Category: Queensland State Archives’ Photostream About Fortitude Valley

Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

The Courier-Mail
12 April 1945

22 SHELTERS STILL TO GO

About 22 of the 61 air-raid shelters to be knocked down under the City Council’s contract with the Moffat Construction Company have yet to be demolished.

Mr. O. C. C. Moffat said yesterday that his five men were still averaging one shelter a day, working now on the brick shelters in Eagle Street. Four of these were left, and Albert and Ann streets remained to be done.

He had been unable to get more men from Manpower authorities. At present one was sick, but they were forging through. Mr Moffat, has not heard from the Government about his offer to build houses under the State scheme. Whether the Government was interested in the scheme or not, he would build concrete houses here after the war he said.

Queensland State Archives, Digital Image ID 3021

See Full Post >>

Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

The Courier-Mail
16 June 1945

CHANDLER ON SHELTER JOBS

If Brisbane’s air raid shelters were in the streets or Melbourne
or Sydney, the Federal Government would ‘fall over itself in its haste to nave them removed,’ said the Lord Mayor (Aid. Chandler) last night.

He was replying to a statement by the Manpower Deputy Director (Mr. Walsh) that no labour could be made available to Moffat Constructions, Ltd., for the removal of the shelters.

‘Mr. Walsh is quite correct in his contention that the refusal of Manpower for the removal of the shelters is Federal Government policy.’ he said.

‘That policy, however, was determined many months ago. With the improved conditions, it would be expected that the Government would agree to allow four men to work on this job for the few weeks required.’

Aid. Chandler said that Brisbane and Queensland were completely foreign territory to Federal Ministers. So much so, that they

See Full Post >>

Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

The Brisbane Courier
15 March 1932

JUBILEE BRIDGE, SOUTHPORT.

After being out of commission for the last fortnight owing to a break In the main gear-wheel the lift span of the Jubilee Bridge has been repaired and the fiver is now open to navigation The Mayor of Southport (Alderman C II Steadman) stated yesterday that satisfactory repairs had been made the wheel had been welded and wrought Iron bands had been shrunk on the boss.

Queensland State Archives, Digital Image ID 171

See Full Post >>

Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

The Brisbane Courier
15 June 1932

CONDITION OF VICTORIA BRIDGE.

“The city engineer (Mr. E. F. Gilchrist) has reported that Victoria Bridge is being watched very carefully, and that its condition now is as good as it ever was,” the Lord Mayor (Alderman J. W. Greene) stated yesterday. Several improvements had been made to the bridge, the Lord Mayor added. Alderman A. Laurie had asked for a report, prepared three years ago, by the Government bridge inspector (Mr. W. H. Andrews), who suggested that the bridge required attention.

Queensland State Archives, Digital Image ID 168

See Full Post >>

Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

The William Jolly Bridge was constructed between 1928 and 1932 following the formation of Greater Brisbane in 1925, and was one of the first major capital works of the new city Council and bears the name of its first Mayor. At the time of construction, the only traffic bridge linking North and South Brisbane was the second Victoria Bridge, built in 1897 to replace an earlier bridge washed away in the flood of 1893. The William Jolly Bridge crosses the Brisbane River at the tip of the South Brisbane peninsula between Grey Street, South Brisbane, and the intersection of Skew and Saul Streets on the northern bank. Work commenced in August 1928 and was completed in March 1932.

Queensland State Archives, Digital Image ID 147

See Full Post >>

Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

The Telegraph
20 November 1926

RESIDENCE BURNED AT ROMA

A house in McDowall Street, Roma, owned by Mrs. Cox, of Goulburn (New South Wales), and occupied by Mrs. Ellen Crane, was destroyed on Thursday night. The fire brigade was handicapped by a shortage of water. The damage Is estimated at £550. The house was insured for £300 and the furniture was covered by a policy for £100. The house was unoccupied at the time.

Queensland State Archives, Digital Image ID 110

See Full Post >>

Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

Daily Standard
2 January 1931

POPULAR LOOK OUT. CITY HALL TOWER.

The City Halt tower continues to he a source of attraction to hundreds of people who did not leave the city during the holidays, and the daily takings this week have averaged about £10.

Besides visiting the rower, a number of the visitors viewed the concert hall, which was left open for inspection, but as only a skeleton staff was working during the holidays the reception rooms and council chamber were closed.

The absence of a guide or indication signs on the tower have been commented on by a number of the visitors, who suggested that with better organisation and effective noticed the takings at the lift would be doubled.

Queensland State Archives, Digital Image ID 81

See Full Post >>

Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

From the Queensland Heritage Register.

Brisbane’s first high-rise government office building was constructed between 1914 and 1922. It was intended partly as general public offices, but more importantly as state headquarters for the enormously successful Queensland Government Savings Bank, established in 1864.

Bank headquarters had occupied a purpose-designed banking chamber and offices in the second wing of the Treasury Building from early 1893. By 1912 these premises were no longer adequate. In consequence, the state government decided to construct a separate and substantial building on the opposite corner of George and Elizabeth Streets, as new bank headquarters.

George Gerald Hutton, assistant architect in the government architect’s office from 1913-22, is credited with the design.

It is likely Hutton also designed the sculpture, representing commerce and industry, on the George Street elevation. This and the royal coat of arms on the George-Elizabeth Street corner were carved in 1920 by Sydney

See Full Post >>

Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

The Brisbane Courier
6 November 1926

ENGARLEMENT OF NEWSTEAD PARK.

The improvement of Newstead Park by the addition of about two and a half acres is expected to, be completed next January. To make the improvement several properties, on which were about 11 houses, were resumed by the Old Brisbane City Council.

Queensland State Archives, Digital Image ID 10

See Full Post >>

Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

Johann Heussler, a wealthy Brisbane merchant purchases 22 acres of land from the Government in 1862 and made plans to build a house there. Local architect Benjamin Backhouse designed a house in 1865, to be constructed from stone excavated on site combined with a cement and lime mixture.

The Heussler family lived at Fernberg from 1865 until 1872 when the high cost of upkeep forces foreclosure on the property by the mortgagee.

Sir Arthur Palmer, Premier of Queensland (1870-1874), and later Lieutenant Governor resided in Fernberg from 1872 to 1881.

John Stevenson MP purchased Fernberg and commissioned the addition of a fine frontage to the building and considerably extended the grounds by purchasing adjacent land. He also installed the stained glass window depicting Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland (1306-1329) on the main internal stairway of the house.

The title to Fernberg was transferred in 1894 to Stevenson’s mortgagees,

See Full Post >>