Designer Phil Spark's comment: Made by Steven Cunningham, the flower refers to the roses made out of steel from the first steel pour in Lithgow. These flowers are in the Eskbank House Museum.

QUEEN VICTORIA DIES

On 22 January 1901 Queen Victoria died, at the age of 81. She had been the Monarch of the United Kingdom and Ireland, and head of the British Empire, since 1837 and had ruled during a period of dramatic social, industrial, political and economic change both within Britain and the Empire. She had nine children, many of whom married into the royal houses of Europe, and remain the foundation of the Britain’s ruling House of Windsor.

Queen Victoria’s death marked a turning point in the history of Europe, and the colonies. The Colonies of Australia were about to undergo Federation, and Europe would, within just over a decade, become embroiled in war. Few of the royal houses of Europe would survive the conflicts of the first half of the twentieth century.

This footage of Queen Victoria’s funeral, a clip provided by British Pathé shows the pomp and ceremony of Queen Victoria’s funeral and also provides a visual insight into the state of technology in the Empire. Horses and carts remain the vehicles of choice, but Britain’s warships were powered by steam and were made of steel.

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