Geelong celebrates as it gets a day off work!
In 1863 the Geelong community embraced the celebrations of the future Edward VII’s marriage: with a day off work, flowers, marches and in the evening fireworks and bonfires. However, it seems so did the town’s publications with one of their number hosting a free three-hour beer fountain!
The choice of topic seems almost banal but that might just be its charm. Here The Geelong Chronicle takes a snapshot of the town with its guard down. You can feel the joy but it’s tempered with the bittersweet pain of separation from their past lives, a loss that is the immigrant’s burden.
MARRIAGE OF THE PRINCE OF WALES
The marriage of the heir to the British Throne was a big deal in Geelong. Prince Albert Edward, the future King Edward VII, eldest son of Queen Victoria, was married on 10 March 1863 at St George’s Chapel, Windsor. His betrothed was Princess Alexandra of Denmark.
The Governor of Victoria declared Tuesday, 19 March 1863, a public holiday. Geelong’s Mayor, Edward Knight, invited inhabitants to close their places of business on that day and illuminate their houses in the evening. The Town Council organised certain public festivities and businesses and individuals made their own arrangements.
There was a procession through town by the Mayor and Councillors, the Geelong Artillery Brigade, the Mounted Troop, the Fire Brigade, various Orders of Odd Fellows and other Lodges, and over 400 school children. The procession ended at the Botanical Gardens, where the Curator, Mr Bunce, had erected a beautiful flower arch over the Malop Street gate.
A fair bit of rain fell during the day but the celebrations were not dimmed. With the aid of kerosene, beacons were lit across Geelong. The fire on Newtown hill was answered by one at Station Peak. ‘As far as the eye could see, the different headlands were dotted with fires’.
The Geelong Chronicle office, in Ryrie Street, displayed painted windows, illuminated from within, of the Royal initials A. & A. and the Danish cross. A great crown assembled at the newspaper’s office but the display was only part of the attraction.
A free beer fountain, put on by William Noonan, of the Royal Exchange Hotel, seemed to pique the interest of many townsmen! Volum’s Brewery had made the brew especially for the occasion. The fountain was turned on for three hours, after which one wag pronounced it, “the werry best show in the fair”.
The banks, the hotels, the shopkeepers all had illuminations of some sort, flags or other devices to celebrate the occasion. Geelong had done the Royal wedding party proud.
