James McAuliffe was a native of Carlow, Ireland. A compact 5 ft 3 ¼, he had brown hair, hazel eyes and a ruddy and freckled complexion. He was educated enough to read and write and was married with two sons and a daughter when, out of desperation or foolishness, he stole some clothing. Brought beforeContinue reading “The Cranky Cobbler of Brisbane Town”
Mr Baynes buys The Courier, 04 November, 1873
Today the oldest existent newspaper in Brisbane, together with the whole of the capital and interest therein, including the Queenslander, issued in connection therewith, and copyright, book-debts and stock, with the plant, stock and book-debts of the Courier General Printing Office, were offered for sale in one lot by Mr. Simon Fraser, this morning, byContinue reading “Mr Baynes buys The Courier, 04 November, 1873”
The indictment of the bushranger “The Wild Scotchman”
Before I publish the third part of A Brief History of Queensland Bushranging, I wanted to share the indictment of James Alpin McPherson, alias The Wild Scotchman, who bailed up and stole from the mails relentlessly in the mid 1860s. He did not injure any of his victims, and this is why this particular bushranger was ableContinue reading “The indictment of the bushranger “The Wild Scotchman””
The Flying Pieman performs at Ipswich, 03 November 1848
Ipswich News: The Flying Pieman performed here yesterday the feats which he proposed performing at Brisbane, viz.: wheeling a barrow half a mile, running forward half a mile, running backward half a mile, walking one mile, picking up fifty stones one yard apart and placing them in a basket; as a gig could not beContinue reading “The Flying Pieman performs at Ipswich, 03 November 1848”
November 1, 1849 – the arrival of the Mount Stuart Elphinstone.
The Mountstuart Elphinstone arrived in Moreton Bay on 01 November 1849, with transported convicts and convict exiles on board. The local burghers went out to meet the ship, and selected the best (or least worst) of those on board to work on stations and in businesses about South East Queensland. The convicts were then disembarked,Continue reading “November 1, 1849 – the arrival of the Mount Stuart Elphinstone.”
“Silence that dreadful bell!”
During the trial of the cause of Beauchamp v. Waller and another, in the Banco court yesterday, May 17, a funeral knell sounded persistently from the adjacent tower of St. James’ Church, to the evident discomposure of the leading counsel for the plaintiff, who complained angrily of “that dreadful bell” to the Chief Justice. HisContinue reading ““Silence that dreadful bell!””
A Brief History of Bushranging in Queensland. Part 2.
Free Settlement to Separation to the Gold Rushes of the North. Bushranging – once the term used to describe escaped convicts – gradually came to mean armed robbery and a life spent on the roads, dodging the law. In the 1820s and 1830s in New South Wales and Tasmania, men like Jack Donohue “The WildContinue reading “A Brief History of Bushranging in Queensland. Part 2.”
A Brief History of Bushranging in Queensland. Part 1.
1824-1842 Moreton Bay Convict Settlement “Bushranging” was a term invented around 1805 to describe the actions of escaped convicts who took to the bush, often leading violent outlaw lives to secure food and avoid capture. Absconding became an attractive option in the penal settlements of Sydney (est. 1788) and Van Diemen’s Land (est. 1803). Food was scarce, rations wereContinue reading “A Brief History of Bushranging in Queensland. Part 1.”
Paper!! Tele!!
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”
Moreton Bay and More 