The Telegraph was first published on 01 October, 1872. Pay-PUH! Te-LE!! Unthinkable now, but not too long ago, small boys ranged about the city at twilight, yelling on street corners and dodging fearlessly in between vehicles to sell the evening paper, The Telegraph. Small children don’t work now, let alone run about the city unsupervisedContinue reading “Paper!! Tele!!”
The Great Greasy Escape – 30 September, 1865
ATTEMPT TO BREAK OUT OF TOOWOOMBA GAOL.- On Monday night last, George Johnson, who was confined on suspicion of stealing watches, managed, with grease he had saved during the previous few days, and some matches, to set fire to the cell in which he was confined. He placed the grease in the cavity in whichContinue reading “The Great Greasy Escape – 30 September, 1865”
Death of Dr Ballow – 29 September 1850
THE MORETON BAY COURIERSATURDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1850 WITH deep regret we record in this issue the death of Dr. Ballow, who expired at the Quarantine Station at about eleven o’clock on Sunday morning last, after a few days’ illness from typhus fever, which disorder he had contracted in the performance of his duty, as ActingContinue reading “Death of Dr Ballow – 29 September 1850”
Oxley’s settlement at Redcliffe, 24 September 1824.
I wrote about the beginnings of Moreton Bay at Redcliffe earlier this month. There have been explanations of the abrupt departure to Brisbane less than a year later – it was either sandflies, hostile indigenous people or lack of fresh water. My theory is the indigenous people of the area. It’s one thing to findContinue reading “Oxley’s settlement at Redcliffe, 24 September 1824.”
Podgy The Bushranger is sentenced- 25 September
This post was originally published on May 19. Troden was sentenced on 25 September. He was very lucky to avoid the gallows- his saving grace, if it may be called that, was that his victims were inconvenienced rather than harmed. At 4 pm on 30 July 1868, four men were on the road to theContinue reading “Podgy The Bushranger is sentenced- 25 September”
Religious enthusiasm – 23 September 1853
James Kirkwood was a successful man in Brisbane town. The place had only been open to free settlement for a decade, but the young Scot had made his name as a horticulturalist and market gardener. His produce always won prizes. He had a wife, four dear little children and a home in South Brisbane. ThenContinue reading “Religious enthusiasm – 23 September 1853”
The French Escapees – 22 September 1887
In 1831, a group of Moreton Bay convicts seized the schooner Caledonia, took the Captain hostage, and set off on a murderous rampage through the islands of the South Pacific. More than fifty years later, a group of French convicts from the penal settlement at Noumea returned the compliment. The twelve escaped convicts from the penal settlement at New Caledonia,Continue reading “The French Escapees – 22 September 1887”
“Quack-quack-quack,” 21 September 1858
The spectators at the Brisbane Police Office, on Tuesday last, witnessed a singular exhibition of a respectable man, (a resident in the western suburbs) being brought up before that august Bench, under warrant, for using offensive language in the hearing of one of our majestic Beaks, (the usual process of issuing a summons to appearContinue reading ““Quack-quack-quack,” 21 September 1858″
An Actor Hounded Down – 20 September, 1890
Australia was going through the worst industrial unrest in its history, with agitation for a national general strike. In September 1890, a group of comrades decided to rock up to the Opera House, and give some serious stick to an actor who had fraternised with the enemy. Trouble was, they weren’t sure which actor had workedContinue reading “An Actor Hounded Down – 20 September, 1890”
Old Tom journeys through Brisbane – September 18, 1870.
A DAY AMONGST THE DOUGHBOYS. (BY OLD TOM.) On 18 September, 1870, the Brisbane Courier published a guide to Doughboy Creek (now called Bulimba Creek). Old Tom was the nom de plume of Tom Dowse, a former convict, who arrived in Brisbane Town at the time of free settlement and who went on to aContinue reading “Old Tom journeys through Brisbane – September 18, 1870.”
Moreton Bay and More 