Chapter 174: Chapter 168: Sydney Palace

Shortly after this cabinet meeting ended, on Arthur’s command, Hunter Steward began inviting various European architecture experts and started looking for a suitable site in the Sydney suburbs to build the new palace.

The new palace will serve as the permanent residence and royal palace of the Australian royal family, and its outward image represents the royal family’s dignity and reputation.

Since Arthur was building a new palace, naturally he would not be stingy. The building’s budget was an enormous 5 million pounds, with unlimited indigenous labour allowed.

The main objective of the palace construction was to strive for opulence but maintain a low profile, be original but solemn, imposing but thoroughly fortified, while ensuring the quality of construction. A significant number of indigenous workers were employed to speed up the construction process, without overburdening various other construction projects in Australia.

These requirements were quite high. However, a large number of architectural experts from Europe were hired for the royal palace’s construction, some of whom had even built royal palaces and castles for the European royal family, making them the most capable candidates.

After nearly half a month of site selection, the construction teams covered the entire outskirts of Sydney, and finally found an extremely suitable construction site in the suburbs southwest of Sydney.

This was a vast plain located at the junction of a mountainous region and a lake. To the east was a large plain, and to the west was a small mountain over 200 meters high, adjacent to a large lake.

Based on this unique geographical environment, the construction team, after lengthy study, finally decided on the design for the Australian royal palace, also known as Sydney Palace.

The entire Australian royal palace was shaped like the Chinese character ‘ □’ without the horizontal line at the top. The core area of the palace was at the bottom of the ‘□’, with the vertical bars housing the dining room, meeting room, entertainment room and servants’ quarters.

There was a protrusion at the base of each vertical bar – the left side connected to a tower, serving as the royal family’s medical, education and entertainment facilities, along with a fully functional private royal hospital.

The right side contained a circular church, set to be the site of future baptisms, weddings, funerals, and other important ceremonies for the members of the Australian royal family.

A large building extending from the right would serve as guest accommodation, complete with a small dining room, meeting room, office, and other facilities.

At the center of the palace’s architecture was a large circular flower bed.

In the middle of the flower bed, statues of all the Australian rulers would be placed. Currently, statues of Queen Victoria and Arthur were planned.

Queen Victoria was the ruler during the Australian colonial period, and a key figure in the establishment of the Australian Duchy.

Queen Victoria was held in great esteem by both the people of the British Empire and Australia. Setting up her statue would not only assert the noble lineage of the Australian royalty owing to the British royal bloodline but also win the hearts of British people and favor from the British government.

While Australia’s current state owes much to its origins in the British Empire, the country may well part ways with the Empire in future, becoming a vast and powerful independent nation, however, not at present.

Australia will not fail to recognize its bloodline from the British Empire, as this not only brings glory from a noble lineage but also attracts goodwill and immigration from the British.

This unique blood relationship is incomparable to alliances based on benefits.

In other words, if one day the Australian allied island nation conflicted with the British Empire, and the British government did not support Australia, it would face displeasure from the people and opposition from the party.

The same would be true for Australia. If Australia openly stood against the British Empire without any reason, both the British and the Australians would be disappointed in the government.

The perimeter of the royal palace, or rather, the top of the mouth shape, features a large semi-circular fountain.

Beyond the fountain lies an extensive palace garden, soon to be planted with vast quantities of flowers and plants, set to become the palace’s most significant garden.

To the right of the garden, there is a considerable natural lake. The water in the fountain and the small lakes within the palace are all connected to this giant natural lake.

Beyond the lake and garden, there is an even larger square. This square is so vast that it can’t be compared with the one that previously stood across the administrative building.

On the side of the square closest to the palace, there is a reviewing stand six meters high, specifically built for future parades in Australia.

Located below the reviewing stand and at the front of the entire square, the Australian royal emblem flag and the Australian Principality’s national flag will be hoisted daily.

In front of the national flag, towards the rear of the square, there will be a monument depicting a drawn sword, named the Australian Heroes Monument.

It will be a place where heroes who have contributed to Australia’s establishment will be eternally remembered, attracting both Australians and tourists alike.

From the back of the square to the Australian Heroes Monument, to the national flag and emblem flag, and finally to the reviewing stand, they are all connected by a vast and landscaped path.

Below the reviewing stand, a highway links to this scenic route at a right angle, dividing the road on the square into a T-shape.

This horizontal road is the parade route, where future inspected troops will pass and be seen by the people on the square.

The massive square is divided into two sections by the road linking the Heroes Monument and the national flag. During parades, these two sections become the best places for spectators. The square can accommodate at least 60,000 people, making it the largest square in Australia.

Lastly, behind the palace is a small hill. This hill, standing only two to three hundred meters high, will be where the royal family members practice shooting and enjoy their leisure time.

The whole royal palace, including the hill, the main architectural portion of the palace, the fountain, the lake, the garden, and the square, becomes a new colossal palace complex in Australia.

This royal palace covers an area of more than 400,000 square meters, equivalent to the whole of forty hectares, or 0.4 square kilometers.

Of this, the garden, the lake and the hill behind the palace alone occupy 150,000 square meters, while the main building only covers less than 100,000 square meters.

Once completed, the palace will boast up to 600 rooms, a complete private hospital, a church, a learning area for imparting knowledge to the royal family, up to 20 conference rooms of various sizes, six restaurants, fifty offices, and several guard towers and guard stations on the top floor, making it luxurious, extravagant, and highly guarded.

Also, entering from the main gate of the palace, there are long corridors extending over one hundred meters on both sides.

The corridor will display literary works and precious treasures from all over the world, transforming it into a cultural corridor for the Australian royal family.

Regrettably, the main gate is in the most critical area of the royal palace, so few people have access to this door. In Australia, only royal family members and the cabinet currently have access.

Without Arthur’s summons, it is nearly impossible for others to enter through the main gate and visit this fascinating cultural corridor.