The Colonies were ripe for adventurous men seeking to forge a new destiny. Sometimes they sought to forge more than that. One could rid oneself of unpleasant old associations, create a new identity, and live as one wished. Or so one thought. Sometimes these adventurous men gave themselves grand names, invented histories, and used theirContinue reading “Mug Shots – Gentlemen with aliases”
The Forlorn Women Haunting Our Streets – the death of Bridget Lynch
Bridget Lynch was found lying unconscious and near death in an old shed in Mrs Tyrell’s house off Margaret Street, Brisbane on the 26th February 1884. She’d been living there for several weeks with John Agnew, a man who treated her poorly. Once upon a time she’d been a servant of Mrs Tyrell. Bridget wasContinue reading “The Forlorn Women Haunting Our Streets – the death of Bridget Lynch”
The barefoot overseer, the razor, the lash and some pork
Thomas O’Meara’s story. Thomas O’Meara thought Overseer John Bluer was a bit mad. Bluer wore no shoes – except on Sundays – and scurried around a lot, giving incomprehensible orders to the men. Bluer had been relieved of Overseer duties a couple of times – once for leaving two men out in the field whenContinue reading “The barefoot overseer, the razor, the lash and some pork”
Murder at Moreton Bay – Bhinge Multo
In late January 1828, Samuel Myers, overseer, Michael Malone and Francis Reynolds were guarding a field of maize on the South Bank of the Brisbane River. There had been problems with the local indigenous people raiding the crops there for six months. In the last bad incident, an indigenous man had been killed, and aContinue reading “Murder at Moreton Bay – Bhinge Multo”
An accident, Mr Black and the Colonial Secretary’s beaver.
My previous post was devoted to the many places and things besotted Queenslanders decided to name after our first Governor, Sir George Ferguson Bowen, and his wife, Diamantina, Lady Bowen. The glamour of this aristocratic couple performing vice-regal duties gave Brisbane a much-needed touch of polish. What Queensland gave in return, was frequently quite bizarre.Continue reading “An accident, Mr Black and the Colonial Secretary’s beaver.”
I know – let’s call it…
In 1859, Queensland separated from New South Wales and became a colony in its own right. The first Governor of the State of Queensland was Sir George Ferguson Bowen (Charterhouse, Trinity College, the Colonial Service). His wife, Lady Bowen, was born with an exotic name and pedigree so glamorous that it’s best to quote directlyContinue reading “I know – let’s call it…”
Murder at Moreton Bay – “But for one oppressed man to kill another oppressed man, is matchless in infamy.”
On a rainy morning in April 1830, two convicts from Moreton Bay were taken to the Gallows at Sydney gaol. The usual crowd of spectators gathered to watch the events of the morning. Some were morbidly curious to see the condemned men hanged, others to see if there would be any drama before the hangingContinue reading “Murder at Moreton Bay – “But for one oppressed man to kill another oppressed man, is matchless in infamy.””
Murder at Moreton Bay – I am tired of this life.
Patrick Maguire was 30, and he was tired of life. It was the 6th of January 1832, and he was working in the sun with a young Scot, Matthew Gallagher, getting gravel from the pit to repair the roads. It was humid, it was hot, the sun blazed overhead. The only relief might come inContinue reading “Murder at Moreton Bay – I am tired of this life.”
Murder at Moreton Bay – The Awful Entries in Spicer’s Diary.
Spicer’s Diary is the name given to the Book of Monthly Returns of Prisoners Maintained at Moreton Bay. Peter Spicer was Superintendent of Convicts from 23 August 1826 – 8 May 1839. The diary records the number of prisoners assigned to every form of work in the Colony, from clerical workers to bullock drivers. ThereContinue reading “Murder at Moreton Bay – The Awful Entries in Spicer’s Diary.”
Mug Shots – Poverty and Illness
The first three of today’s mug shots show what can happen when the law interacts with poverty and alcoholism. There was no capacity in the 19th century court or prison system for social workers, or drug and alcohol counsellors. The gaol instead was filled with mentally ill, poor, or addicted prisoners. In 1876, William Kelly,Continue reading “Mug Shots – Poverty and Illness”
Moreton Bay and More 