Author Archives: Karen B

Amateur historian and writer.

Modern Problems, Old Queensland.

The past might be a different country, but in some ways, they did things the same way there. The Housing Shortage. Building.-We are glad to perceive that the advice which we have so frequently tendered to the owners of town allotments is beginning, to be acted upon, namely, that of building small cottages to obviateContinue reading “Modern Problems, Old Queensland.”

Let’s Elope!

Reading the 1846 article, “Love in the Bush,” made me think of that grand old 19th century tradition – elopement. Was it common in Queensland? A survey of the papers revealed that elopement in that century was a portmanteau term – it could mean a flight to the altar against parental wishes, a cheating spouseContinue reading “Let’s Elope!”

Consulting AI to Depict the Quiet Day in Ipswich.

AI image generators are fascinating things. I knew that I probably shouldn’t have. But sometimes the temptation is simply too much. I just had to go and play with image generation software to help tell the Ipswich Courthouse stories. The first story, that of the drunken man who sells his horse for too little, thenContinue reading “Consulting AI to Depict the Quiet Day in Ipswich.”

A Quiet Day at Ipswich.

The cases before the Magistrates, translated from the original Moreton Bay Courier,1850. IPSWICH. Tuesday, 23rd July. Two of the genus homo, named respectively Arnold and Tasker, the latter commonly called “Gooseberry,” appeared on warrant this morning, before our resident Magistrate, to answer the complaints of Mrs Deborah Grocott, alias Howell, or Howard, and her friendContinue reading “A Quiet Day at Ipswich.”

Love in the Bush.

With a translation from the original Moreton Bay Courier, 1846. This is the Victorian equivalent of a gossip blind item. My one-sentence translation is below. LOVE IN THE BUSH. We have been informed that the blind god[i] has been making great havoc lately on Darling Downs; and that a sad misadventure has befallen an ancientContinue reading “Love in the Bush.”

The Plebian Tyranny.

Or, how Moreton Bay dealt with the Servant Problem in the early years. Tackling the subject of the 19th century “servant problem” conjures up ideas of exacting upper- and middle-class ladies bemoaning a few specks of dust left on the mantelpiece. In our first years of free settlement, a servant could be a shepherd, labourer,Continue reading “The Plebian Tyranny.”

A Strange Man in a Strange Land.

Only he knew how his name really should have been recorded and pronounced. He was best known as Kimboo[i], and all we know of him comes from his interactions with European employers and the courts. He was born in China around 1820. He stood around 5 feet, 2 inches, and was described as neat, pleasant-lookingContinue reading “A Strange Man in a Strange Land.”

They meant well.

They meant well. They probably did some good, they undoubtedly caused some harm. Content warning – this article discusses children who were separated from their biological parents, as well as some words used at the time to describe children of different developmental levels. In the period 1865 – April 1867 that this article covers, thereContinue reading “They meant well.”

Prisoner No. 1 at Moreton Bay. Thomas Billington.

The Amity Convicts. A parade, a crowd and a picked pocket. On 4 July 1818, a distinguished lawyer and reformer named Sir Samuel Romilly was being conveyed about the City of Westminster in triumph, having been returned first in the poll. It was an uncommonly fine day, and Sir Samuel rose frequently to bow andContinue reading “Prisoner No. 1 at Moreton Bay. Thomas Billington.”