Category: Queensland State Archives’ Photostream About Fortitude Valley

Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

From the Balonne Beacon, Thursday 28 January 1954:

THE LOST WORLD PLATEAU

HIGH in the volcanic wonderland of the Macpherson Range which seperates New South Wales from Queensland, is a jungle garden unsurpassed in wild beauty, a mountain fastness over part of which a white man has never walked.

Lamington National Park officially embraces 48,000 acres of the razorback ridges and deep broken gorges, but the surrounding forests almost double its effective area, while its heights overlook an area twice the size of Switzerland. To the north of Brisbane, the Glasshouse Mountains,a nd the Blackall Range, 130 miles away. On the south the valleys of the Tweed, Clarence and Richmond are laid out like a map, 4,000 feet below.

Over the whole of the Macphersons lies a volcanic crust, estimated to be 3500 feet deep. It is a basaltic deposit like that which covered Pompeii in 79 A.D. but

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Ever wondered what people did for fun in Cooktown at the turn of the 20th century?

BANANA EATING

COOKTOWN’S CHAMPION.

A TALE FROM THE PAST.

COOKTOWN, November 17.
The recent news items appearing in the newspapers of Australia, telling of the quantaties of bananas eaten by variou people, have aroused the Cooktown champion, Mr. Mick Feinn, to assert his rights and claim the title of champion banana eater.

Feinn ate over 13 dozen bananas inside three hours, the period including a couple of rests. The story of the contest, which is vouched for by several reliable residents of the district, is as follows:-

The late Harry Connors, hearing of a claim by a man in the South that he could eat more bananas than any one else, issued a challenge and said that he would back Mick Feinn for £50, or even £100, to eat bananas against any man in or

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From The Telegraph, Monday 16 December 1940:

Control Building Will Centralise Air Traffic

By Our Aviation Correspondent.

The administrative building, to be erected at Archerfield aerodrome shortly, will centralise passenger traffic as well as the work of civil aviation officers.

At present the weather and radio offices, control tower and departmental offices are scattered round the aerodrome. Air companies now handle passenger traffic at their respective hangars.

The new building will encroach upon the landing ground about 60 feet beyond the present temporary control building.

The original intention to place it further out on the drome was amended following the protests from air companies that the building would be too close to natural runways.

The present site is to be in front of the cemetery, and the public enclosure with the back of the building in line with the remporary control tower.

TRAFFIC FACILITIES

On the gound floor of the building passengers will enter

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The Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS), through the Health Minister, also appealed to Cabinet for additional funding (Dec. 47829, 48554). The Minister’s submission asked for an additional $400,000 to offset the operating deficit for that year but was not approved by Cabinet. Instead, they asked the RFDS to ‘undertake a detailed and full review of its current services and how and where such services might be rationalised’. Without the additional funding, the options open to the RFDS were to close one of its three centres and educe services to rural Queensland. Though the Minister was concerned that a reduction of services would lead to a ‘public outcry’’ Cabinet remained unmoved.

Photo of the Flying Doctor base at Charleville, January 1955

Queensland State Archives Image ID 11200

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Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

On 11 September 1986, Cabinet considered the issue of providing a submission to the committee examining the Telecommunications (Interception) Amendment Bill 1986 (Commonwealth,) (Dec. 49744). While generally supportive of the extension of the power to State police forces enabling
them to intercept calls on drug related matters only, Bjelke-Petersen expressed concern of the mooted supervision by a Commonwealth Minister of a State Minister and was worried about the limitations upon the use which can be made of material gathered. He also raised the involvement of
Telecom employees in interception. In 1986 a report of the Joint Select Committee on Telecommunications Interception noted that 16 illegal interception devices had come to the attention of Telecom during 1985-86, seven of which had been located in Queensland.

Photo of the County Exchange Service, 1952

Queensland State Archives Image ID 4476

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Sunday Mail
Sunday 13 Nov 1932

The Old River
Forty Years Ago
Memories of Little Ships

The Brisbane River today is the finest tidal stream in Australia for marine purposes. In the upper reaches the largest ocean-going liners can swing with ease, and the river winds through the busy heart of the city, from Cannon Hill to South Brisbane. But one thing that would strike a visitor from overseas is the almost total absence of river craft – lighters, tenders, small tugs, excursion steamers, and simliar types of small vessels used for varied purposes, which constitute the life and bustle of most seaports.

With the exception of a few powerful tugs used to berth the big liners, an occasional mud barge or fishing launch, the river is devoid of craft life. One can sometimes steams its whole length, from Pile Light to bridge, without meeting a solitary vessel of any

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A tale of a tram related mishap in The Courier Mail on Tuesday 26 Novermber 1935:

Tram Hits Bus
Women Suffer From Shock
Mishap in Valley

A tram bound for Clayfield struck the rear of a crowded bus bound for Cribb Island, in Wickham Street, Valley about 4 p.m. yesterday. Grazing along the side of the bus, the tram pushed it against a stationary motor car in front, forcing the car on to the footpath, while workmen and children in the bus screamed in alarm.

The bus had been stopped in Wickham Street, near Knapp Street, too pick up a parcel. It was moving off again, when the driver steered out from the kerb to clear the stationary motor car ahead. As he did so, he heard the clanging of a tram gong and a moment later the collision occurred.

Two young women passengers in the bus. Mrs. Annie Broadbent,

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Sunday Mail
Sunday 10 May 1931

The Brisbane Settlement
Early Buildings

Queen-street of 1835 bore little resemblance to the street of to-day. Starting from Petrie Bight, and following the well-beaten track, a fairly wide stream was reached. This stream flowed through what is now called Creek-street and wound its way into Adelaide-street. It was crossed by means of a punt at the corner of Queen-street and Creek-street. A few years later a bridge was erected at the same spot. The track on the other side of the creek led past a steep hill on which was built a penal factory for women convicts.

Queensland State Archives Image ID 26916

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Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

Andrew Petrie’s residence which stood at the spot where Queen and Wharf Streets now junctions. Of three seated on the verandah, one is Miss Petrie with the Union Jack to be hoisted in welcome to the first Governor George Bowen.

Queensland State Archives Image ID 23316

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Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

The Queensland Club building was constructed between 1882-84. The club was established in December 1859 following the apparent success of the North Australian Club in Ipswich, and coinciding with the establishment of Queensland as a separate colony. Adopting the British tradition of private clubs for influential members of the community, it provided a recreational venue and accommodation for men of common interests and socio-economic backgrounds. Members were mainly pastoralists, politicians, and business and professional men.

Queensland State Archives Image ID 25475

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