When the Queen came to Coffs Harbour in 1970

On the 1970 Bicentenary tour of Australia, the Royals were greeted by throngs of adoring wellwishers, and got involved with some local institutions. See more.

The late Queen visited the north coast of New South Wales twice - once in 1954 as part of her first tour to the antipodes, and again in 1970 as part of bicentenary celebrations.

The 1970 Royal tour was in connection with the bicentenary anniversary of James Cook’s 1770 voyage up the east coast of Australia, and saw the Queen and Prince Philip, as well as Princess Anne and the Prince of Wales received by large, warm crowds across the country.

Upon HMY Britannia, they sailed from Hobart up the east coast, arriving in Coffs Harbour on April 11, 1970 to fine weather after recent storms.

John Wait, 78, Commodore of the Coffs Harbour Yacht Club, remembers both tours.

“In 1954, the whole of Coffs Harbour Primary were taken to Casino on the train at 6am to catch a glimpse of her down by the river park there - it was a full day event, we didn’t get back until 8 at night.”

“In 1970, I took my three kids up to the quarry and watched HMY Britannia sail in, it was the best vantage point in Coffs. It must be the last big ship that’s sailed into Coffs Harbour.

“I don’t think kids would walk that far these days.”

After a morning meeting with local representatives and civic organisations at the Civic Centre, lunch was taken at Bruxner Park with a timber felling for entertainment.

The Queen and Prince Philip were then hosted by the Coffs Harbour Surf Lifesaving Club for a Royal Surf Carnival, attended by 35,000 people.

HMY Britannia departed Coffs Harbour that evening for Brisbane.

The Royal tour continued on throughout Queensland, stopping in Mount Isa, Longreach, Townsville, Cairns, before returning back down the coast and concluding on May 3 in Sydney after the Queen opened the international terminal at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport.

Queen Elizabeth II’s body is currently lying in rest in the throne room in the Palace of Holyroodhouse after departing Balmoral.

As part of Operation Unicorn, the plan in place in the event that the Queen passed away in Scotland, a procession including King Charles III and members of the royal family will then take her coffin to St Giles’ Cathedral.

The people of Scotland will then have a chance to pay their respects before the Queen’s funeral at Westminster Abbey.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Sunday morning that Thursday, September 22 would be a national public holiday as a day of mourning.

The day of mourning will include a ceremony in Canberra.