Elizabeth Plant (Adelaide)
Royal Tour by Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh
21st February, 1963
As can be seen by the following correspondence, preparations for the Royal Visit occupied some eight months of GMH executive attention, with many discussions, decisions, re-decisions, meetings and logistics to make the 25 minute visit seem effortless.
The following gives a taste of the documented side of the arrangements, but really only represents a fraction of the time and cost of this visit.
However, on the day, everybody thought it was all worth it!!
GMH Correspondence:
| 1962 July 10 | Tentative date for GMH plant visit | |
| 1962 July 12 | Royal Visit Committee announced | |
| 1962 Oct 11 | London Gazette offer to publish GMH tour info in English publication | |
| 1962 Oct 22 | Preliminary unofficial plans for route | |
| 1962 Nov 1 | Unofficial advice that a film may be made of the visit | |
| 1962 Nov 11 | Royal visits to others which pass Woodville Plant | |
| 1962 Nov 12 | Details of Royal Visit program | |
| 1962 Nov 13 | Queen to unveil fountain at Windsor Park (Elizabeth town) | |
| 1962 Nov 14 | Telephone conversation with Mr L King (Premier's Office) | |
| 1962 Nov 15 | Confirmation of a film to be made | |
| 1962 Nov 21 | Preliminary Rough notes re route and timing of visit | |
| 1962 Nov 26 | Interim Notes Stage Reached re Route and Timing | |
| 1962 Nov 27 | Premiers office sending official badges and comments | |
| 1962 Nov 29 | Lists of other Elizabeth manufacturers and other firms | |
| 1962 Nov 30 | Co-ordination meeting with Police, Premier's Office reps. with rough layout markup. | |
| 1962 Nov 30 | Hotel bookings made for Execs | |
| 1962 Nov x | Her Majesty's schedule for Plant visit | |
| 1962 Dec 5 | JR Holden's points for consideration | |
| 1962 Dec 6 | Suggested draft of information for visit brochure | |
| 1962 Dec 7 | Schools rally want different time, could change Eliz visit time | |
| 1962 Dec 12 | Advice that a set of Holden parts will be required at Elizabeth | |
| 1962 Dec 12 | Draft notes for Queen's brochure on plant. | |
| 1962 Dec 14 | Discussions with Hegland | |
| 1962 Dec 17 | Details for Execs hotel bookings | |
| 1962 Dec 17 | Thanks from London Gazette representative | |
| 1962 Dec 18 | Notes re GMH for Visit brochure | |
| 1962 Dec 19 | Exec's biographies for Visit info | |
| 1962 Dec 19 | Frank Callahan's bio details | |
| 1962 Dec 19 | Royal staff coming to Australia with Queen Elizabeth | |
| 1962 Dec 20 | JR Holden's discussions with J Horn on details | |
| 1962 Dec 20 | Plane bookings for Execs | |
| 1962 Dec 21 | Frank Callahan's official bio | |
| 1962 Dec 21 | Route Details to Police Dept | |
| ooo000ooo | ||
| 1963 Jan 7 | Advertiser asking re GMH advertising in Tour supplement | |
| 1963 Jan 8 | Notes on discussions with Royal Tour organisers | |
| 1963 Jan 9 | Advice that GMH are participating in the Advertiser Royal Visit supplement | |
| 1963 Jan 9 | Movements of participants during royal tour | |
| 1963 Jan 9 | Queen's Timing schedule for Plant visit | |
| 1963 Jan 9 | Report of visit to Elizabeth by Tour officials | |
| 1963 Jan 14 | Queens standard to be used on Tour | |
| 1963 Jan 15 | Invitation to attend opening of Fountain | |
| 1963 Jan 18 | Tour office confirm timing for visit | |
| 1963 Jan 22 | Advice that Feb 20 is a public holiday in Adelaide but preps will go ahead anyway | |
| 1963 Jan 25 | Decisions made by GMH Policy Committee re visit | |
| 1963 Jan 30 | Outstanding points to discuss with Royal Tour officials | |
| 1963 Feb 1 | Plans for rehearsal on 17th Feb | |
| 1963 Feb 4 | Movements of Execs | |
| 1963 Feb 4 | Synopsis of Elizabeth visit by Royal Tour Office | |
| 1963 Feb 5 | Factory notice re Feb 20 holiday | |
| 1963 Feb 5 | Plane bookings for execs | |
| 1963 Feb 6 | Forms of address for Hegland to use | |
| 1963 Feb 6 | Horn and Lukey to attend rehearsal | |
| 1963 Feb 11 | Numbers of employees requesting tickets | |
| 1963 Feb 13 | Arrangements for Lady E Holden | |
| 1963 Feb 13 | Progress report of preparations for GMH Royal Visit | |
| 1963 Feb 13 | Stand-ins for Execs at rehearsals | |
| 1963 Feb 14 | Factory Notice rearrangements for 21st Feb visit | |
| 1963 Feb 15 | Additional material! for press release | |
| 1963 Feb 15 | Details of blind employees to meet Queen | |
| 1963 Feb 15 | instructions for Execs who will be in Foyer | |
| 1963 Feb 15 | Public Announcements | |
| 1963 Feb 19 | Timings for Queen's visit | |
| 1963 Feb 19 | Queen to be shielded by protective shields | |
| 1963 Feb 19 | Responsibilities for remaining GMH items for visit | |
| 1963 Feb 19 | Notes re executives from 19th to 21st | |
| 1963 Feb 21 | Invitation/Information for Press attending the Tour at the Plant | |
| 1963 Feb 21 | Day of the Tour!!!!!!!!!!!! | |
| 1963 Feb 22 | Thanks to L King | |
| 1963 Feb 22 | Thanks to Sir Thomas P!ayford | |
| 1963 Feb 26 | Thanks from L King to JR Holden | |
| 1963 Feb 26 | Thanks to GMH from L King | |
| 1963 Feb 27 | Return thanks from Sir Thomas Playford office | |
| 1963 Feb 27 | Thanks from the Advertiser for co-operation during visit | |
| 1963 Feb 28 | Photo to be sent to Britannia | |
| 1963 Feb 28 | Photos attached, details of others | |
| 1963 Feb 28 | Return thanks to Advertiser | |
| 1963 April 19 | Columbia Pictures have movie of visit | |
| 1963 June 20 | Arrangements for get-together of people involved in successful Royal Tour | |
| 1963 July 10 | Thanks from Lou King for hosting Royal Visit | |
| 1963 July 15 | Invitation to Sir james Holden to view Tour film | |
| 1963 July 17 | Acceptance of invitation to view Tour film | |
| 1963 July 26 | Thanks for invitation to view this very fine film. |
The Published reports:
| Date | Document Heading | Link |
| 1963 Feb 21 | Queen visits Motor Plant | |
| 1963 Feb 21 | Queen and Duke chat to workers | |
| 1963 Feb 21 | Elizabeth Brochure prepared as Plant information for press releases | |
| 1963 Feb 21 | Royalty in the Factory | |
| 1963 May/June | The Queen Amongst us (GM World - Stewart Underwood) | |
| 1963 Feb 21 | The day the Queen came to town (Roger Gibbs) | |