List of official openings by Elizabeth II in Australia Facts for Kids

Queen Elizabeth II visited Australia many times during her long reign. During these visits, she didn't just meet people; she also officially opened many important buildings, places, and projects across the country. These openings marked special moments in Australia's history and showed the strong connection between Australia and the Queen.

Royal Openings in Australia
Photo gallery
See also

Royal Openings in Australia

Queen Elizabeth II officially opened many different kinds of places during her visits. These included government buildings, hospitals, universities, and cultural landmarks. Each opening was a big event, often with ceremonies and celebrations.

Early Visits and Parliament Openings

When Queen Elizabeth II first visited Australia in 1954, she was quite busy! She opened sessions of parliament in several states. A parliament is where elected representatives meet to make laws for the country or state.

On 4 February 1954, she opened the Parliament of New South Wales in Sydney.
Just a few days later, on 15 February 1954, she opened the Parliament of Australia in Canberra, which is the nation's capital.
She also opened the Parliament of Tasmania in Hobart on 22 February 1954.
Then, on 25 February 1954, she opened the Parliament of Victoria in Melbourne.
Finally, on 23 March 1954, she opened the Parliament of South Australia in Adelaide.

During this first visit, she also unveiled some important memorials. On 5 February 1954, she unveiled the King George V and King George VI Memorial in Hyde Park, Sydney. She also opened the Remembrance Driveway, a special road between Sydney and Canberra dedicated to those who served in wars. In Canberra, she unveiled the Australian-American Memorial on 16 February 1954, honoring the friendship between Australia and the United States. She also helped open additions to the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne on 28 February 1954, a place that honors Australian service personnel.

Hospitals and Universities

The Queen also opened important places that help people learn and get better when they are sick.

On 25 February 1963, she opened the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne. This hospital helps many young people.
She also opened the North East Building of the Royal Hobart Hospital in Hobart on 3 April 1970.
Many years later, she opened the new Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne again on 26 October 2011, showing how much it had grown and changed.

The Queen also visited and opened buildings at universities, which are places for higher education.

On 4 March 1963, she opened new medical and biological science buildings at the University of New South Wales in Sydney.
She also opened the R.G. Menzies Building at the Australian National University in Canberra on 13 March 1963.
On 25 March 1963, she celebrated the Golden Jubilee (50th anniversary) of The University of Western Australia in Perth.

Cultural and Sporting Landmarks

Some of the most famous places the Queen opened are cultural icons and sporting venues.

One of the most famous openings was the Sydney Opera House in Sydney on 20 October 1973. This building is now known all over the world!
In Canberra, she opened the Captain James Cook Memorial on Lake Burley Griffin on 25 April 1970, which honors the famous explorer.
She also opened the National Carillon in Canberra on 26 April 1970. A carillon is a musical instrument made of many bells.
On 12 October 1982, she opened the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra, a place where amazing artworks are displayed.
For sports, she opened the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Sports Centre in Brisbane on 10 March 1977.
She also attended the Closing Ceremony of the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane on 9 October 1982.
On 5 March 1986, she opened Parramatta Stadium in Sydney.
She also opened the Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame in Longreach on 29 April 1988, which celebrates Australia's pioneering history.

Later Visits and Other Openings

The Queen continued to open important places on her later visits.

On 26 May 1980, she opened the High Court of Australia in Canberra, which is the highest court in the Australian legal system.
She also opened the new Parliament House, Canberra in Canberra on 9 May 1988. This is the building where the Australian Parliament meets today.
In 1988, she also opened the annexe (an extra part) of the State Library of New South Wales in Sydney.
She opened World Expo 88 in Brisbane on 30 April 1988, a big international exhibition.
She also opened Darling Harbour in Sydney on 4 May 1988, which is now a popular entertainment and dining area.
In 2006, she opened the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, a major international sports event.
Her final visit in 2011 saw her open the Rain Bank and Rainforest Green at South Bank Parklands in Brisbane on 24 October 2011. She also attended the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2011 in Perth on 28 October 2011.

These are just some of the many important places and events Queen Elizabeth II officially opened in Australia, showing her long and dedicated service to the country.