Australia Gate

Australia Gate
The Drums and Pipes of the Irish Guards passing through Australia Gate, King's Birthday, 2024
General information
TypeGate
LocationQueen Victoria Memorial scheme, London, United Kingdom
Coordinates51°30′04″N 0°08′23″W / 51.501166°N 0.139834°W / 51.501166; -0.139834
Opened1911
Design and construction
ArchitectSir Aston Webb

Australia Gate forms part of the Queen Victoria Memorial scheme in London. The gate was presented by Australia as a tribute, following the passing of Queen Victoria in 1901. The gate is situated on Spur Road, directly opposite from the Canada Gate. The memorial was formally unveiled by King George V in 1911.

History and description

In 1906, a sum of £25,000 was donated towards the funding of both the central Queen Victoria memorial and the gates themselves, which was approved by the Australian Parliament, and subsequently given to Sir William Treloar, the Lord Mayor of London at the time.

The figures on the pillars of the gate were sculpted by Sir Thomas Brock, and the iron gates were made by the Bromsgrove Guild in the Arts and Crafts style.

The gate is in the same style as its Canadian counterpart and the front gates of Buckingham Palace. The left section is composed of a pillar, topped with a cherub holding a kangaroo, alongside a shield depicting an earlier rendition of the coat of arms of Australia. This section of the gate contains the state badges of Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland.

The right section comprises a pillar topped with another cherub, alongside a sheep, and the earlier coat of arms of Australia. This section of the gate contains the state badges of Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia.

State badges appearing on the Gate

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Project: The Australia Gate". Barwin. Barwin. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  2. ↑ "Queen Victoria Memorial". Trove (National Library of Australia). The Bendigo Independent. 11 December 1906. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  3. ↑ "AUSTRALIA IN LONDON". Trove (National Library of Australia). The Leader. 26 January 1907. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  4. 1 2 "The new façade of Buckingham Palace and Australia Gate". Royal Collection Trust. Royal Collection Trust. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  5. ↑ "Australia Gate -- Buckingham Palace, Westminster, London, UK". Waymarking. Waymarking. Retrieved 26 July 2026.