ROYAL LETTERS: Edward Bulwer Lytton involved in naming of Queensland.
The Courier Mail in Australia reports: "A British historian says Queensland might have been called Saxon Land or Clarence - and Queen Victoria didn't seem to take any interest in the State's naming. Saxon Land, Clarence and Queen's Land were options suggested by The Colonial Secretary, Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton, according to Professor Ged Martin from The University of Edinburgh."
"Professor Martin reveals his findings in letters to his friend John Dawson, a former Queensland Agent General in London, now retired in Brisbane. Professor Martin said letters held in The Royal Archives at Windsor Castle show Lord Lytton's own correspondence to Her Majesty Queen Victoria in 1859."
"When the options were narrowed to Saxon Land and Queen's Land, Lord Lytton wrote a letter. He said "both the names which have occurred to Your Majesty are excellent", adding, "the Colonists would find particular pride" in Queen's Land. So it came to be. But the naming of Queensland seems to have been an afterthought with letters showing Victoria more interested in the naming of British Columbia and its capital, Victoria." Celebrate Saxonland (sorry, Queensland) here and here.
I'm thinking of emigrating to Queensland in 2012. I thought I'd do my bit for The Empire and for The Colonists by finally settling there and then, well, doing a bit of breeding. Like a bee does for his Queen in order to help Her maintain Her Colony.
ReplyDeleteSecond thoughts, I think I might be of more use to Colonists everywhere if I didn't breed anywhere.
:-)
Interesting post.
ReplyDeleteI thought so - I personally prefer Queensland.
ReplyDeleteSaxon Land sounds like a defunct 1970s rock group.
Not that Queen Victoria would have been aware of that at the time.
Fear not, monarchists. When Australia becomes a republic, the states of Queensland and Victoria will retain their old names.
ReplyDeleteGlad to learn that. I was going to say Australia will never become a republic. However, the way things are going only an idiot would say that.
ReplyDeletePleasingly, the current Queen does not share her ancestor's ambivalence. ER2 always gets a good turnout in Brisbane and why not - it's her best state (63% No in 1999).
ReplyDeleteI'm satisfied there are more than enough of us Gen-X constitutionalists around to keep the boomers' grubby hands off the monarchy for a long, long time to come. Kevin Rudd appears to have come to the same conclusion.