February 11, 1850 – Circuit Court proclaimed.

Moreton Bay had been open for free settlement for eight years, and had a Police Magistrate in the august person of Captain John Clements Wickham, RN. In the absence of a higher court sitting at Brisbane, and indeed a serviceable gaol, those charged with indictable offences were shipped to Sydney for District and  Supreme CourtContinue reading “February 11, 1850 – Circuit Court proclaimed.”

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”

February 9, 1860 – Ipswich Courthouse

On 09 February 1860, the Circuit Court sat at Ipswich on a particularly hot sub-tropical summer’s day. Here’s how the Moreton Bay Courier recorded the day: THE court opened at 10 o’clock. There were seven prisoners for trial. The attendance of jurors was very good, two only of those summoned being absent, a good andContinue reading “February 9, 1860 – Ipswich Courthouse”

February 8, 1849 – The Death of Dick Ben.

On 18 October 1846, a settler named Andrew Gregor and his servant Mary Shannon were murdered by a group of indigenous men at Pine River. If the mass poisoning by the whites at Kilcoy in 1842 was the defining white outrage in the eyes of indigenous people, the Gregor-Shannon murders were the turning point forContinue reading “February 8, 1849 – The Death of Dick Ben.”

February 7, 1849 – the first Fortitude immigrants arrive.

The Fortitude was the first of Dr John Dunmore Lang’s immigrant ships to Moreton Bay, departing Gravesend on 14 September 1848 with 253 on board. After dropping anchor on January 21, the immigrants spent time in quarantine, getting some fresh air and testing out their land legs. The Schooner Susan brought the first group inContinue reading “February 7, 1849 – the first Fortitude immigrants arrive.”

February 6, 1872 – the Peri tragedy.

On February 6 1872, a schooner was noticed lying waterlogged off Rockingham Bay near Cardwell in North Queensland. Crew from the H.M.S. Basilisk boarded her and found a terrible scene. Three dead bodies, and fourteen starving Pacific Islanders with no food or fresh water. The Police Magistrate from Cardwell,  alerted to the horror found inContinue reading “February 6, 1872 – the Peri tragedy.”

February 5, 1867 – the hold up of the Banana Mail.

Was he a desperado who terrorised the country town of Gayndah with his mad highwayman antics, or just a nervous, hungry German chap who couldn’t get a job? And how did you spell his name? How desperate would you have to be to rob the mail at Banana? IT appears that another knight of the roadsContinue reading “February 5, 1867 – the hold up of the Banana Mail.”

February 4, 1862: Kipper Billy and Billy Horton sentenced to death

In January 1862, near Ipswich, a woman named Mrs Jane Rae was assaulted, probably sexually, on the banks of the river, as she did the family wash. When her grown son came to her aid, she stated that a number of indigenous men had been responsible, although none were about when he found her. SheContinue reading “February 4, 1862: Kipper Billy and Billy Horton sentenced to death”

February 3, 1849 – Brisbane prison completed.

Well, that’s accurate in a way. Work was completed on the renovations to the old Female Factory in Queen Street on February 3, 1849. The authorities in Sydney Town felt that an inexpensive repair to an existing building would be better than a fancy new gaol for Moreton Bay. The Female Factory had been largelyContinue reading “February 3, 1849 – Brisbane prison completed.”

February 2, 1891 – the Brisbane Exhibition Buildings approved.

Ah, the Exhibition. Originally the Intercolonial Exhibition, it began in 1876, and showed off produce, industry and crafts to a fascinated public. Every August, the Country comes to the City and there is much rejoicing (especially since the advent of Sideshow Alley and the addition of the Stockman’s Bar and Grill). The original building was charmingContinue reading “February 2, 1891 – the Brisbane Exhibition Buildings approved.”