Two weeks of sweet Spring freedom are drawing near for the State’s schoolchildren. Let Colonial Queenslanders be your guide to recreation and getaway ideas.
So, let’s make sure we’re dressed as formally as possible, and remember to bring your paints and brushes or your new-fangled camera.
In and Around Brisbane
A Trip to the Gardens
Botanical Gardens and Steps to Curator’s Cottage, Brisbane. The Curator, Walter Hill, can be credited with reviving the inner-city gardens. In the convict area, the land was used for cultivating crops and testing plants for their suitability to the climate. After the settlement was thrown open, the gardens were almost destroyed by grazing livestock. Photo: 1889.
Bamboo Grove, Brisbane Botanical Gardens. 1889.
A Day by the Bay
Wynnum – launching the boats. (By the dress, I suspect that this was taken in the early 20th century).
Woody Point. Not a lot of promenading possibilities, but a decent spot for a family picnic. 1876.
The Sunshine Coast
Wagon Ruts Leading to the Beach at Caloundra, c 1900. Are we there yet? Ouch!
Once one had endured the jolting ride through the rutted scrubland track to the beach, one could lounge, fully dressed and sensibly hatted, on the sand. 1882-8.
Shelley Beach, Caloundra. No parking issues – just bring the horse onto the beach. 1882-8.
Lazing on the Beach at Noosa. Long before surfers, time-shares and baristas, this was Noosa. 1889.
Boating near the Weyba Bridge, Noosaville. If the seaside isn’t quite your thing, you could embrace still waters. 1882-8.
The Downs and Beyond
The Balonne River at St George. How’s the serenity, solitary gent? 1877.
The Balonne River, St George. 1877.
Race Day at Surat. A lot of leaning took place.
Wolfgang Peak near Clermont. A picturesque gentleman in shirtsleeves may not be provided in your holiday package, although the accommodation is bound to be more comfortable today. c. 1877.
Heading North
Townsville Beach and Hinterland. Nervous swimmers must have been comforted by the presence of a church at the sea’s edge. c. 1890.
Cairns Viewed from the Pilot Reserve.
A spot of fishing at Kuranda, 1890.
The Very Far North
Holiday packing list. Gents:
- Lace-up Boots. Waders for fishing.
- Trowsers, shirt, waistcoat, tie and jacket (the last two items may be removed in extreme heat, provided no ladies present). Bring as many as possible. Ensure that they are of the heaviest and most impractical material available.
- Hat. Do you mean there are people who go anywhere in this godless climate without a hat? Must be foreigners or something.
- Camera (if owned). Canvas, paints and brushes otherwise.
Holiday packing list. Ladies:
- Lace-up boots.
- Blouses and skirts, dresses, jackets, overcoats, gloves. As many as possible. Formal clothing for promenading and/or dinners (if one is at a guesthouse). Make sure freedom of movement is out of the question.
- Gloves, stockings, corsets, petticoats, chemise – whatever is least suited to the heat and travelling.
- Hats and umbrella. Hats may have muslin veil to keep the pitiless sun from one’s complexion. Hatpins. Hairpins.
- Canvas, brushes and paints, unless one’s husband permits one to use the new-fangled camera. Sketchbook if one is so inclined.
- All of the picnic things, calamine lotion, Holloway’s Pills. Anything one’s husband has forgotten.
Children:
- To be seen and not heard.
Photograph credits:
Photographs of Shelley and Moffatt Beaches.
Scrapbook of Miscellaneous Views of Queensland, 1882-1888.
(Album containing numerous photographs of towns including Ipswich, Inkerman, Brisbane, Toowoomba, Stanthorpe, Townsville, Ross River, and Caloundra.)
Creator: Lomer & Co.
1 photograph album.
APO-14, Scrapbook of Miscellaneous Views of Queensland, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland
Lazing on the rocks at Noosa Heads, 1889.
Creator: A. Lomer & Co
APO-10 A.Lomer & Co. Photograph Album, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, 2006.
Bamboo Walk in the Botanical Gardens, Brisbane, 1889.
Botanic Gardens and the steps leading up to the caretaker’s cottage, Brisbane, 1889.
Creator: A. Lomer & Co
APO-10 A.Lomer & Co. Photograph Album, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, 2006.
Balonne River Photographs, 1870s.
Photographs by John Henry Mills and Albert Reckitt (Reckitt & Mills Photographers) of Queensland towns including Roma, St George, Springsure, Jimbour House, Tambo, Bungeworgorai and Indigenous images.
5692, Brier Photographs, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland.
Beach and Hinterland, Townsville, c. 1890.
John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, 2005.
Part of APO-8 Album of North Queensland Views, ca. 1890
Cairns, Kuranda and Barron River Photographs c. 1890.
Queensland Views Photograph Album, ca. 1890.
Creator: Unidentified.
1 photograph album.
API-6, Queensland Views Photograph Album, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland.
Manly Foreshore Photograph, c 1900.
Outing to the seaside, Manly foreshore, Brisbane, ca.1900
Creator: Unidentified
John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland.
Mabuaig Island, c 1890.
Queensland Views Photograph Album, 1867-1908.
Creator: Mobsby, H. W. (Henry William), 1860-1933.
APO-32, Queensland Views Photograph Album, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, Australia.
Wagon ruts leading to the beach at Caloundra. C.1900.
Part of 6147 Trackson Family Photograph Albums
John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, 2005.
Image number: APA-003-01-0012.
Weyba Creek Bridge, Noosaville, Queensland, ca. 1889
Creator: A. Lomer & Co.
Item is held by John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland.
Wolfgang Peak near Clermont, ca 1877.
5692 Brier Photographs, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, 2005.
Woody Point shoreline, ca. 1876.
Digitised copy prints from API-41 Australian Views Photograph Album 1876-1897
John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, 2005.
Preparing the boats ready for sailing at Wynnum.
Creator: Jackman, George.
Other Creators: Queensland Newspapers Pty Ltd
John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, 2008.
Part Of 7708 George Jackman Photograph Albums
Moreton Bay and More 