Queen Victoria Monument

The Queen Victoria Monument is a seven-meter bronze statue on a granite pedestal between Kent Terrace and Cambridge Terrace in Wellington. The monarch holds a scepter and orb, and the monument combines royal symbolism with solid craftsmanship.

The monument was unveiled in 1905 by Lord Plunket and Premier Seddon after Queen Victoria died following 63 years on the throne. The unveiling marked the end of an era and the start of new political ties between New Zealand and Britain.

The plinth carries bronze reliefs showing scenes from New Zealand history, including the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840. These panels connect the monarchy to important colonial moments and show how the country understood its ties to the crown.

The monument stands in the Mount Victoria neighborhood between Kent Terrace and Cambridge Terrace and is freely accessible at all times. Regular maintenance work keeps the bronze and granite in good condition.

The statue is a replica of the version Alfred Drury created for Portsmouth in 1903, cast at the Morris Singer foundry in Somerset. From there it traveled thousands of miles across the ocean before being erected in Wellington.