Being Governor of the Colony of Queensland was not an easy task. The Colony separated from New South Wales in 1859, with the arrival of Sir George and Lady Bowen, transitioning to a State in 1901 with Lord and Lady Lamington. In between those dates, the men and women of the first families were testedContinue reading “Vice-Regal Families”
Author Archives: Karen B
Amateur historian and writer.
Life on the Rivers
A leisurely tour of river views from the 19th century. No raging torrents or floods, just peaceful river views.
Marriage and crime
Bigamy is much less common today. Paperwork is digitised, and marriage is no longer the sole criteria under which two mutually attracted adults may live under one roof. And for that, women should be eternally grateful. One hundred years ago, an unhappy or hasty marriage was for life. The law was written to preserve theContinue reading “Marriage and crime”
Richard Daintree Photographs
Englishman Richard Daintree joined the Victorian gold rush in the 1850s. He had no success in prospecting, but became a geologist, surveyor and photographer. Here are some of his photos of outback Queensland in the 1860s. Gold prospecting was a long, hard, often fruitless slog. Daintree’s photographs of the area, and the characters who workedContinue reading “Richard Daintree Photographs”
Inns and Hotels of Renown
A guide to places to stay from 1870 to 1890. Rock of Cashel Hotel, Sugarloaf, via Stanthorpe, Queensland, ca 1870. Unidentified photographer. State Library of Queensland. Britannia Hotel in Stanthorpe, 1872. Photographer: William Boag, c. 1838-1878. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Miner’s Refuge Hotel at Broadwater near Stanthorpe, ca 1872. Photographer: William Boag,Continue reading “Inns and Hotels of Renown”
The Crimes of Women.
Mary Eileen Hagenbach, 1919 Mary Eileen Hagenbach was a tall, slender young woman of 23 years of age. A little severe-looking perhaps, an impression not helped by the fact that her hair had been chopped off roughly during a long illness. She’d just spent nearly four months in hospital after hemorrhaging during childbirth, and nowContinue reading “The Crimes of Women.”
The Chinese Question in Queensland.
1850 – 1860: The answer to our economic prayers. In 1850, Moreton Bay looked forward to the arrival of 108 Chinese labourers, brought in by the ship, Favourite. All had been indentured to employers prior to landing, and competition for their services had been fierce. More Chinese workers were promised. We could hardly wait. TheyContinue reading “The Chinese Question in Queensland.”
Anti-Chinese Disorders: The Riot in Brisbane.
This is the report from the Brisbane Courier dated 07 May 1888, following a riot that spread through Brisbane City on Saturday 05 May 1888. A disgraceful feature of Saturday night’s general excitement was the damage done by a number of larrikins to the various Chinese establishments in town. It is very hard to tellContinue reading “Anti-Chinese Disorders: The Riot in Brisbane.”
Psyche Goes to Gaol
Mary Maher might have been unfortunate, might have haunted the streets, but she was far from forlorn. Mary Maher had a decent job as a cook in Brisbane’s hotels in the 1910s. She liked a drink, and found herself increasingly unable to indulge in moderation. Sadly this cost her a number of jobs and residences,Continue reading “Psyche Goes to Gaol”
The Meaning of a Name
A pensive-looking young man sits for the photographer at Brisbane Gaol. It’s the 28th of October 1890, and the man, listed as W.T. Boyce, born 1867, has been convicted of horse stealing at Charters Towers. He will spend a year at Saint Helena Island. That’s enough to make anyone melancholy. The report of his convictionContinue reading “The Meaning of a Name”
Moreton Bay and More 