Test Landings

The two RAAF Convair aircraft, used for VIP transport, that were to carry the Royal Tour party down from Darwin, tested out the airstrip.  The gravel airstrip was supposed to be sealed with bitumen, but the wet season got in the way, and there were great concerns when the strip was inundated in January 1963.

March 17th 1963 - The Royal Tour - The Itinerary ( New archive in 2022)

Here is an itinerary for the Royal Tour to Kununurra.  This is a new archive that was only received last year, which gives us a fascinating insight into the details of what happened and when on that day. It also tells us what had been written or said, is in fact a myth, as someone had said that had been repeated at the museum, being the complete historical myth, that "the planned 40 minute visit turned into an hour and a half," when in fact the itinerary tells us, that an hour and a half was about how long the visit had been planned for. [Another Kimberley history myth busted :^]

1963-03-17 - Itinerary for the Royal Tour to Kununurra - Itinerary - KHS News cuttings from Alma Sargeant donated by Fran Wainwright - Kununurra Historical Society (KHS) Archive No. KHS Archive Number - KHS-2022-43-H47-OD_01 & 02

1963-03-17 Royal Entourage - Roy Hamilton at the Ord River Diversion Dam, he was Resident Engineer for, during construction. may be the Queen's Lady in Waiting.  Photographer (35mm Kodacolour) - Kevin Richards (who was a WA Ag. Dept. Entomologist at the Kimberley Research Station) - Richards Family Collection - 4. Royal Tour - Richards Categories - Kununurra Historical Society (KHS) Archive No. KHS-2011-31-409-6.11-P2-D

Roy Hamilton's Speech

Colour print-outs of Roy Hamilton's original speech notes and a letter to Roy from the Royal Family were donated in 2013 by Rosalie Hamilton.  They give us yet another insight into the tour.

1963-03-17 - Roy A. Hamilton's original speech notes to Officially Welcome Queen Elizabeth II to Kununurra - Album Page_Captioned - KHS - Roy A. Hamilton Royal Tour Album Collection - Donated by Rosalie Hamilton during the July 20th 2013 - 50 Year Commemorations of the opening of the Ord River Diversion Dam and Stage I of the Ord River Irrigation Project - On July 20th 1963, the Official Opening Ceremony was performed by the Prime Minister of the day, Sir Robert Menzies four months after the Queen's visit in March 1963.

Kununurra Historical Society (KHS) Archive No. KHS Archive Number - KHS-2013-69-d-P-H37-D 

Letter from the Queen to RA Hamilton

March 28th 1963, the Australian Secretary to the Queen, sends Roy a photo of Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh, as a token of their gratitude.

1963-03-28 - Letter from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to Roy A Hamilton, sent with a portrait photograph.  KHS - Roy A. Hamilton Royal Tour Album Collection - Donated by Rosalie Hamilton.  - Kununurra Historical Society (KHS) Archive No. KHS Archive Number - KHS-2013-69-d-P-H37-D 

All KHS & Kununurra Museum Royal Tour Resources

Kununurra Museum Display (When you visit :^)

Kununurra Museum Website - Research

Kununurra's 1963 Royal Tour - This Page (You are on it :^)

RAAF Convair A96-353 - 1963 Royal Tour Transport

1963 Royal Tour DVs (Digital Videos :^) 

Kununurra Museum Website (Old :^) News

A Royal Tour to Kununurra - March 17th 1963 

A Royal LIKE of Kununurra Museum on fb 

Kununurra Museum on fB

See our 1963 Royal Tour Album - (New March 16th 2023 - On the eve of 60 years commemoration of this event  :^)

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.4382691378425000&type=3

Kununurra Historical Society Photo Collections on Flickr

Royal Tour 1963-Kununurra - KHS Flickr Album

(Click on any image then scroll down for all the information on every photo :^)

https://www.flickr.com/photos/khs-museum/sets/72157626930779926/

Kununurra Museum YouTube Cinema

Go to this page here on this website has both Royal Tour DVs embedded.

1963 Royal Tour DVs (Digital Videos :^)

Hope you enjoy!