governor of Victoria and Lady Brooks, HMY BRITANNIA
- Official call by the Premier and Mrs Bolte, HMY BRITANNIA
- Ceremonial Arrival, Henley Landing Stage
PM
- Luncheon and presentation of ‘The Queens Cup’, Victoria Racing Club’s Flemington Racecourse
- Private dinner, HMY BRITANNIA
- Reception given by the Government of Victoria, Melbourne Town Hall
- Overnight – HMY BRITANNIA
AM
- Civic Welcome and parade, Melbourne Town Hall
PM
- Private lunch, HMY BRITANNIA
- The Queen visits and opens the Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne
- Investiture, Government House Victoria
- Dinner Party, Government House Victoria
- The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh leave Melbourne on HMY BRITANNIA for Hobart
AM
- The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh arrive Hobart
- Official call by the Governor of Tasmania and Lady Rowallan, HMY BRITANNIA
- Official call by the Premier and Mrs Reece, HMY BRITANNIA
- Ceremonial Arrival, Princes Wharf
- Civic Welcome, Hobart Town Hall
PM
- Luncheon, Government House Tasmania
- Visit to Mount Wellington
- Dinner Party, HMY BRITANNIA
- Investiture, Government House Tasmania
- Overnight – HMY BRITANNIA
AM
- The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh arrive Sydney
- Official call by the Governor of New South Wales and Lady Woodward, HMY BRITANNIA
- Official call by the Premier and Mrs Heffron, HMY BRITANNIA
- Ceremonial Arrival, Sydney Cove Terminal
- Civic Welcome, Hyde Park
PM
- Luncheon Party, HMY BRITANNIA
- Attend Garden Party, Government House New South Wales
- Private dinner, HMY BRITANNIA
- Attend Pageant, Royal Agricultural Society’s Showground
- Overnight – HMY BRITANNIA
AM
- The Queen opens the Medical School Building, University of New South Wales
- Visit Housing Commission flat, John Northcott Place, Surry Hills
PM
- Luncheon Party, HMY BRITANNIA
- Investiture, Government House New South Wales
- Ceremonial Farewell, Sydney Cove Terminal
- The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh leave Sydney on HMY BRITANNIA for Brisbane
AM
- The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh arrive Brisbane
- Official call by the Governor of Queensland and Lady May Abel Smith, HMY BRITANNIA
- Official call by the Premier and his sister Mrs Lind, HMY BRITANNIA
- Ceremonial Arrival, Newstead Wharf
- Civic Welcome, Brisbane City Hall
PM
- Investiture, Government House Queensland
- Luncheon, Government House Queensland
- Visit, Bulwer Island
- HMY BRITANNIA
- Formal Dinner Party, Government House Queensland
- Attend Citizen’s Welcome in the form of a Bushman’s Carnival, Exhibition Ground
- Overnight – HMY BRITANNIA
AM
- Attend assembly of school children, Exhibition Ground
- Attend assembly of school children, Brisbane Cricket Ground
PM
- Luncheon Party, HMY BRITANNIA
- The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh leave Brisbane and arrive Coolangatta
- Attend Surf Carnival, Coolangatta
- The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh leave Coolangatta and arrive Brisbane
- Dinner Party, HMY BRITANNIA
- Overnight – HMY BRITANNIA
AM
- Visit Snowy Mountain Hydro–Electric Power Station, Tumut II, Cabramurra
- Visit Tumut Pond
PM
- Visit Visitors’ Cottage, Khancoban
- Visit Murray I Power Station Viewing Point
- Picnic Luncheon, Scamell’s Lookout
- Visit tunnel face of Snowy-Geehi Tunnel and meet workers, Geehi Dam–site
- Visit Island Bend Reservoir
- Private dinner and overnight – Visitors’ Cottage, Island Bend
AM
- View Soldiers’ Memorial Book, Shire office, Berridale
- The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh leave Cooma and arrive at Canberra
PM
- Luncheon, Government House
- Drive through Civic Centre, Canberra
- Visit Regatta Point and view models showing the future developments of the National Capital
- Dinner, Government House
- Overnight – Government House
AM
- Wreath laying at Stone of Remembrance and visit Hall of Memory, Australian War Memorial
- Defence Force Ceremonial Parade, Manuka Oval
PM
- Luncheon, Government House
- Attend Ceremony to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Founding and Naming of Canberra, Parkes Place
- Dinner given by the Prime Minister and Dame Patty Menzies, The Lodge
- Overnight – Government House
AM
- Reception of Representatives from Commonwealth Territories, Government House
- The Queen opens and tours the R.G. Menzies Building, Australian National University
PM
- Luncheon with Commonwealth High Commissioners, Canberra House
- Investiture, Government House
- Attend Garden Party, Government House
- Dinner, Government House
- Overnight – Government House
AM
- The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh leave Alice Springs and arrive Tennant Creek
PM
- Mingle with local residents, Tennant Creek Airport
- The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh leave Tennant Creek and arrive Katherine
- Mingle with local residents, Katherine Airport
- The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh leave Katherine and arrive Darwin
- Ceremonial Arrival, RAAF Base, Darwin
- Private dinner, HMY BRITANNIA
- Overnight – HMY BRITANNIA
AM
- Divine Service, HMY BRITANNIA
- The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh leave Darwin and arrive Kununurra
- Visit Diversion Dam
- Welcome, Kununurra Town Site
- Visit Australian Inland Mission Hospital and Residence
- PM
- The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh leave Kununurra and arrive Darwin
- Formal Dinner Party, Government House Northern Territory
- Overnight – HMY BRITANNIA
AM
- The Queen speaks to “People of the Outback” through Overseas Telecommunication Network, HMY BRITANNIA
- Civic Welcome, Darwin Oval
- Tour Darwin Suburbs, Darwin
PM
- Investiture, HMY BRITANNIA
- Visit Rodeo Events, Education Hall, Agricultural Exhibit and Exhibition Hall Pavilion, Winnellie Showgrounds
- Dinner Party, HMY BRITANNIA
- The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh leave Darwin on HMY BRITANNIA for Koolan Island
AM
- The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh arrive Fremantle
- Official call by the Governor of Western Australia and Lady Gairdner, HMY BRITANNIA
- Official call by the Premier and Mrs Brand, HMY BRITANNIA
- Ceremonial Arrival, Fremantle
- Civic Welcome, Council House Perth
PM
- Luncheon, Government House Western Australia
- Visit, University of Western Australia
- Dinner , Government House Western Australia
- Garden Party, Government House Western Australia
- Overnight – HMY BRITANNIA
AM
- Visit Lady Gowrie Kindergarten, Victoria Park
PM
- Investiture, Government House Western Australia
- Luncheon, Government House Western Australia
- Attend school children’s welcome, Perry Lakes Stadium
- Farewell Broadcast from HMY BRITANNIA
- Dinner Party and Reception, HMY BRITANNIA
- Overnight – HMY BRITANNIA