The illuminated arch in this image was one of seven that decorated St Georges Terrace for the 1954 royal visit. "Perth was transformed into a glittering fairyland last night when Royal tour illuminations were given a test preview to one of the biggest night crowds the city has seen for many years," The West Australian  reported. "Traffic banked up and jammed all the streets in the city block and extra policemen were used to keep pedestrians and vehicles moving. At 8 pm St. George's-terrace - the main centre of the illuminations - was a solid mass of people and traffic. At one stage the traffic stretched in one line from the Causeway to Malcolm-street and there were similar jams in Hay and Wellington streets. Although the last flag had not been unfurled and the last light had not been placed, the thousands of sightseers agreed that the decorations were a fitting welcome for the Royal visitors and the best that had ever been seen in the city. Seven arches illuminated across St. George's-terrace, a line of coloured lights on each side of the street and most of the buildings outlined in lights turned the thoroughfare into a fairyland. The illuminations were turned on at the request of the State Electricity Commission so that power loads could be measured and circuit faults could be traced." rod.moran@wanews.com.au