At the racetrack, the gardens and the pub, Melbourne remembers the Queen

Key points

• The Victoria Racing Club marked the Queen’s death with one minute’s silence, jockeys wearing black arm bands and condolence books at Flemington race course on Saturday. 
• A slow stream of people headed to the gates of Government House to leave floral tributes for the Queen and to sign condolence books. 
• British pub the Sherlock Holmes Inn saw an increase in patrons. 

Craig Williams never won a race in the Queen’s colours but he is still immensely proud of being her jockey on two occasions.

“I ran second and third for her majesty and in one of the races there was only three horses, so [you could either say] I ran third or I ran last,” Williams said on Saturday.

Jockey Craig Williams wears the Queen’s colours to mark the occasion at Flemington Race Course. Credit:Justin McManus

Saying he felt honoured to again wear the royal silks of purple with gold braid and scarlet sleeves Williams paid tribute to the Queen at Flemington racecourse on Saturday.

“She’s been a constant throughout all of our lives,” Williams said. “She’s always done what’s right, not always necessarily what’s easy, but what’s always been right.”

Across the city on Saturday, Melburnians acknowledged the Queen’s death in their own way.

At Flemington, there was a minute’s silence, jockeys wore black arm bands and flags were flown at half-mast.

Racegoers sign a condolence book at Flemington race course. Credit:Justin McManus

Horse racing was a passion for the Queen who read the Racing Post every morning over breakfast.

She visited Flemington in 1954, 1963 and 1977 and her horse Arabian Story finished sixth in the 1997 Melbourne Cup.

Victoria Racing Club chairman Neil Wilson said the Queen’s knowledge and passion for horse racing was well-known and inspiring.

“Talk to anybody that’s spoken to her about racing, no matter who it is whether it is Gai Waterhouse, Chris Waller or Bart Cummings at the time, they’d say she really understands horse racing,” he said. “So it was a very special part of her life.”

The Queen at Flemington in 1954 congratulating jockey Bill Williamson, who rode Sunish to victory in the Duke of Edinburgh AustralianCredit:Argus Collection

The Queen first rode a horse when she was three years old and inherited the breeding and racing stock of her father, King George VI, when she acceded to the throne in 1952.

“My philosophy about racing is simple,” she said in a BBC documentary, The Queen’s Racehorses: A Personal View. “I enjoy breeding a horse that is faster than other people’s. And to me, that is a gamble from a long way back.”

Punters Elaine Hamilton and Mary Fitzgerald both signed the condolence book at the racetrack and wanted to pay tribute to the Queen.

“She was always so dignified even no matter what turbulence was going on,” Fitzgerald said.

The Queen at Flemington.

Hamilton said the Queen had been through a lot and remained calm through it all.

“To have four children and then to deal with all the children’s problems,” Hamilton said. “I think she’s been marvellous.”

In the Botanic Gardens light rain did not deter a steady stream of people from heading to the entrance to Government House across the course of the day to pay their respects.

Mourners laid bouquets of flowers, which numbered more than 100, by the side of the gates and queued up to sign condolence books.

Mourners leave floral tributes to the Queen outside Government House. Credit:Justin McManus

Wreath-layer Glenn Malloch said he felt very sad about the Queen’s death.

“She was everyone’s granny, she’s been there for ever,” he says. “She did what she said she was going to do when she took the throne. She gave a life of devotion and we thank her for her service.”

British-style pubs experienced an influx of patrons. At the Sherlock Holmes on Collins Street, owner Gary Kirwan said there was a noticeable increase in patronage with people asking specifically for an English beer.

“Of course our recommendation has been for a London Pride,” Kirwan said.

Gary Kirwan, owner of the Sherlock Holmes Inn, pours a pint of English beer to prepare for an influx of patrons. Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui

“I suspect we will see this trend continue in the coming weeks.”

Kirwan said besides regulars there were many extra patrons coming in to mark the occasion with a drink.

“It’s a nice gesture,” he said. “There were quite a few having a pint in her honour.”

Working behind the bar Di Danckert said everybody that came into the pub made some remark about the Queen.

“I feel very sad,” Danckert said.

“For as long as I’ve been alive, she’s been the Queen and I’m 75 and I haven’t known anything different.”

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