A photographic journey through the origins of the suburb of Belmont. Above left: Sorting wool at Belmont Wool scour, Queensland, 1900-1910. Original version: photographic print: black & white, 1900-1910, Negative number: 168815. Summary: Workers sorting wool at the Belmont wool scour in the early 1900s. Large bales are open revealing the fleece. State Library ofContinue reading “The A-Z of Old Brisbane: Belmont.”
Author Archives: Karen B
Amateur historian and writer.
The A-Z of Old Brisbane: Bowen Hills
A photographic look at one of Brisbane’s oldest suburbs. Bowen Hills was named (like rather a lot of things and places) after Queensland’s first Governor, Sir George Ferguson Bowen. It grew into a district in the 1860s, and many of its landmark places and buildings are still in existence, including Cintra House, Bowen Park, theContinue reading “The A-Z of Old Brisbane: Bowen Hills”
The Crime of Being Old and Poor.
On 23 May 1872, a weak and emaciated elderly man was admitted to the Woogaroo Asylum [i], after spending quite a few years at the Benevolent Asylum at Dunwich, Stradbroke Island. By early August, the man had developed a terrible cough and could no longer leave his bed. The Asylum staff were able to getContinue reading “The Crime of Being Old and Poor.”
A Romp through the Classifieds, November 23 1866.
In the 19th century, the first page of a newspaper tended to be devoted to classified advertising. After all, this was where the money was. And it could contain some unexpected gems. Notices to the Public. Don’t tamper with your gas meter. The Brisbane Gas Company was fed up with people disconnecting their meters withContinue reading “A Romp through the Classifieds, November 23 1866.”
The A-Z of Old Brisbane: Bardon.
A look at Bardon through its historical houses. Bardon House. Bardon House was built in 1863 by Joshua Jeays, an early Brisbane businessman and local government official. It is now part of St Joseph’s Bardon school grounds. Rainworth. Rainworth was the home of Sir Augustus Charles Gregory (1819-1905), the surveyor and explorer. Gregory drew theContinue reading “The A-Z of Old Brisbane: Bardon.”
Wrapping up the “A” Stories of Old Brisbane.
The Amity. The Amity arrived at what is now Redcliffe in September 1824 with supplies, soldiers and convicts. Not something to celebrate for the local indigenous people, but it was the starting point for the Moreton Bay European era. The Artemisia, which gave us our Queen. The Artemisia was the first immigrant ship to arriveContinue reading “Wrapping up the “A” Stories of Old Brisbane.”
A-Z of Old Brisbane: Aspley and Auchenflower.
Aspley Aspley, 12 kilometres north of the CBD, was a semi-rural area until Brisbane’s housing belt expanded in the 1970s. There were land sales in the area more than 120 years prior to that, and the area around the Gympie Road became home to small farm holdings, such as the Matthews’. Gympie Road was theContinue reading “A-Z of Old Brisbane: Aspley and Auchenflower.”
A-Z of Old Brisbane: Ascot and Ashgrove.
Ascot through the years. Ascot and Ashgrove are now inner Brisbane suburbs, being 6 and 5 kilometres from the Central Business District respectively. The history of Ascot is intertwined with the name Eagle Farm, although Eagle Farm is today a separate suburb. In the 1830s, the Female Factory was located at Eagle Farm, and theContinue reading “A-Z of Old Brisbane: Ascot and Ashgrove.”
My Top Fives (so far).
I seem to have been posting since February 2019 (more than five years!), and I can’t help but reflect on some of the stories I’ve come across since I first bit the bullet and began to blog. (Links to the posts are in the title headings.) The following are my personal “top five” in severalContinue reading “My Top Fives (so far).”
A-Z of Old Brisbane: Alderley and Annerley.
Alderley The suburb of Alderley officially came into being in the late 1870s, with the establishment of a post office. The suburb took its name from Alderley Edge in Cheshire England, according to the nice, helpful people of Wikipedia. Alderley is bordered by Newmarket and Enoggera in modern Brisbane, and in recent decades, Alderley’s proximityContinue reading “A-Z of Old Brisbane: Alderley and Annerley.”
Moreton Bay and More 