News

Royal visit to Rochester remembered

By Lua Ikenasio

Jun 10, 2026

Ann Eick with original photos of the Queen’s visit to Rochester in 1954. Photo by JORDAN TOWNROW

During Queen Elizabeth II’s 1954 Royal Tour, she travelled across the country, from Sydney to Perth and to many smaller communities in between.

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On March 3, 1954, she arrived in Rochester, attracting hundreds from near and far, including students who travelled from surrounding districts with their schools to catch a glimpse of the royals.

Hundreds gathered in Rochester to welcome the royals in 1954. Soure: Ann Eick

Among the crowd was a 12-year-old Ann Eick, who witnessed the historical moment alongside her Nanneella State School peers.

With the King’s Birthday recently celebrated, Mrs Eick, who now resides in Echuca, unearthed her photos of the Queen’s arrival in Rochester to share them with Glanville residents and staff.

School children lined the Queen’s path waving their flags. Source: Ann Eick

Henry Heinich, who worked as a share farmer with Mrs Eick’s father, was one of the many official photographers on the day.

With approval from the shire, Mr Heinich was able to get up close to the Queen and Prince Philip as they disembarked from the train and made their way through the waiting crowd.

Queen Elizabeth II receives a bouquet of flowers from the mayor’s daughter.

Mrs Eick said the atmosphere on the day was unforgettable.

“It was incredible ... there was a big crowd,” she said.

“She walked through the crowd and everybody stood back, nobody rushed in, nobody tried to be the big hero.”

Queen Elizabeth II waves from the train windows as she departs.

Mrs Eick added there was a deep respect for the royal family at the time.

“When we were at school, you used to salute the flag and sing the national anthem, and had a different attitude to people and to the royal family,” she said.

“There was a lot more feeling towards it, and she was very popular, and so was Prince Philip.”

Queen Elizabeth II arrives at the train station.

Mr Heinich later gifted some of the photographs from the day to Mrs Eick’s family, and they were eventually passed down to her.

More than 70 years later, the photographs remain treasured keepsakes, preserving memories of a historic day for Mrs Eick, Rochester and the surrounding district.