On 31 March 1865, the clipper Fiery Star sailed from Moreton Bay, bound for London. She had brought over 500 immigrants to Queensland on 20 November 1864, but her return journey would be a rather less crowded affair – eight in Saloon, eight in Second Cabin, and twenty-one steerage passengers. She would also be takingContinue reading “The Fiery Star in Brisbane”
Author Archives: Karen B
Amateur historian and writer.
Christmas Cheer in Old Queensland
how we celebrated back in the day Following a string of particularly gloomy Christmas leaders, the Moreton Bay Courier was pleased to report a small outbreak of charity in 1860: CHRISTMAS DAY. – Tuesday and yesterday were generally observed as holidays, the town having quite a deserted appearance on the first mentioned day. Picnics andContinue reading “Christmas Cheer in Old Queensland”
A Murder. A Deathbed Confession Years Later. Sound Familiar?
It’s a different, but equally terrible, story. The Stranger In the early evening of 19 June 1865, several women were followed about the streets of Toowoomba by a strange man. Some were violently assaulted. At 6:00 pm, Ann Ward was going out of the front door of her cottage in Perth Street when she noticedContinue reading “A Murder. A Deathbed Confession Years Later. Sound Familiar?”
Not Quite as Dead as Reported
On Saturday 19 December 1846, the Moreton Bay Courier published news of a terrible occurrence on the Darling Downs: FATAL OCCURRENCE.—A short time ago, a Robert Tomlinson, a farm servant in the employ of Mr. Neill Ross, of Darling Downs, was reaping in the wheat paddock, a green snake bit him on the hand. OnContinue reading “Not Quite as Dead as Reported”
A Survey of Court Cases Involving Public Enemy No, 1
Hostile takeover of verandah, 1846 BREACH OF THE POLICE ACT. — At the Police-office, on Tuesday, three of the inhabitants of South Brisbane were summoned to answer informations for suffering goats to stray about the public streets. They were fined 5s. each and costs. The informations had been laid at the instance of Mr. Orr,Continue reading “A Survey of Court Cases Involving Public Enemy No, 1”
Public Enemy No. 1 in Colonial Queensland
A menace. Larcenous. Infernal. A nuisance. Horrid. Abominable. Laws were passed against it but had little effect. Newspaper letter-writers railed for decades. Vigilantism broke out. Fights ensued. Blood was shed. Men went armed. The sleep of innocent families was murdered. Jonquils were destroyed. Even orchids. What was this scourge, this menace to peaceful society? TheContinue reading “Public Enemy No. 1 in Colonial Queensland”
The Inside Job – 09 November 1867
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”
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”
Moreton Bay and More 