Imagine being a Census collector in the 19th century – particularly in the vast but sparsely populated Colony of Queensland. Travelling by road and river to remote hamlets, shepherd’s huts and stations in all weathers and probably at some personal risk, in order to determine who lived where, who did what, and what were theirContinue reading “Census Time in Colonial Brisbane”
Author Archives: Karen B
Amateur historian and writer.
The Sudden Rise of Larrikinism
As seen in the Letters to the Editor. 1871 – 1875. In 1871, Larrikins rather suddenly appeared in Queensland. Dire tales of disorder on the streets of stately Melbourne had begun to appear in the Queensland press, causing pious folk to glance nervously at any seemingly under-employed young person who crossed their path. Surely theyContinue reading “The Sudden Rise of Larrikinism”
A Transportation Procession
As imagined by the Windmill Reporter. 1850 was drawing to a close, and the population of Brisbane Town – estimated at some 2000 souls – was contemplating how best to make a success of the settlement. That is, the part of the population that thought about such things. Most people were wondering where their nextContinue reading “A Transportation Procession”
The Infernal Vagabond of a Woman
In April 1840, a young convict servant to Mr Robert Dixon, a Surveyor at Moreton Bay, was sent to Sydney on the Cutter John. Unusually, her fare and rations were paid directly by Mr Dixon, rather than the Government. A year later, she would figure in a trial at Moreton Bay that arose from aContinue reading “The Infernal Vagabond of a Woman”
Personal and Commercial.
A Tour of the Classifieds The plaintive personal advertisements for missing friends mentioned in the previous post often sat cheek by jowl with truly bizarre advertising content – gossip and rabble-rousing, and a number of inscrutable items that would only be understood by your average colonial Victorian perusing the local organ of record. The veryContinue reading “Personal and Commercial.”
If This Should Meet The Eye of …
Missing Friends Part 1. Imagine farewelling a family member who was setting off to another country to make a new life. Now, imagine doing this without social media, the internet generally or phones to keep in touch with that person. Letters (if your family could read and write) were your only hope of hearing fromContinue reading “If This Should Meet The Eye of …”
STRAY LEAVES FROM THE NOTES OF A “NEW CHUM.”
Some of Windmill’s finest writing is to be found in this wild flight of the imagination, published in the Moreton Bay Courier on April 14, 1849. Our Windmill Reporter conjures up an imaginary journal of a recent arrival, detailing the New Chum’s journey to the Alpine region of the Northern Darling Downs. Windmill anticipates flyingContinue reading “STRAY LEAVES FROM THE NOTES OF A “NEW CHUM.””
175 years ago, the Moreton Bay Courier was born
On Saturday 20 June 1846, the Moreton Bay Courier was published for the first time. Four years had passed since free settlers had been allowed in to the district, and some enterprising individuals decided that a local newspaper would be just the ticket for an outpost of New South Wales, some 500 miles from theContinue reading “175 years ago, the Moreton Bay Courier was born”
Their lot is not a happy one.
Just look what they have to wear. Pity the modern police officers patrolling the Queen Street Mall on a hot summer’s day, lugging around their belts full of assorted law enforcement goodies – comms, tazers, pepper spray, truncheons and the like. All the better to be prepared for a turbulent populace. At least the modernContinue reading “Their lot is not a happy one.”
KANGAROO POINT INTELLIGENCE
Before the Windmill, our intrepid reporter was stationed at Kangaroo Point, across the river from Old Brisbane Town. His location did not provide him a great deal of material for his columns, but he took the opportunity to provide some fine comedy about his fruitless search for copy. For historical context, the gruesome murder ofContinue reading “KANGAROO POINT INTELLIGENCE”
Moreton Bay and More 