Birdsville, near the border with the Northern Territory and South Australia, is famous for its outback race meeting, and its legendary hotel. Both were established almost immediately after the township was set up, and both have continued, indomitably (and riotously) ever since. The town is part of the Simpson’s Desert National Park district, and owesContinue reading “The early days of Birdsville, in colour.”
A grand day for a picnic.
The Formal-Dress-Required Picnic. Clothing and social status have always been closely linked. In the 19th century, that meant being elaborately clothed according to one’s actual or desired station in life. This created some gloriously contrasting images, from an almost Impressionistic moment by the Warrego River to a group of carefully-gowned women enduring the prickly grassesContinue reading “A grand day for a picnic.”
Nothing ventured, nothing lost?
On 15 June 1868, a 38-year-old Lancastrian woman named Hannah Chadwick was admitted to the Dunwich Benevolent Asylum suffering “debility from injuries.” She gave her history in a matter-of-fact manner: Came to Queensland per ship “Rockhampton” in 1866 with my husband. After a stay of about six weeks, we went to Rockhampton, where my husbandContinue reading “Nothing ventured, nothing lost?”
A trip to Coolangatta, in the early days.
1899 A trio poses on the Rainbow Bay edge of Greenmount Hill in Coolangatta. They are carefully dressed, overdressed in fact. The man at the left has his suit jacket buttoned up, the man at the centre’s jacket is unbuttoned to reveal the waistcoat underneath, and the woman is in long sleeves and long skirts.Continue reading “A trip to Coolangatta, in the early days.”
The early days of Stradbroke Island, in colour.
We still say “Stradbroke Island,” even though there are two Stradbroke Islands – North and South. The reason is that originally we had one “Straddie,” but it broke apart from 1894 to 1896, the result of an incursion into a vulnerable sandy area of a wrecked ship, the detonation of the explosives it carried, andContinue reading “The early days of Stradbroke Island, in colour.”
Old Government House
The creation of a new colony called Queensland meant many things to people living north of the Tweed River. They would have their own Parliament. Their own identity. Their own Premier. Their own Governor! Hang about, where were we going to put our new vice-regal overlord (and lady)? Thankfully, Dr Hobbs had a nice place,Continue reading “Old Government House”
The early days of Charters Towers, in colour.
A new reefing country, manly miles in extent, has been discovered about one hundred miles from Townsville. It is reported to be very rich, and a rush has taken place from Ravenswood. Lumps of quartz richly impregnated with gold, and 120 ounces of gold, have been lodged in the bank at Ravenswood. More than oneContinue reading “The early days of Charters Towers, in colour.”
The early days of Winton, in colour.
Winton (population less than 1,000) is a small town with a big history. So big that it deserves its own post – think indigenous history, frontier violence, shearing disputes, Waltzing Matilda, incredible prehistoric finds, aviation history, and Native Title cases. In the meantime, here’s a look at Winton in the early days. Winton and itsContinue reading “The early days of Winton, in colour.”
The early days of Barcaldine, in colour.
The Wool Industry A sheep station was set up in the district in 1863, and named Barcaldine Downs. The owner of that station had been a slaveholder in British Guiana, and employed South Sea Islander labour on the station in the early years. Presumably, the man had seen a successful business model in operation, andContinue reading “The early days of Barcaldine, in colour.”
The early days of Allora, in colour.
Allora is a picturesque town in the Southern Downs region of Queensland. The district became home to two large squatting runs – Glengallen and Talgai – that were established through overland stock movement. Allora’s name is believed to come from the Giabal language word “gnarrallah,” or waterhole. The town was formally surveyed in the lateContinue reading “The early days of Allora, in colour.”
Moreton Bay and More 