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”
Only in Brisbane.
The Free Settlement Edition. The Brisbane Riot. Kind of. On the night of the 2nd October 1849, a riot took place in Queen Street in Brisbane. At least, it was kind of a riot. A group of a dozen rather drunk men assembled noisily in Queen Street at about 11 pm. The Chief Constable, withContinue reading “Only in Brisbane.”
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”
Please, Governor, may we also have a Gaol?
For a place with a lot of prisoners about, and a population fond of indulging in ardent spirits, Moreton Bay was sorely lacking in a place to house criminals. There was a small lock-up in the Police Station, which occupied a part of the former Convict Barracks. It was only suitable for very short stays,Continue reading “Please, Governor, may we also have a Gaol?”
Please, Governor, may we have a hospital?
In January 1848, Captain Wickham, Government Resident for Moreton Bay, received a letter from the Colonial Secretary’s Office in Sydney, ordering the closure of the Convict Hospital at Brisbane. The result was that everyone and everything had to go – patients, paupers, medicines, furniture – the lot. What couldn’t be sold was to be shippedContinue reading “Please, Governor, may we have a hospital?”
A Disgrace to her Sex
A correspondent in calling our attention to a desperate fight which took place in North Brisbane on Tuesday last, between a soldier and a sawyer, says:- “I counted no less than eight women who were present, looking on with great interest; and one disgrace to her sex was actually cheering and goading the men onContinue reading “A Disgrace to her Sex”
Policing the Colony
Policing in the early days at Moreton Bay had its challenges. There were hundreds of convicted criminals about – former convicts on tickets of leave and in indentured service. The free men and women of the town tried to foster a sort of civic pride and dignity, but their efforts were undermined by an itinerantContinue reading “Policing the Colony”
The Various Identities of the Flying Pieman
In 1848, the Brisbane and Ipswich newspapers were fascinated by the presence of The Flying Pieman, William King, who arrived in this part of the colony and proceeded to perform a lot of highly popular feats of pedestrian endurance and speed. We were rather starved of entertainment in those days, so seeing a ribbon-bedecked chapContinue reading “The Various Identities of the Flying Pieman”
“What? Beer makes you drunk?”
A surprising discovery in Brisbane in the late 1840s. The great Australian tradition of drinking one’s wages arrived at Moreton Bay with the Europeans in 1824. Soldiers and public servants at the settlement had cellars, and enterprising convicts could sometimes lay their hands on some of their contents. Free settlement meant liquor licenses, public drinkingContinue reading ““What? Beer makes you drunk?””
Moreton Bay and More 