Category: Queensland State Archives’ Photostream About Fortitude Valley

Evan's Monument, Main Range, Toowoomba, c 1931

Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

THE MONUMENT OF GEORGE ESSEX EVANS.

(For the “Post” and “Herald.”)

It is a moot question whether the people of Toowoomba in particular, and those of Queensland and Australia generally, have yet realise, and as an outcome of this realisation, appreciated the greatness of the man, George Essex Evans, and his works.

During many years he was one of Toowoomba’s own people, and from his mountain home there was sent forth from time to time flashes of that poetic genius that dwelt within the man. We read his lilting lines which carried our thoughts onward and upward to those higher realms of fancy where was wont to dwell. But the day came when the lute no longer gave forth its sweet strains – the hand that swept its strings lay for ever silent. The spirit of George Essex Evans had passed to the “Great Beyond”. Then only did

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Kiosk and Gun at Picnic Point, Main Range, Toowoomba, c 1931

Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

KIOSK AT PICNIC POINT.

The work of finishing off he Kiosk at Picnic Point is now nearing completion and the painters are now carrying out their work. The colour scheme is green relieved with white – a choice of colour which should add to the attractiveness of the kiosk. Two field guns, which were received in Toowoomba from the military authorities some time ago as war trophies, have been erected on concrete blocks in a prominent position near the kiosk, the work on which is expected to be completed very shortly.

From the Darling Downs Gazette, Friday 12 August 1921.

Queensland State Archives Image ID 1100

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Toowoomba Soldiers Memorial Hall, Ruthven Street, Front elevation, 2000

Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

The Soldiers’ Memorial Hall was designed in two sections: A two-storey face and rendered brick building facing Ruthven Street and containing commemorative and formal RSL functions, and a large single storey brick extension facing Herries Street and housing the dance hall and club facilities. The main entrance, through the projecting arcade facing Ruthven Street, leas to the Hall of Memory with its large timber honour rolls.

The Soldiers Memorial Hall was constructed in several stages between 1923 and 1959, as a tribute to soldiers from the district who had served in the First World War. The Hall is a rare example in Queensland of a quite elaborate soldier’s hall, and it is larger than others built during the same period.

All three stages (1923-4, 1930-1, 1957-9) were designed by William Hodgen Jnr, with funds for the project being raised by the Citizen’s Memorial Hall Committee. The first

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Toll Bar Road, Brisbane to Toowoomba, c 1934

Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

ATTEMPTED HOLD-UP.

ON TOLL BAR ROAD.

TOOWOOMBA SENSATION.

TOOWOOMBA, Nov. 30. – After barricading the Toll Bar-road at one of its steepest sections a masked man attempted to hold up the driver of a motor-truck last night, but the driver of the truck accelerated and escaped.

According to the police report, Stanley Poore was driving a truck down the Toll Bar-raod about 9.15 p.m. When taking a bend Poore saw a number of saplings and rails lying on the road. As he approached the obstacles he applied the brakes.

A man with a black handkerchied over his face rushed from behind an embankment with a large stone in his hand and shouted that the truck should be stopped. At the same time another man came towards the truck from the other side of the road.

Poore accelerated and drove straight at the man who was standing on the road in front

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Picnic Point Lookout, Main Range, Toowoomba, c 1931

Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

Picnic Point.

By “CANNIE.”

WHAT thoughts of care-free happiness one associates with Picnic Point, especially Toowoomba children who have enjoyed a day’s holiday there. There are the slides they have had on the sledges, and the laughter and scrambling when one of the sledges somersaulted with its occupants, and the panting and puffing to gain the top for just one more slide.

Picnic Point is situated at the top of the Toowoomba Range, overlooking the Toll Bar Road, with its numerous twists and turns. From the look-out there is a wonderful view of hills and valleys, sometimes basking in the bright sunshine which helps to reveal a track leading to some unvisited waterhole. But sometimes they are covered with mists, and Table Top, with its mantle of whiteness, appears as a stately mountain crowned with purity and honour. The mists come and go in an instant, but in

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Enoggera, Brisbane water supply. No 369, c.1894

Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

STATE FOREST AT ENOGGERA

No Pollution Of Water Supply

The City Council proposes to agree to the request of the Queensland Forest Service to gazette the Enoggera water reserve as a State forest.

Departmental officers have advised the Lord Mayor (Alderman Jones) that no disabilities would result from the proposal, as, whatever forestry operations were carried out, steps would be taken to ensure that there would be no pollution of the water supply. The council will retain its rights over the reserve.

The Forest Service has now notified the council that it is proposed to gazette the area shortly as a State forest, with the exception of the lake and a fringe of country two chains wide surrounding it, which will be retained as a water reserve.

The water and sewerage committee decided on Saturday to recommend that the area round the water reserve should be increased from two to

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Toowoomba at the time of the opening of the railway from Ipswich, c1865

Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

Rail in Queensland

Rail transport has been very important to the economic development of Queensland.

The first section of railway opened between Ipswich and Bigge’s Camp on 31 July 1865. A railway gauge of 3 feet 6 inches was chosen. This was one of the earliest uses of such a narrow gauge for a public railway. It was cheaper to build and the government had little financial resources.

The railways in Queensland stretched from coastal ports inland. This allowed the transport of farming produce for export. These goods were important for our economy. In 1865 it took a dray load of wool about seven days to travel from Toowoomba to Ipswich. When the railway reached Toowoomba in 1867 it reduced the same journey to only five hours.

Queensland State Archives Image ID 3387

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