Statue of Queen Victoria

1907; statue unveiled on May 24, 1903

Sculptor: Francis John Williamson (1833-1920)

Commissioned to commemorate Queen Victoria

Bronze, on stone pedestal with bronze reliefs and marble plaque

Christchurch, New Zealand

This statue was commissioned to celebrate Canterbury Province's Jubilee in 1900, and was intended to commemorate the Queen as well as the Pakeha settlement of Canterbury, and soldiers fighting in the Boer War in South Africa. The foundation stone was laid by the Duke of Cornwall and York in June 1901, and the statue finally arrived in January 1903. The statue became a focus for subsequent ceremonies, including the annual marking of Empire Day on Queen Victoria's birthday.

Related Media

Public school cadets drawn up in front of the Queen Victoria statue to salute the flag on Empire Day, May 24, 1907, in Victoria Square Public school cadets drawn up in front of the Queen Victoria statue to salute the flag on Empire Day, May 24, 1907, in Victoria Square [Weekly Press, May 29, 1907, p. 40; Christchurch City Libraries, 0641, photo CD 14, IMG0097, http://librarydata.christchurch.org.nz/]