Elm Hill is one of the most beautiful streets in Norwich and is a serene backdrop to any photo.

Eastern Daily Press: Peter and Lyn Gilbert, from Australia, return to Norwich and recreate a wedding photograph on Elm Hill to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. Picture : ANTONY KELLYPeter and Lyn Gilbert, from Australia, return to Norwich and recreate a wedding photograph on Elm Hill to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. Picture : ANTONY KELLY (Image: archant 2017)

But one couple from Korumburra in Australia have made the 9,000 mile trip to the fine city to recreate one of the photos celebrating their marriage 50 years on.

Peter Gilbert and Lyn Gilbert married in 1967 in Sydney, Australia, but the very next day travelled to Norwich to have a reception with Mr Gilbert's extended family back in England.

The pair have now returned for six weeks to retrace the steps from their wedding reception and honeymoon in celebration of their golden wedding anniversary.

Mr Gilbert, 72 said: 'We are retracing our honeymoon because we came here before heading off on a tour of Europe.

Eastern Daily Press: Peter and Lyn Gilbert, from Australia, return to Norwich and recreate a wedding photograph on Elm Hill to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. Picture : ANTONY KELLYPeter and Lyn Gilbert, from Australia, return to Norwich and recreate a wedding photograph on Elm Hill to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. Picture : ANTONY KELLY (Image: archant 2017)

'We are off to tour the north of France next.'

Mr and Mrs Gilbert's family threw a surprise party in London on the themes in celebration of them coming over.

The father of four said: 'We were totally thrilled and I had to do a double take. There was just a normal dining room and suddenly all these people came out and there was a great noise.'

The couple have been looking back at what they remember about Norwich and seeing how it has changed,

'I've been comparing what it was like last time we were here about 12 years ago,' Mr Gilbert added. 'It's a long way to travel and we don't know when we can get here again.

'The cathedral hasn't really changed at all which is something really delightful about it, to see something that hasn't changed and never will.

'We went somewhere looking to eat but we found it was all loud and noisy. We ended up going to a church cafe where it was quieter.

'It has got busier and I keep getting lost as this is the first time we have come back and there are now loads of one way streets and different routes.'

Mr Gilbert originally moved to Sydney after wanting to explore more of the world after realising that almost all of his family were sill living in Norwich.

He met love of his life Mrs Gilbert out there and has made the trip to the UK regularly to visit family.

'The secret to a happy marriage is commitment,' the grandfather of two added. 'I never thought of doing anything other than staying married.'

Elm Hill history

Elm Hill has been named one of the prettiest streets in the UK and has an interesting historic past as one of the oldest streets in the city.

The street was one of the only areas left relatively untouched by the great fire of Norwich in 1507 but by the 1930s the buildings were in a bad state of repair.

Many were owned by the city council and, as part of a slum clearance programme, it was planned to pull them down.

However, civic watchdog The Norwich Society stepped in and led a campaign of resistance, which led the council to think again.

The Hill has featured on the big screen with it used as a filming location for 2007s Stardust.

It is also thought to be haunted as at the Strangers Club, mysterious footsteps have been heard. The story goes that in the great fire a family were trapped by flames in an upstairs bedroom. Although the husband managed to lower his wife and children from the window, he perished himself.