Separation from New South Wales, exploration and the gold rushes of the 1860s had opened up Queensland. Towns were proclaimed, from the tropical north to the far west, and businesses and infrastructure followed. Railways would gradually cross the colony, replacing the bullock teams and carts that slowly dragged goods across rough bush tracks and over creeks.Continue reading “Work and Business in the 1860s and 1870s”
Category Archives: Early Photographs
Leisure in the 1860s and 1870s
As the decade began, more people had access to cameras, and set about recording their daily lives with a passion. Of course, the middle and upper classes had more access to both leisure and photography, so much of the activity recorded here is of a class of people who could afford to record their activities.Continue reading “Leisure in the 1860s and 1870s”
Haunting images and odd details in 19th century photographs
The first photo is haunting. It is called “The Gold Escort” and features the first two Police officers killed on active duty in Queensland, and their murderer, Gold Commissioner Thomas Griffin. The people in the photograph are (seated, left to to right: Sergeant James Julian, Constable Patrick William Cahill, Constable John Francis Power, Gold CommissionerContinue reading “Haunting images and odd details in 19th century photographs”
How we lived and worked – 1859-1865
Separation from New South Wales occurred in 1859, and the new Colony of Queensland was proclaimed. It was a time of rapid social and economic change, and intrepid photography enthusiasts set about capturing and preserving daily life with an authenticity never seen before. Go west! Goondiwindi, on the border with New South Wales, was whereContinue reading “How we lived and worked – 1859-1865”
The Great Fire of Brisbane, 1864
1864 was a turbulent year for Brisbane Town. Residents had barely recovered from catastrophic flooding, when, on 11 April, fire roared up Queen Street, destroying homes and businesses in its path. There were photographers and journalists on hand, many of whom lived “over the shop,” and the accounts and pictures are striking. Before the fireContinue reading “The Great Fire of Brisbane, 1864”
Moreton Bay and More 