Old photographs show a moment in time, places that are vanished or changed beyond recognition. How we used to live can show how much people have changed, or not.
Sport
A cricket team in an unidentified Queensland town in the 1880s. The sportsmen, attired in cricket whites with hats – bowler, wide-awake and cabbage-tree, rather than the familiar caps of today. The spectators are engaged in the important business of lying down on a hillside, and to a man and a boy, are suited and hatted.
A game of tennis at Musgrave Park in the 1880s. The gentleman is allowed to roll up his sleeves, but the ladies are covered from head to toe, with scarves holding their hats in place. Possibly rather uncomfortable, but very sensible in the sub-tropical sun.
The Brisbane Gymnastics Committee, circa 1890. Clearly, gymnastics was a deadly, desperately serious business, requiring three-quarters of committee members to wear moustaches.
A sailing regatta on the Brisbane River in the 1880s. This was also a great favourite for spectators on the banks.
Recreation
Families rowing on the McIntyre River (under the new McIntyre Bridge) in the Goondiwindi area in the 1880s.
The Hume family, who left their extensive photo collection for posterity, take a ride on the gunboat HMQS Gayundah in the 1880s. The wreck of the Gayundah now lies at Picnic Point, near Woody Point on the Redcliffe Peninsula, Queensland.
In a time when the majority of the population were practicing Christians, Church and Sunday School were vital to the weekend. This was a Sunday School Procession in Albert Street, Brisbane in 1880. This is probably the only large social gathering that would be considered appropriate on a Sunday.
The Brisbane Amateur Opera Company posed for a series of photographs in the 1880s. This is the clearest of those images. Long hair, it would seem, was a must for artistically-inclined sopranos, mezzos and contraltos. I like to think that the guitars were not just for decoration.
Home and Family
A family poses on the verandah of a pretty stone cottage in Spring Hill, Brisbane. 1870-188os.
The Hume family in the 1880s. They include: including Mary MacIntyre with violin, Ethel Hume standing, Katie Hume seated on right, with dog. Everyone looks utterly miserable, including, hilariously, the dog. (To be fair, they were probably just trying to look ladylike whilst waiting for the photographer to tell them to relax.)
Something that isn’t shown very often is the interior of a house. In this case, it’s a home on the Dawson River. The owner has decorated this corner with pictures of horses and stags – the better to remind one of Home – and has an abundance of serious-looking books. Whoever they were, they had at least one servant (the bell), and were rather fond of a drop of wine, port and possibly sherry, judging by the bottles and decanters. Enjoying the contents of the bottles would make negotiating the spindly-legged chair and tiny writing desk rather difficult. Honestly, didn’t anyone like to sit comfortably?
PHOTO CREDITS:
Taylor Family (1880-01-01). Two women and a man playing tennis in Musgrave Park, South Brisbane.
Brisbane City Council (1880). Sunday School Parade in Albert Street.
(1880). Collection of sporting group photographs, 1880-1910. (Cricket and gymnastics committee photos)
Ross, J & Watson, J & Hutchison & Co & Metcalfe & Glaister (1880). Brisbane Amateur Opera Company Photographs, 1880-1890.
Unidentified (1860). Dawson Valley Photograph Album, 1860-1885. (Spring Hill House, Dawson River house interior and McIntyre River photos).
Taylor Family (1880-01-01). Sailing regatta [Brisbane River].
Hume Family (1880-01-01). A group portrait, including Katie Hume, on board the gunboat HM QS Gayundah.
Hume Family (1880-01-01). Group including Mary MacIntyre with violin, Ethel Hume standing, Katie Hume seated on right, with dog.
Moreton Bay and More 