Cooking in the EARLY YEARS OF THE colony 1840-1844 When the Moreton Bay establishment was first thrown open for free settlers, it was a rather grim prospect for those accustomed to shopping and cooking at Home or in Sydney. Here’s Tom Dowse on the state of Queen Street (the one real thoroughfare of Brisbane Town),Continue reading “Salt Beef, Suet and Dyspepsia”
Category Archives: Old Brisbane Town
The Further Hazards of Old Brisbane
More threats to public safety and happiness from the early days of European settlement in Brisbane. Termagants The Victoria Hall seemed to be the only part of Brisbane that welcomed termagants, and that was for theatrical purposes only. The idea that women might get drunk and/or fight was simply too much for the Courier. InContinue reading “The Further Hazards of Old Brisbane”
The Hazards of Life in Old Brisbane
It’s quite comforting to look back on old Brisbane and find that many of the hazards of life these days also troubled our forebears. The river still has its surprises for the unwary. Pet ownership attracts all manner of official scrutiny, not to mention revenue-raising. Traffic is still appalling and drunks still populate our watchhouses.Continue reading “The Hazards of Life in Old Brisbane”
Coaches, Railways, Cabs and New-Fangled Automobiles
How we got from A to B in old Queensland. Cobb & Co. Cobb & Co was founded in Victoria in 1853, by an American with a splendidly American name, Freeman Cobb. It was a version of the pony express at first, trading as “American Telegraph Line of Coaches.” Horses were changed regularly, and speedContinue reading “Coaches, Railways, Cabs and New-Fangled Automobiles”
Stories Behind the Corner
Memorable Characters from Old Tom’s Story of the Old Times Some of Old Tom’s friends and acquaintances – Tom O’Neil and Johnny Hamilton – passed through the Colony without making much impact on the news of the day. No doubt they were great friends and unique characters, but their activities did not incur much publicContinue reading “Stories Behind the Corner”
Old Tom’s Reminiscences – The Corner
First published in the Brisbane Courier, Saturday 21 August 1869. As I have before remarked, the settlement, as regards house accommodation, consisted entirely of the various buildings erected under the authority and inspection of the Government officials during the penal times. But it was naturally anticipated that the purchasers of the land sold at theContinue reading “Old Tom’s Reminiscences – The Corner”
Old Tom’s Reminiscences
Part 1 of Tom Dowse’s Memories of Old Brisbane (Originally published in the Queenslander on 24 July 1869. IN those days—happily long since passed away—when the parent colony of the Australian group enjoyed the unenviable distinction of being the only penal settlement on the shores of New Holland, it was found from time to timeContinue reading “Old Tom’s Reminiscences”
Ordinary Lives
Brisbane on camera 1870-1900 A Draper’s Business in Queen Street A moment in Queen Street, captured by photographer Richard Daintree, presumably from a window across the street. The building at the far left is a “commerce court”, and C W Fegan & Co are open for business in a building proudly established in 1861. TheContinue reading “Ordinary Lives”
George de Winton’s Memories of Moreton Bay
George Jean de Winton had a long and distinguished career in Her Majesty’s 99th Regiment, and many years of it were spent in Australia and New Zealand. He was stationed in Van Diemen’s Land, Sydney, Port Macquarie, Norfolk Island and Moreton Bay. His memoirs (out of copyright and now online), show a man of goodContinue reading “George de Winton’s Memories of Moreton Bay”
The Great Utility of Bathing
The great utility of bathing, as regards the establishment and preservation of sound bodily health, is sufficiently acknowledged all over the world to render any comments of ours on the subject necessary. Our immediate object is to suggest the erection of a few bathing houses on the bank of our beautiful river; for we feelContinue reading “The Great Utility of Bathing”
Moreton Bay and More 