On November 9, 1867, the bodies of John Power and Patrick Cahill, members of the Police Gold Escort, were found at their camp at the Mackenzie River. They had been poisoned and shot – by their superior officer, the Gold Commissioner, Thomas Griffin. Here is the post that describes how this crime came about. ThomasContinue reading “The Inside Job – 09 November 1867”
Author Archives: Karen B
Amateur historian and writer.
On this day, 8 November 1885: the Death of Old Tom
The Late Mr. Dowse. BY AN OLD FRIEND “Yesterday, in early morning, at his residence, Milton, there quietly passed away from amongst us, at the ripe age of 76, Mr. Thomas Dowse. When the present Queensland was Moreton Bay, he was always in the front of every political movement, and indefatigable in co-operating to achieveContinue reading “On this day, 8 November 1885: the Death of Old Tom”
On This Day, 6 November 1852: Death of Richard Jones, Esq.
On Wednesday 10 November 1852, the Moreton Bay Courier published a Supplement to its usual Saturday publications. The first item was this black-bordered notice: This wasn’t just the death of a member of the legislature. The passing of Richard Jones, Esq., brought to end an astonishing career that began with his arrival in Australia inContinue reading “On This Day, 6 November 1852: Death of Richard Jones, Esq.”
Lost Friends, Advertisements and Bizarre Requests
Lost Friends, Advertisements and Bizarre Requests The wants and needs of Colonial Queensland come alive in their classified advertisements. Heart-rending tales of separated families sat beside requests for emu skins, and someone to take on their 11-year-old son (state terms to Mr. Doorey). Not to mention miracle hair restorers, moral circuses, and a strange deviceContinue reading “Lost Friends, Advertisements and Bizarre Requests”
How NOT to Win Friends and Influence People in Colonial Queensland – Part 3.
Dr. Frederick Cumming in the 1860s. Henceforth, apart from one (disastrous, of course) toe-dip in the politics of West Moreton in 1867, Dr. Cumming would be known for his medical practice. There would be controversy, financial problems and some rather questionable verse. His experience of Brisbane in the 1860s would culminate in his return toContinue reading “How NOT to Win Friends and Influence People in Colonial Queensland – Part 3.”
How NOT to Win Friends and Influence People in Colonial Queensland – Part 2.
Dr. Cumming and Politics Toowoomba and Mr. Groom If there were factions in Ipswich society, they were completely outdone by the shenanigans taking place on the Darling Downs. Toowoomba and Drayton seethed at one another. Skirmishes took place in the correspondence pages of the Darling Downs Gazette, a new A.S. Lyons newspaper, which first issuedContinue reading “How NOT to Win Friends and Influence People in Colonial Queensland – Part 2.”
How NOT to Win Friends and Influence People in Colonial Queensland – Part 1.
Dr. Frederick Cumming, M.D. Ipswich Dr. Frederick Cumming spent sixteen years in Queensland, living and working in Ipswich, Drayton, Brisbane and on the diggings near Gympie. Due to his somewhat combative nature, combined with a perhaps misguided desire to influence local politics, his time in the Colony was a turbulent one. In later years, heContinue reading “How NOT to Win Friends and Influence People in Colonial Queensland – Part 1.”
Twaddle, Nonsense and Scurrilous Doggerel: Social Media Wars in Colonial Queensland.
Rants, scurrilous personal attacks, incoherent fury – colonial Queensland’s social media had it all. The medium was not the billionaire-owned, algorithm-powered app, but the Letters to the Editor column of the newspaper of your choice. One could put fountain pen to paper, pay one’s postage, and sit back in anticipation of one’s Views being broadcastContinue reading “Twaddle, Nonsense and Scurrilous Doggerel: Social Media Wars in Colonial Queensland.”
Salt Beef, Suet and Dyspepsia
Cooking in the EARLY YEARS OF THE colony 1840-1844 When the Moreton Bay establishment was first thrown open for free settlers, it was a rather grim prospect for those accustomed to shopping and cooking at Home or in Sydney. Here’s Tom Dowse on the state of Queen Street (the one real thoroughfare of Brisbane Town),Continue reading “Salt Beef, Suet and Dyspepsia”
Advice to Wives and the Ladies’ College
I found the following pieces when browsing the Queenslander of the late 1860s (it was for other research, and I have no life). Seeing a heading “Advice to Wives,” I prepared myself for a migraine-inducing eyeroll, only to read on, and find some surprisingly progressive sentiments being expressed. One can only imagine the feelings thatContinue reading “Advice to Wives and the Ladies’ College”
Moreton Bay and More 