Home > Celebration highlights > Proclamation Day

Proclamation Day

Proclamation Day, Thursday 10 December 2009, marked 150 years since the historic reading in Brisbane of the Letters Patent. The Letters Patent was signed by Queen Victoria on 6 June 1859, proclaiming Queensland a separate colony to New South Wales.

Queensland's first Governor, Sir George Ferguson Bowen, accompanied by his wife Lady Diamantina Bowen, witnessed the reading of the Letters Patent from the balcony of Adelaide House, now the Deanery of St John's Cathedral in Ann Street, Brisbane.

Proclamation Day culminated the year of celebrations across the State, and recognised the contribution and support of all Queenslanders toward the Q150 celebrations.

Proclamation Day celebration program - Thursday 10 December

6.00am - 7.30am

Rotary Club of Balmoral breakfast

Proclamation Day Breakfast and Flotilla

Colmslie Recreation Reserve
Lytton Road (behind State Hockey Centre), Morningside

A flotilla of craft with Governor Bowen and Lady Diamantina aboard (played by actors) left Colmslie Recreation Reserve headed for the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens, as they did 150 years ago when they first arrived in Brisbane. The day kicked off with a free community breakfast and entertainment, before the flotilla, carrying the Governor and his wife left at 7.30am.

9.00am-10.30am

Governor Bowen and Lady Diamantina

Proclamation Day Commemoration Ceremony

Royal Palms Lawn, City Botanic Gardens

A special commemoration ceremony of Governor Bowen and Lady Diamantina's arrival at the City Botanic Gardens was held with honorary guests - Her Excellency Penelope Wensley AO, Governor of Queensland; The Honourable Anna Bligh MP, Premier of Queensland; and Campbell Neumann, Lord Mayor of Brisbane. The commemorative ceremony was marked with a flag-raising ceremony, gun salute and a special F-111 fly past, concluding with a free Queensland inspired morning tea for all - the lamington.

10.30am-11.30am

Proclamation Day Parade

Proclamation Day Parade to St John's Cathedral

Alice Street, George Street, Adelaide Street, Queen Street, Ann Street

Following the commemoration ceremony, the Proclamation Day official party made their way from the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens to St John's Cathedral, together with the Mounted Police and Queensland Police Pipes and Drums Band.

11.30am-12.45pm

St Johns ceremony

Proclamation Day Celebration of Thanksgiving

St John's Cathedral, Ann Street

This Celebration commenced with the reading of the Letters Patent within the Cathedral followed by the ringing of the bells signifying our statehood. Following this a multi-faith celebration took place giving thanks for the proud Queensland we are today.

2.00pm-4.00pm

Youth Parliament

Parliament House, Alice Street, Brisbane

How far has Queensland come? What does our future look like? Eighty-nine year seven students from 16 government and non-government South East Queensland schools, came together to represent the 89 Members of Parliament and discuss the issues of our future.

Topics included the Arts, Indigenous, climate change and sustainability, health, women and sport. The Speaker of the House, the Honourable John Mickel MP, conducted the business of the debate.

Gates open 4pm

Bernard and Jon

Q150 Proclamation Day Concert
featuring Powderfinger

Brisbane Riverstage, City Botanic Gardens

Proclamation Day came to an eventful close, with a Q150 Proclamation Day Concert, headlined by one of Queensland's biggest acts, Powderfinger.

Support acts for the concert included Custard, a prolific Brisbane band from the 90s who reformed just for the Q150 Proclamation Day Concert, and Queensland up and comers The Cairo's, The Middle East and Yves Klein Blue. More than 8000 Queenslanders celebrated the close of Queensland's 150th celebrations on a typically Queensland balmy night.