Was he a desperado who terrorised the country town of Gayndah with his mad highwayman antics, or just a nervous, hungry German chap who couldn’t get a job? And how did you spell his name? How desperate would you have to be to rob the mail at Banana? IT appears that another knight of the roadsContinue reading “February 5, 1867 – the hold up of the Banana Mail.”
Author Archives: Karen B
Amateur historian and writer.
February 4, 1862: Kipper Billy and Billy Horton sentenced to death
In January 1862, near Ipswich, a woman named Mrs Jane Rae was assaulted, probably sexually, on the banks of the river, as she did the family wash. When her grown son came to her aid, she stated that a number of indigenous men had been responsible, although none were about when he found her. SheContinue reading “February 4, 1862: Kipper Billy and Billy Horton sentenced to death”
February 3, 1849 – Brisbane prison completed.
Well, that’s accurate in a way. Work was completed on the renovations to the old Female Factory in Queen Street on February 3, 1849. The authorities in Sydney Town felt that an inexpensive repair to an existing building would be better than a fancy new gaol for Moreton Bay. The Female Factory had been largelyContinue reading “February 3, 1849 – Brisbane prison completed.”
February 2, 1891 – the Brisbane Exhibition Buildings approved.
Ah, the Exhibition. Originally the Intercolonial Exhibition, it began in 1876, and showed off produce, industry and crafts to a fascinated public. Every August, the Country comes to the City and there is much rejoicing (especially since the advent of Sideshow Alley and the addition of the Stockman’s Bar and Grill). The original building was charmingContinue reading “February 2, 1891 – the Brisbane Exhibition Buildings approved.”
February 1, 1869: Governor Blackall opens the Brisbane Grammar School
The school of schools – if your parents can afford it, and your marks are decent – is the Brisbane Grammar School. Students in smart navy blue blazers piped in pale blue move with seemingly effortless grace through their beautifully appointed campus. Past pupils have had stellar careers in business, the arts and public life. It allContinue reading “February 1, 1869: Governor Blackall opens the Brisbane Grammar School”
Oddities from January 1860
Sometimes, research into other subjects sends you down a rabbit hole. My rabbit hole was January 1860 – every newspaper story from that month seemed to be trying to outdo the previous one for sheer absurdity. Good luck finding a sober copper in Ipswich: Tuesday, January 24.Before the Police Magistrate, Messrs Broughton, Lucas, H. Challinor,Continue reading “Oddities from January 1860”
The Sporting Life 1870-1890
Football Australian Rules The more things change… The great difference between these teams over the years is professionalism. The early teams played in their spare time for the sheer fun of it. Their uniforms lacked coherence and they weren’t as fit as the teams today, but the people and their relaxed attitude are pretty much theContinue reading “The Sporting Life 1870-1890”
The utter misery of the studio portrait.
Les Cartes des visite A carte de visit was a calling card with one’s photograph on it. This novel alternative to embossed cards became hugely popular with the middle classes. After one went to the big ‘at home’ in the sky, it seemed a pity to throw them out, so they were kept by loving families, who lovingly stuckContinue reading “The utter misery of the studio portrait.”
Then and now.
1885: A young boy stands in an unpaved street, in front of a sail-less stone windmill and the Spring Hill Reservoir buildings. The Windmill was built in 1828-9 with convict labour to grind maize (via a treadmill also employing convict labour, the sails having proved unreliable). Damage caused by lightning in 1836, and the closureContinue reading “Then and now.”
People in the 1860s and 1870s
The colouring of this photo gives a wonderful immediacy to this photograph of a group of settlers near Gympie. Frustratingly, we don’t know why they are, and can’t trace any of their journey through archival records. This post will introduce you to some of the people of Queensland in the 1860s and 1870s, captured inContinue reading “People in the 1860s and 1870s”
Moreton Bay and More 