Queen Victoria Statue, White marble statue in Albert Park, Auckland, New Zealand
The Queen Victoria Statue is a large figure carved in white marble resting on a pedestal in Albert Park. The monarch appears standing in full court dress, with crown on her head and royal insignia in her hands, surrounded by trees and lawn in the center of Auckland.
The figure was raised in 1899 when New Zealand remained under strong British rule and the monarch was nearing the end of her long reign. It symbolized the influence of the Empire and now stands as a protected category 2 heritage monument.
The name recalls New Zealand's British past, and the royal figure in state dress now stands quietly among students and park visitors. She holds crown and orb, two symbols of royal authority, which the pale marble material brings to the eye and directs the gaze.
The pedestal sits on open lawn and is accessible via footpaths from all sides, a few minutes' walk from the central business district and university campus. Morning and afternoon light can make the marble glow while shadows move through the trees.
The marble material traveled by sea from Italy to Auckland, an unusual transport route for a colony in the late 19th century. This stone was meant to secure permanence and imperial scale, even though New Zealand lay thousands of kilometers from the heart of the Empire.
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