The City of Hobart joins the rest of Tasmania, Australia and indeed the world in passing on its sympathies and condolences with the news of the passing of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.
Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds said Her Majesty was admired by many in Hobart and it is with great sadness we woke to the news this morning.
“Her Majesty brought calmness, resolution and professionalism to her role. The pages of history will remember her fondly for her dedication to public duty during great change through her 70-year reign. But it is with her immediate family for the loss of a beloved mother, grandmother and great grandmother that our thoughts are today.”
It was Queen Elizabeth’s grandfather, King George V, who bestowed the honour of the title “Lord Mayor” upon the City of Hobart by Letters Patent issued in January 1934.
Her Majesty had a great affinity with Australia and Tasmania, visiting Hobart seven times during her remarkable reign.
In 1952, then Princess Elizabeth was due to make her first visit to Hobart, but this was curtailed by the death of her father, King George VI, and her ascension to the throne.
Still, Hobart basked in her coronation in 1953, with the largest crowd since the end of World War II packing Hobart’s city streets to see the coronation decorations, causing major traffic disruption.
A year later, the Queen made her first visit to Hobart, where 5000 people filled Macquarie Street outside the Town Hall to cheer Her Majesty and Prince Philip.
She would return again in 1963, 1970, 1977, 1981, 1988 and 2000.
Each visit was met with enthusiastic crowds, highlighted by her 1970 trip where the main event was a “meet the people” occasion where the Queen, Prince Philip, Prince Charles (now King Charles III) and Princess Anne walked down Macquarie Street mingling and chatting with the public.
Flags on all City of Hobart buildings will be flown at half-mast until further notice, while a book of condolences will be available to the public at the Town Hall’s Henry Hunter Room.
It will be available for signing and messages on Saturday from 10am to 4pm or during normal business hours.
