Richard Daintree worked as a geological surveyor in 1870, travelling the vast colony of Queensland on horseback. He collected samples of minerals, noted areas of interest, and took photographs. He travelled with his camera equipment in a little wooden case, recording the extraordinary scenery, and the people working tirelessly to make a living in harsh,Continue reading “The Working Day on the Goldfields – Richard Daintree Photos.”
Category Archives: Gold diggings
Rowdyism in Rockhampton
Rowdyism is our most prominent fault, and this prevails most while the steamers are in. The Courier’s Rockhampton Correspondent, 1861 Rockhampton surged into existence rather suddenly, from a few demountable public buildings thrown together in response to a nearby gold rush in 1858, to a thriving and beautifully planned young city in the early 1860s.Continue reading “Rowdyism in Rockhampton”
The Goldfields Riot – January 7, 1867
On the afternoon and evening of Monday 7 January 1867, a group of Europeans, estimated to be between 200 and 500 in number, terrorised the Chinese population at the Crocodile Creek gold diggings. When the mob was finished, many were injured, and just about every Chinese person in the township had lost everything but theContinue reading “The Goldfields Riot – January 7, 1867”
How NOT to Win Friends and Influence People in Colonial Queensland – Part 3.
Dr. Frederick Cumming in the 1860s. Henceforth, apart from one (disastrous, of course) toe-dip in the politics of West Moreton in 1867, Dr. Cumming would be known for his medical practice. There would be controversy, financial problems and some rather questionable verse. His experience of Brisbane in the 1860s would culminate in his return toContinue reading “How NOT to Win Friends and Influence People in Colonial Queensland – Part 3.”
Richard Daintree’s Queensland
Richard Daintree (1831-1878) was a geologist and photographer who worked on the Victorian Goldfields after graduating from Cambridge University. In 1865, Daintree moved to North Queensland and began recording his observations, leading to an appointment as Government Geologist for the region. His Victorian works are justly celebrated, but he also managed to capture the earliestContinue reading “Richard Daintree’s Queensland”
Richard Daintree Photographs
Englishman Richard Daintree joined the Victorian gold rush in the 1850s. He had no success in prospecting, but became a geologist, surveyor and photographer. Here are some of his photos of outback Queensland in the 1860s. Gold prospecting was a long, hard, often fruitless slog. Daintree’s photographs of the area, and the characters who workedContinue reading “Richard Daintree Photographs”
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.”
February 10, 1862 – first land sales at Nanango
Although the first official Land Sale in Nanango took place on 10 February 1862, the area had a long history. Before white settlement, the area was an important stop on the ancient route taken by people from many far-flung indigenous nations to meet for the Bunya nut feasts, important in terms of diplomacy, trade andContinue reading “February 10, 1862 – first land sales at Nanango”
Work and Business in the 1860s and 1870s
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”
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”
Moreton Bay and More 