Crowds of nearly 100,000 excited subjects lined the streets to get a glimpse of the young monarch, in what the Bendigo Advertiser hailed the “proudest, supremest moment this city has known”.

It was the first tour to Australia by Queen Elizabeth II, just nine months after her coronation, and covered a large number of cities across the country over a two-month period.

As part of her exhausting itinerary the young queen, accompanied by her husband the Duke of Edinburgh, swept through Benalla, Shepparton, Echuca, Bendigo, Rochester, Castlemaine and Maryborough all in one day.

The Bendigo Advertiser detailed the “80 momentous minutes of her visit” to the city from the moment she stepped out of the Bendigo Railway Station hall to be met by thousands.

Mayor Cr. F. Clayton escorted the Queen to the car after an official welcome.

As part of her visit she spent 25 minutes at the Upper Reserve, which following her visit was renamed the Queen Elizabeth Oval.

Legacy ward Jean Fraser, 11, the daughter of an airman killed in action, gave the Queen a bouquet of flowers, while 9000 children cheered and waved their flags.

She also received a casket containing “two gleaming specimens of gold”as a gift from the city.

Now as we approach the 60th anniversary we are looking for people who were there.

Do you remember when the Queen came to town? Did you get close enough to rub shoulders with royalty? Did you parents or grandparents tell you stories of what they heard and saw?

We want to hear your stories.

Email wendy.williams@fairfaxmedia.com.au or call 5434 4480.