Australia was going through the worst industrial unrest in its history, with agitation for a national general strike. In September 1890, a group of comrades decided to rock up to the Opera House, and give some serious stick to an actor who had fraternised with the enemy. Trouble was, they weren’t sure which actor had workedContinue reading “An Actor Hounded Down – 20 September, 1890”
Category Archives: Characters
A much-persecuted man with a weakness for fowls.
Isaac Alder had a long, hard-scrabble life. Born either in England or on the Hawkesbury, probably in 1826 or 1828, Alder worked as a drover and itinerant butcher in New South Wales and Queensland. He went by a number of aliases, including John King, Isaac Peter Houlder, Wright Houlder, John Smith, Isaac Alder, and JohnContinue reading “A much-persecuted man with a weakness for fowls.”
Jack Bushman’s Tale – Part 4
The final part of Jack Bushman’s story is about his life as a “free” man, and includes a shooting at Brisbane’s indigenous people known as the “York’s Hollow Shooting”, which occurred in December 1846. The murders of Mary Shannon and Andrew Gregor in October that year had made white settlers fearful of the local aborigines, and keenContinue reading “Jack Bushman’s Tale – Part 4”
Jack Bushman’s Tale Part 3
RETAKEN. -THE PUNISHMENT-OTHER ADVENTURES-LIBERTY. GUIDED by the sound I went to the old hut, and asked, – ” are you there, Charley?” “Oh dear! I shall die,” was the response. The gleam from the fire gave me light. I saw Charley was care-worn and beaten. His breathing was short and difficult. I stripped, the coveringContinue reading “Jack Bushman’s Tale Part 3”
Jack Bushman’s Tale Part 2 – Moreton Bay
ANOTHER TASTE OF THE CAT-O-NINE TAILS – LIFE IN MISERY – DEATH IN PREFERENCE. As soon as I had been ” told off” properly, I was put into the “chain gang.” I was ironed very heavily; the weight I should fancy of my Moreton Bay ornaments being about 16 lbs. I was sent to workContinue reading “Jack Bushman’s Tale Part 2 – Moreton Bay”
Jack Bushman’s Tale Part 1
In 1859, the Moreton Bay Courier published a series of chapters of convict-era reminiscences by “Jack Bushman”. They are quite a tale, but some background research shows that the reminiscences are quite true. The first section deals with his transportation to Australia in 1818, and the beginnings of a longing for freedom, which brought him to MoretonContinue reading “Jack Bushman’s Tale Part 1”
A Review of Gentlemen’s Hair Styles 1875
For men in the late 19th Century, beards were the order of the day. If a man couldn’t grow a healthy, bristling beard, a moustache of distinction was an alternative. The very few fresh-faced individuals found in Brisbane Gaol’s description book are invariable quite young. The Fresh-Faced Look David W Barr was a 22Continue reading “A Review of Gentlemen’s Hair Styles 1875”
Mug Shots: what shall we do with a drunken sailor?
Irish sailor John McConnell had a very big night ashore in Brisbane in August 1875. His Brisbane Gaol photo has him dishevelled, sporting a bristling moustache and an unkempt, towering coiffure. It’s unlikely that anyone was game to come near him with a comb, given the circumstances of his arrival. The contemporaneous report is priceless,Continue reading “Mug Shots: what shall we do with a drunken sailor?”
Mug Shots: The Miner from New Orleans
William Warren was born in New Orleans in 1830 and arrived in Australia in 1853 aboard a ship (also) called the New Orleans. While his family and past friends experienced the war between the States, William was in Northern Queensland, eking out a living as a miner, occasionally coming to the attention of theContinue reading “Mug Shots: The Miner from New Orleans”
Convict Runaways: The life of David Bracewell (Wandi).
In my recent posts on James “Duramboi” Davis, I have referred in passing to David Bracewell (sometimes called Bracefell or Bracefield), known as “Wandi” to the indigenous people of Eumundi. I think now is perhaps a good time to fill in the details. David Bracewell was born in Shadwell, London in 1805 and worked asContinue reading “Convict Runaways: The life of David Bracewell (Wandi).”
Moreton Bay and More 