Kangaroo Point – Moreton Bay and More

The man who loved horses.

Highway Robbery at Kangaroo Point Samuel Fletcher loved horses. To be precise, he loved horses that weren’t his own. A horse was an expensive proposition – why pay for one? That was Samuel’s mindset back when he was a lad in Nottingham – he worked as a groom[i], and was surrounded by fine horses allContinue reading “The man who loved horses.”

KANGAROO POINT INTELLIGENCE

Before the Windmill, our intrepid reporter was stationed at Kangaroo Point, across the river from Old Brisbane Town. His location did not provide him a great deal of material for his columns, but he took the opportunity to provide some fine comedy about his fruitless search for copy. For historical context, the gruesome murder ofContinue reading “KANGAROO POINT INTELLIGENCE”

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.”

On this day – September 04

1880 – Pedestrianism On September 04, 1880, a famous pedestrian named Baker walked 115 miles in 23 hours and 40 minutes in the old Brisbane Theatre. Pedestrianism was a popular pastime for participants and spectators in the 19th century. Baker had been involved in some promoted events before – including a challenge against a wire-walkerContinue reading “On this day – September 04”