At last she moves

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}

{{Use Australian English|date=November 2011}}

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File:At last she moves.jpg

At last she moves is a recurring phrase in the history of Western Australia, used to acknowledged long-awaited progress after a period of stagnation.

Governor Weld first used the phrase in reference to the colony finally gaining representative government in 1870.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article47872166 |title="At Last She Moves" A Pioneer of Empire. |newspaper=The West Australian |location=Perth |date=1 July 1950 |accessdate=25 March 2011 |page=20 |publisher=National Library of Australia}} When Governor Frederick Broome turned the first sod on the Great Southern Railway at Beverley on 20 October 1886, he again used the phrase, presumably as an allusion to Weld's earlier use. In October 1890, Governor Robinson returned from England with the news that Western Australia had been granted responsible government. On his arrival at Albany on 18 October 1890, he made a speech in which he used the phrase: "now I think we can venture to say, with all sincerity, and in the full conviction that it will be realised, 'At last she moves.'" Three days later, responsible government was proclaimed in Perth, Western Australia. The city had been decorated in anticipation of celebration of the first Proclamation Day, and one of the highlights was a large banner draped across the front of Edward Keane's store, which read "{{smallcaps|At Last She Moves}}" in all capital letters.

The following poem was published in The West Australian in 1891, referring to Perth Boys School, but possibly alluding to above-mentioned usage.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3141306 |title="AT LAST SHE MOVES.". |newspaper=The West Australian |location=Perth |date=17 March 1891 |accessdate=25 March 2011 |page=3 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}

::"At Last She Moves."

:The High School of Perth is now going ahead

:As the match of last Saturday proves.

:At last she's been drawn from her oozy mud bed.

:At last we can say that she moves.

:For two or three years she has gradually sunk

:Into lazy and slovenly grooves.

:But since the new master has come into power

:We safely can say that she moves.

:All the idle old ways he firmly puts down

:And each foolish habit reproves.

:Till at length it's apparent to all the wide world.

:That at last the old H.S.P. moves.