A glance through the Moreton Bay Courier of September 5 1850 shows the reader the era in Brisbane Town in a nutshell. Rosewood was out in the never-never, and locals banded together to discourage (in their worldview) indigenous raiders. This was the time when relations between determined free settlers, and dispossessed indigenous people was at itsContinue reading “All the news fit to print – September 5, 1850”
Tag Archives: On This Day
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”
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”
Oxley returns to the Bay- 02 September 1824
1824: Oxley establishes a settlement at Redcliffe MORETON BAY. It will be remembered that the brig Amity left this port on the 2d September for the purpose of forming an establishment, under the command of Lieutenant Miller, 40th Regt. in Moreton Bay, at which place she arrived on the 12th. It is intended to haveContinue reading “Oxley returns to the Bay- 02 September 1824”
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”
Luis Vaez de Torres charts the straits – August 30 1606
1606 Luis Vaez de Torres was on his way to Manila when bad weather forced him to take a detour below Papua New Guinea. On his way, he charted the coastline, stopped for provisions, claimed everything he saw for Spain and fought with indigenous people of the Islands, taking a small sample of the furiousContinue reading “Luis Vaez de Torres charts the straits – August 30 1606”
Brown the Bushranger and Mr Wenzel – August 29
On August 29, two German men were executed, six years apart, for crimes committed on the Darling Downs. The sentences on both men were hotly debated in the letters pages of Queensland’s newspapers. 1870 Brown the Bushranger. In 1870, a 20 year old German bushranger with many aliases, lost his short and extremely colourful lifeContinue reading “Brown the Bushranger and Mr Wenzel – August 29”
A frightful accident – August 28 1879
1879 – FRIGHTFUL ACCIDENT. A frightful accident (says the Warwick Argus), resulting in the death of one man, named William John Burton, and injuries more or less serious to seven others, occurred at the Big Tunnel, on the Stanthorpe railway works, about half-past 11 on Thursday morning. From particulars gleaned from trustworthy sources, we learnContinue reading “A frightful accident – August 28 1879”
The killing of a hawker and the destruction of a church – August 27
1865: Murder of a young German hawker On this day in 1865, a young German hawker named Henry Bode went to collect some debts from farmers on the Logan River. He was not heard from again. Bode was quite young, only 21, and made his living in his new country by walking long distances, sellingContinue reading “The killing of a hawker and the destruction of a church – August 27”
Moreton Bay and More 