On the afternoon and evening of Monday 7 January 1867, a group of Europeans, estimated to be between 200 and 500 in number, terrorised the Chinese population at the Crocodile Creek gold diggings. When the mob was finished, many were injured, and just about every Chinese person in the township had lost everything but theContinue reading “The Goldfields Riot – January 7, 1867”
Tag Archives: Chinese Community in 1800s
Prisoners in Brisbane Gaol, 1875: Serious Assaults.
The 1875 prison photograph series contains a lot of men who committed serious assaults – near murders in some cases. Looking at the prisoners’ photos, it’s hard to overlook the number of Chinese men serving time for assaults. The accounts of their court hearings are notable for what they do not disclose – motive. AnythingContinue reading “Prisoners in Brisbane Gaol, 1875: Serious Assaults.”
The Chinese Question in Queensland.
1850 – 1860: The answer to our economic prayers. In 1850, Moreton Bay looked forward to the arrival of 108 Chinese labourers, brought in by the ship, Favourite. All had been indentured to employers prior to landing, and competition for their services had been fierce. More Chinese workers were promised. We could hardly wait. TheyContinue reading “The Chinese Question in Queensland.”
Anti-Chinese Disorders: The Riot in Brisbane.
This is the report from the Brisbane Courier dated 07 May 1888, following a riot that spread through Brisbane City on Saturday 05 May 1888. A disgraceful feature of Saturday night’s general excitement was the damage done by a number of larrikins to the various Chinese establishments in town. It is very hard to tellContinue reading “Anti-Chinese Disorders: The Riot in Brisbane.”
The Archaeology of Old Brisbane Town
This is the first of an occasional series of posts highlighting Old Brisbane discoveries and observations made during excavations. The Commandant’s Cottage In 1986, construction workers at a site between George and William Streets discovered some of the sub-structure of the Moreton Bay Commandant’s Cottage. Although the building itself was long gone, the footprint wasContinue reading “The Archaeology of Old Brisbane Town”
Chinese Australians – 03 September 1895
1895 Following the murder of Christian missionaries in China, representatives of the Chinese community in Brisbane met in the St John’s Cathedral precincts to condemn the killings. This is one of the most sympathetic descriptions of 19th century Chinese Australians I have seen. Normally the Chinese were seen as a menace to mining and trade,Continue reading “Chinese Australians – 03 September 1895”
Bushrangers on the goldfields – August 31 1868
On 31 August 1868, a man named – in the doubtful 19th century translation of Chinese names – Ah King Gun Woo, was returning to Bowen from the Cape River Goldfields with about 360 pounds in gold and notes and two silver watches. He was accosted by three armed bushrangers, who had blackened their facesContinue reading “Bushrangers on the goldfields – August 31 1868”
The Forlorn Women Haunting Our Streets – the life of Norah O’Donnell
Norah O’Donnell was born in 1851 in Limerick, Ireland to Michael and Catherine (Kirby) O’Donnell. She was part of a large family – ten other children – who emigrated to Brisbane in 1862, as part of the assisted migration scheme. Apart from the deaths of Bridget at 22, Mary at 42 and Norah herself atContinue reading “The Forlorn Women Haunting Our Streets – the life of Norah O’Donnell”
Moreton Bay and More 