Early 1870s – a mining boom creates a town. 1872 – the tin mining boom. Places to stay when you’re prospecting. The “Roll-Up” Tree and Maryland Street. The information from the State Library of Queensland about this photograph states that: “People gathered at the Roll-up tree in the centre of town for meetings. Advertisements wereContinue reading “Early Stanthorpe, in colour.”
Category Archives: Early Photographs
Favourite old photos.
Over the years, photographers captured some evocative images of 19th century life and work. Here are some colourised versions of my particular favourites from the State Library of Queensland, the State Library of Victoria, and the National Library of Australia. Queenslanders at work in colour. Group portraits in colour. Leisure in colour. The bridal pathContinue reading “Favourite old photos.”
The early days of Mackay, in colour.
Mackay, on the Coral Sea coast of Queensland, grew into a town with a lot of help from the sugar industry. There are endless photographs from its early years that depict enormous plantation homesteads and the lives of their owners and families. There are also many photographs of the South Sea Island labourers who workedContinue reading “The early days of Mackay, in colour.”
The early years of Cairns, in colour.
Cairns is a tropical city in Far North Queensland. It was thoughtfully named after Governor William Cairns, a man who deplored hot climates, particularly those with added humidity. I’m sure that the colonial authorities wanted to honour the Governor, not troll the poor man. The seafront and the Esplanade. The town. “Vampires have been spreadingContinue reading “The early years of Cairns, in colour.”
Toowoomba through the early years, in colour.
The A-Z of old Brisbane was fun to compile, but I am mindful that Queensland is not just its capital. This will be an “early years” occasional feature, highlighting towns and districts throughout old Queensland. The 1870s. “Leaving Toowoomba on the Highfields Road, the first object that particularly drew my attention was Harlaxton, a fineContinue reading “Toowoomba through the early years, in colour.”
Tea Time!
There’s no doubt that the tea enjoyed in these old Queensland settings was made and consumed in the English manner. Anything else would cause social disgrace. Possibly the end of the world. Earnest research into the art of the English cuppa led to some startling discoveries. Afternoon Tea in the Garden. Taking tea on theContinue reading “Tea Time!”
The A-Z of Old Brisbane in colour: from Taringa to Toowong.
All of the suburbs here began as farming land, gradually evolving into suburbs in the early 20th century, as road and rail lines made them accessible to the city. This is a scenic tour of parts of Brisbane before they were urbanised. Taringa Teneriffe Tennyson The Gap Tingalpa Toombul Toowong All images are taken fromContinue reading “The A-Z of Old Brisbane in colour: from Taringa to Toowong.”
The A-Z of Old Brisbane in colour: MacGregor to Murarrie.
MacGregor In old Brisbane, the area that became known as MacGregor was farmland. The Henderson family settled at MacGregor, and built their farm there. But they didn’t call it MacGregor… Manly Manly is a bayside suburb of Brisbane, in Waterloo Bay. Just about everyone who went to Manly had their camera with them, providing usContinue reading “The A-Z of Old Brisbane in colour: MacGregor to Murarrie.”
The A-Z of Old Brisbane – “L” places and people in colour.
Lamington, Baron The last Governor of the colony of Queensland, and decidedly the most photogenic Governor we’ve ever had, was Lord Lamington. Or, to be more accurate, Charles Wallace Alexander Napier Cochrane-Baillie, 2nd Baron Lamington, GCMB, GCIE, FRSGS (29 July 1860 – 16 September 1940). Despite the long-argued connection, or possible lack thereof, between His ExcellencyContinue reading “The A-Z of Old Brisbane – “L” places and people in colour.”
On this day: A scene in the Supreme Court.
6 March 1882. On 6 March 1882, a sensation occurred in the Queensland Supreme Court. It was reported on for weeks afterwards, debated and dissected endlessly. It was a conflict between two well-known – the Honourable Justice George Rogers Harding and the barrister, Mr. Frederick ffoulkes Swanwick. Justice Harding (1838-1895) was a distinguished jurist andContinue reading “On this day: A scene in the Supreme Court.”
Moreton Bay and More 