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”
Author Archives: Karen B
Amateur historian and writer.
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”
The Archaeology of Old Brisbane Town
This is the first of an occasional series of posts highlighting Old Brisbane discoveries and observations made during excavations. The Commandant’s Cottage In 1986, construction workers at a site between George and William Streets discovered some of the sub-structure of the Moreton Bay Commandant’s Cottage. Although the building itself was long gone, the footprint wasContinue reading “The Archaeology of Old Brisbane Town”
A Desperate Breakout Attempt
Brisbane, 1853 In 1853, the Brisbane gaol was located at the old Convict Female Factory in Queen Street (where the Post Office is today). Those in charge of the settlement decided that perhaps it was not ideal to have the lady prisoners in such proximity to the gentleman prisoners, lest improprieties should arise, and theContinue reading “A Desperate Breakout Attempt”
The Shearers’ Strike in Images
In the early 1890s, a strike took place in the wool shearing industry that brought about the beginnings of the union movement in Australia. Important concessions were made by both sides before the strike collapsed. Shearing work in the 1860s and 1870s These photos, taken by itinerant photographers during the 1860s and 1870s, show theContinue reading “The Shearers’ Strike in Images”
Then and Now
Some places have hardly been touched by time. Others have changed beyond all recognition. Here are some then and now shots from throughout Queensland. Edison Lane, Brisbane 1888 “Hello, Office of Workplace Health and Safety? Yes, I’d like to report a series of breaches, please. There is a man without a safety harness, hi-vis orContinue reading “Then and Now”
Moreton Bay and More 