Part 1 – Edward Hartigan’s Early Years. In the years between Separation (1859) and Federation (1901), Queensland had its share of storied criminals. Some terrorised the roads for a few years but were captured and imprisoned– the Wild Scotchman was probably the most celebrated. There were infamous murderers who went to gaol or the gallowsContinue reading “The Snob.”
Author Archives: Karen B
Amateur historian and writer.
A Lifetime of Crime.
The long career of Alfred Allwood. How did Alfred Allwood manage to spend most of his life in gaol, considering that his haul of stolen goods over 40 years amounted to less than £10, a pair of boots, a gold watch, and a cake? He wasn’t a very good thief, and on a couple ofContinue reading “A Lifetime of Crime.”
Faces from Old Queensland.
A brief survey of photographs of Queenslanders in the second half of the 19th century. Seen and not heard. And not happy about it. These studio photographs show serious and perfectly posed Victorian children. Nobody fidgeted. Not even the dog. I imagine that nobody dared. (Due to certain similarities in the eye and forehead shapeContinue reading “Faces from Old Queensland.”
Nor Iron Bars a Cage.
Some daring escapes from regional lockups in early Queensland. Top: Richmond Police Station, Bottom l-r: Boulia Police Station’s Cells, Surat and Tweed Heads Police Stations. As the population of Queensland spread out across the vast colony, so did the Police Force. The trouble was that the stations and their lockups were erected with Government fundsContinue reading “Nor Iron Bars a Cage.”
Tales of old Dalby.
Newspaper stories of the Plough Inn era. The Wild Scotchman not apprehended at Milstead’s. A young man who, for more than a twelvemonth past, has been peaceably occupied as storekeeper on a station in the district, was captured at Milstead’s as Macpherson, by Mr. Sub-inspector Appjohn and his men, and in spite of the remonstranceContinue reading “Tales of old Dalby.”
The Milsteads of Dalby – the Plough Inn.
After travelling to Brisbane in February 1858 to support her daughter’s failed assault charge against a teacher, Theresa Whalin took stock of her life. She was a widow with a country hotel to run, a lot of land, and a wilful daughter to raise. There was another land sale afoot in Dalby in March, andContinue reading “The Milsteads of Dalby – the Plough Inn.”
The Milsteads of Dalby.
Part 1 – The early days of Dalby, and the creation of the Plough Inn. This was the beginning of the town of Dalby in 1853 – a plan that showed the selections of land made by the township’s earliest European inhabitants. All of the storied names of 19th century Dalby are there – CharlesContinue reading “The Milsteads of Dalby.”
The Career of Tom the Devil.
There were quite a few gentlemen who rejoiced in the sobriquet “Tom the Devil” in the 19th century. Tom the Devil seemed to be like the Flying Pieman or Dread Pirate Roberts – once someone was finished with the appellation, another individual would take over in the role. The Original Devil. The original Tom theContinue reading “The Career of Tom the Devil.”
A Fatal Error
How a terrible mistake cost a life and changed the law. OFFICIAL NOTIFICATIONS. [From today’s Government Gazette.] MEDICAL BOARD. – Henry Duckers and Robert James Hance, of Brisbane; and James Wilkinson, of Townsville, have been admitted as chemists and druggists. The Brisbane Courier, July 8, 1882. Sophia Jacobi’s baby James Francis Jacobi turned seven monthsContinue reading “A Fatal Error”
Disturbing a Religious Body
How to “unlawfully, maliciously, and contemptuously, by overt act and deed, molest, disturb, vex, and trouble the preacher and congregation assembled for, and celebrating Divine worship.” How did one William Langley come to be charged with the offence of disturbing a religious body under an Act that dated back to George III? He sat inContinue reading “Disturbing a Religious Body”
Moreton Bay and More 