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.”
Murder at Moreton Bay – 18 September, 1849
On 18 September 1849, Owen Molloy went to the gallows in Sydney for the murder of James Leonard. He died penitent, admitting his guilt and warning the large crowd gathered for the gruesome spectacle, to avoid the demon drink. There was a sensational coda to Molloy’s story, but more of that later. James Leonard wasContinue reading “Murder at Moreton Bay – 18 September, 1849”
“Like the discharge of distant artillery.”
Earthquake at Toowoomba, 17 September, 1875 On 17 September 1875, residents of the Darling Downs city of Toowoomba, were shaken by an earthquake. No better explanation of the incident and its aftermath can be found than that of the Toowoomba Chronicle: No event that has occurred in Toowoomba for many years past created so muchContinue reading ““Like the discharge of distant artillery.””
Moreton Bay and More 