Category: Queensland State Archives’ Photostream About Fortitude Valley

Brisbane's Old Town Hall, Queen St.

Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

The Courier Mail
Sat 27 Nov 1937

Old Town Hall a Link With Early Days

The old Town Hall was completed in 1865 at a cost of £25,000, and the civic fathers of that distant day had every reason for self-gratification.

Every to-day the old building is regarding as one of the finest examples of Italian Renaissance architecture to be seen in Australia. For more than 70 years it classic facade has looked out upon an ever-changing scene in Queen-street. Through the decades demolition and reconstruction attended the relentless march of time.

When the freestone for its construction was excavated from the old Breakfast Creek quaryr, the long low front of the convict barracks was still standing on the present site of Allan and Stark’s premises. The adjoining site to the south was occupied by a shingle shanty, used as Brisbane’s one and only Post Office.

The construction of what

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Looking along the Brisbane River in 1885

Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

The Brisbane Courier
Mon 17 Aug 1885

Sailing Matters
By Tell Tale

The number of pleasure sailing boats on the Brisbane River is rapidly on the increase. The lastest addition of this kind is a handy little craft just turned out for Mr. Marlow by Mr. Miller, of Kangaroo Point. The Cecilia – the name given to her – is an 18ft. open centreboard boat, of nearly 6ft. beam. She is planked with cedar, on yellow-wood timbers, is varnished, and looks a neat and well-modelled craft, which ought to be both comfortable and fast under canvas.

The summer winds are coming in early this year, and I expect to see sailing matters in full swing again within two or three weeks’ time, The new Sailing Club has now been fairly started. Very suitable quarters have been obtained for the club in the Hamilton Reach; a trustworthy caretaker has been

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Clarence Corner, Stanley Street, Brisbane.

Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

The Brisbane Courier
Friday 24 Dec 1928

The Clarence Corner

Sir – In your issue of Saturday, 8th, I read with interest a letter on the above subject, over the name of Magee and Co., and would like to refer to the statement that the name “Clarence Corner” was first suggested by the members of the Harris and Co.’s drapery business some 30 years ago.

I can look back over 50 years to that part of South Brisbane, when Cobb and Co.’s coaches passed by the old Clarence Hotel on their way to Southport. One driver, named Roderick, was a very popular coachman on this route, and while living at Pimpama at that period I passed the old Clarence Hotel in those coaches on several occasions. Again, less than 10 years later, our family resided at the corner of Merton-road and Peterson-street. I think I am correct in

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Sunday School Procession in Stanley St, Brisbane. 24 May 1877

Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

The Brisbane Courier
Tuesday 19 March 1867

Albert-Street Wesleyan Sabbath School>

[…] Notwithstanding the peculiarly untoward circumstances through which the colony has been, and now is, passing, our numbers have not in the aggregate diminished, a small increase having taken place during the year. The constant changing of residence which has occurred of late (occassioned by the inability of many of the parents of our children to obtain a living in Brisbane or its suburbs) has produced a prejudicial effect upon some of our schools, necessitating the removal of a large number of scholars; but this same circumstance has brought into the neighborhood of our other schools new arrivals, who have replaced those who have gone to other parts of the colony to reside, and thus our numbers have been balanced. Out staff of teachers, though not thoroughly adequate to the onerous task of instructing so many children,

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Photograph by C. Poulsen of horse drawn trams in Brisbane's Queen Street in the early 1890s

Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

HAVE you ever wondered where the word tram derived
its name?

In the 18th century, when the demand for coal increased and
the traffic became greater, flat iron plates were fitted to the
faces of the wooden ‘rails’ to lessen the heavy wear and tear
and t(he cost of replacement.

Then an intelligent individual, perhaps one of the horse-drivers,
further improved the track by introducing a turned-up. edge or
trammel- from which the word tram is taken— to keep the
wheels from slipping off.

Queensland State Archives Item ID 436317, Photographic material

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Metavale homestead, c 1910

Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

History of the Queenslander

The Australian tropical house conjures a vision of a large sprawling timber structure on stumps with an extensive, deep, shaded verandah via Franch doors. The roof is iron and the pitch is steep. A bougainvillaea, a Mango tree, and or a Frangipani adorn the front garden of the house. The primary reason for the development of the Queenslander was the climate. The long hot summer days often ended with a torrential downpour. A house with wide verandahs that provided shelter from these conditions was essential. The importance of the verandahs as an architectural element in a tropical Australian house cannot be underestimated because it is one area which lent itself to an informal semi-outdoor lifestyle suited to the cliate. The verandah became an integral part of every house and their use an essential part of the Australian way of life. The cool

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Aerial photograph of Mount Lindesay – Scenic Rim Region, August 1973

Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

From The Beaudesert Times, Friday 20 March 1931:

Mount Lindesay Conquered by Ladies.

On Saturday last Mr Bert Salmon of the Agricultural and Stock Department, Brisbane, accompanied by Miss Jean Easton of the same Department and Miss Nora Dymer of Beerwah, North Coast line arrived at Rathdowney by motor car, and walked to the residence of our congenial host Mr Merriman at Mt. Lindesay with whom they spent the night. On Sunday morning they took their departure to engage in their attempt on the mountain. On arrival at the first cliff they prepared themselves by changing sandshoes and leaving their packs behind, and as previously arranged with Mr Merriman they coo-eed in token of their commencement of the difficult ascent.

The first wall was scaled in 3/4 of an hour. After a brief spell the second wall was scaled in 1/2 an hour, and the remainder of

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