The A-Z of old Brisbane was fun to compile, but I am mindful that Queensland is not just its capital. This will be an “early years” occasional feature, highlighting towns and districts throughout old Queensland.
The 1870s.
Harlaxton in Toowoomba, c. 1870. Give me a home among the gum trees..
“Leaving Toowoomba on the Highfields Road, the first object that particularly drew my attention was Harlaxton, a fine stone building, the property of the Hon. FT Gregory, MLC, and at present in the occupation of Mrs Beit. This residence commands a view of perhaps some of the wildest mountain scenery in the colonies, situated as it is on one of the summits of the Main Range, miles upon miles of whose stupendous ranges and ravines are, as it were, immediately underneath you.”
A Trip Amongst the Farms at Irish Town, Gham, Cooby, Meringan Dan, and Highfields. The Darling Downs Gazette and General Advertiser (Toowoomba, Qld.: 1858-1880), Wednesday 11 February 1874, page 3.
The Bank of New South Wales in Toowoomba in 1870, complete with frisky-tailed horse.Gordon Robert’s house in Toowoomba in the 1870s. A classic stone colonial house.Margaret Street in Toowoomba in 1873. Every country town needs a horse bazaar and saddlery.
Darling Downs Gazette and General Advertiser (Qld.: 1858 – 1880), Wednesday 18 May 1870, page 2.
St. James, Church of England in 1872.The shopfront of J.S. McIntyre in 1878. Every town in rural Australia needed a Stock and Station Agent, for everything land and stock related.
The 1880s.
Here’s a view of Russell Street in Toowoomba in 1885, showing the rich soil of the area, and the surrounding farmland.Herries Street residence, Roslyn, c 1880. J. S. McIntyre resided there from the 1870s. Toowoomba had more than its fair share of beautiful homes.And the public buildings were impressive, too. On the left is the Post Office, and on the right is the Toowoomba Court House, in the 1880s. Here’s a view of Ruthven Street in 1881. Traffic wasn’t a problem, unlike the scene in 1909 further down the page.The Toowoomba Railway Station in 1882.
The 1890s.
At the Constancia Vineyard, it seems that the ladies do all the work.Tea in the garden at the Baynes family property, c 1894. The office of the Toowoomba Chronicle. Where the men went when the ladies were picking grapes or having tea, presumably.The main street of Toowoomba in 1897. Before the horseless carriages came in, we still had some daring driving techniques, such as the Standing Cart Drive after leaving the Hotel.
The early 20th Century.
Gardening at the front of Aloe Villa in Toowoomba. At least they didn’t call it Aston Villa (like the family in Paddington). Or Aloe vera.When the horseless carriage arrived, it just added to the confusion. Here we have Ruthven Street, Toowoomba in what looks like peak hours, 1907. In 1912, this group decided to climb The Range. Dressed like that. They should have waited for the Overland car to arrive.
THE OVERLAND CAR.
New motor cars are coming on to the market every day. There are many kinds of cars running about the streets of Toowoomba, but the Overland made its first appearance in Toowoomba yesterday. It was driven over the Range from Brisbane by Mr. Frederic E. Eager, who is the Willy’s Overland Co’s representative in Queensland. The cars may be had from £355 to £525, according to horsepower. A special feature their excellence in rough country and as hill climbers. The Overland, at present in Toowoomba, climbed the Range as easily as a ‘possum climbs a tree and without boiling the radiator water. The fact that 1,100 have been sold in Australasia during the past 15 months is sufficient proof of their excellence. Mr. Eager is at the Globe Hotel, and will be pleased to demonstrate the car to those interested.
And if anyone on the Range had fallen, they would have experienced a bracing, bumpy ride to the hospital. These coffin-like arrangements were state of the art patient transport in the very early 1900s.Until, happily, the horseless carriage came to the rescue. Here’s the Queensland Ambulance Transport Brigade in Toowoomba in 1920.The Kiosk at Picnic Point Toowoomba in 1920. Views, fresh air, and a large, happily disabled, gun. I guess there was a fair bit of ordinance left over from the war to end all wars.
All images are taken from the collection of the State Library of Queensland. AI colourisation by CoPilot.
Moreton Bay and More 