Category: Queensland State Archives’ Photostream About Fortitude Valley

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Labour Day commemorates the achievements of the Australian labour movement. The celebration of Labour Day has its origins in the eight-hour day movement, which advocated eight hours for work, eight hours for recreation, and eight hours for rest.

On 21 April 1856 Stonemasons and building worker on building sites around Melbourne, Australia, stopped work and marched from the University of Melbourne to Parliament House to achieve an eight-hour day.

Their direct action protest was a success, and they are noted as the first organised workers in the world to achieve an eight-hour day with no loss of pay, which subsequently inspired the celebration of Labour Day and May Day.

In Tasmania, the public holiday is called Eight Hours Day and in the Northern Territory it is called May Day. The Labour Day public holiday varies considerably between the various states and territories.

It is the

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Brawl in Brisbane Procession

Brisbane, May 4.- Only a few Communist “Peace” and “Stop the Korean War” slogans found their way into the Labour Day procession today – and after it had started.

Police, who guarded against offensive slogans, and Australian Labour Party officials, keenly censored all placards before the march began at 10 a.m. Some Communist slogans and one religious “Free Advertisement” were banned.

Brawling broke out in Ann Street during the procession, when two men marching with the Electrical Trades Union displayed “Peace” slogans.

In a 50 yards’ fight near City Hall, while the procession continued, the union’s Secretary (Mr. A. H. Dawson) and others ripped the slogans away from their bearers. The two men, who waved the slogans first in Ann Street, carried the crushed remnants of them into Queen Street, but they were illegible.

Unions from Government departments, the City Council, and private organisations displayed more

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Bribie Island is the smallest and most northerly of three major sand islands forming the coastline sheltering the northern part of Moreton Bay, Queensland. It hugs the coastline and tapers to a long spit at its most northern part near Caloundra, and is separated from the mainland by Pumicestone Passage.

The existing bridge was the longest, pre-stressed, pre-cast concrete bridge in Australia at the time of its construction. With a length of 831.4 metres, the bridge cost $716,321 and was officially opened on Saturday 19 October 1963 by the then premier of Queensland Frank Nicklin.

An additional bridge onto Bribie Island has been proposed, and an official ‘Bribie Island Bridge Corridor Study’ was conducted in 2015 by the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads that supports this proposal. The study recommends the new bridge be built 15 metres north of the existing bridge, however the anticipated

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In 1962 the resident population of Bribie Island was less than 600 people, with many more coming for weekends and holidays, but Bribie Island was still a quiet and peaceful holiday destination.

There had been much speculation about building a bridge to Bribie Island for over 30 years. In those days, even with a small population, there were two Councillors representing Bribie on Caboolture Shire Council and the community worked hard creating what they needed with their own volunteer efforts.

Steamship excursions from Brisbane to Bribie had carried thousands of people for weekends and holidays since 1912, but this had stopped in 1953. A car ferry service had become popular since 1947, after the military built a road from Caboolture in WW2, and motor car ownership increased.

Politicians talked about a bridge to Bribie during election campaigns in the late 1950s, and had considered having it paid for

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Brisbane Procession

Brisbane, Jan. 26 – More than 60,000 people lined the city streets this morning to watch a mile-long Australia Day procession. Six hundred people and 40 floats took part in the 35-minute parade.

The route was patrolled by 150 policemen, but no incidents were reported. The only excitement was provided by Constable Robert Tantell, a member of the mounted police troop. His horse slipped and fell near the corner of Queens and Albert streets soon after the start of the procession but Tatnell escaped injury.

The most popular floats were the Native Affairs aboriginal group in war paint and carrying spears; the Save the Trees campaign display of half a dozen live koalas in a gum-tree setting; and the Health and Home Affairs Department’s square-rigged sailing ship.

The Australia Day committee honorary secretary (Mr. W. Murphy) said he was disappointed at the absence of New Australians from

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Make Day For Flags

A call for more flags and bunting in Queensland cities and town to mark Australia Day, January 26, was made yesterday.

“Last year, most of the flags seen on Australia Day were those carried by children,” the Australia Day Celebration Committee secretary (Mr. W. Murphy) said.

“There should be plenty of flags available this year, as hundreds were sold in Queensland in preparation for the Royal tour,” he said.

Real significance

“To most Australians Australia Day is just another holiday. We are trying to change this attitude and make them realise its real significance as our national day.”

Mr. Murphy said 13 bands would take part in Monday’s procession through the city. Special trains will run to bring spectators into the city.

The procession is to be followed by a sports carnival at the Exhibition Grounds, including trotting, cycling, dancing, hunts, and a massed bands parade.

There will also

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“Brighten up Australia Day or it will fade”

An appeal was made to Queenslanders yesterday to make Australia Day, 1953, like American Independence Day – something to remember.

The Australia Day Celebrations Committee secretary (Mr. W. Murphy) warned that people must take more patriotic interest in Australia Day otherwise organised celebrations could fade out.

He called for suggestions to make the January 26 procession brighter, and asked for more donations.

The procession highlights so far include; Many decorated floats; Army and other brass bands and pipe bands; a prize for the most typical Australian girl in the procession; description of procession over seven amplifier systems along the route from George Street, past the Exhibition Ground.

To continue reading visit:
The Courier-Mail

View the original image at Queensland State Archives:
Digital Image ID 4707

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Aust. Day Plans Ignore Rain

Organisers of Australia Day procession are stepping up final arrangements for Monday, and are ignoring rain possibilities.

“We are confident the procession will take place,” the Secretary of the Australia Day Celebration Committee (Mr. W. Murphy) said today.

“The final decision will not be made until Monday morning,” he said. “Should there be any change in plans, it will be broadcast over all radio stations.

Plans have been made for one of the city’s most colourful processions. “There will be plenty of colour and music,” Mr. Murphy said today.

The 2/14th Queensland Mounted Infantry Band will make its first public appearance. Six brass bands, including Northern Command and R.A.A.F., and eight pipe bands, will march.

Description source:
Brisbane Telegraph, 24 January 1953

View the original image at Queensland State Archives:
Digital Image ID 4706

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New And Old Australians On Australia Day Floats

New Australians will follow Queensland aborigines on spectacular floats in Brisbane’s Australia Day procession on Monday.

The New Australians will ride on the Enoggera Holding Centre’s float and the aborigines, from Cherbourg, on the Department of Native Affairs’ float.

The procession will move off from George Street, near Elizabeth Street, at 10 am. All displays will assemble in George Street, and streets off George Street, towards the Botanic Gardens.

The procession will then move down Queen Street, through Wickham Street to the Valley, up Brunswick Street to Gregory Terrace, then down past the Exhibition Ground.

To continue reading visit:
The Courier-Mail, 24 January 1953

View the original image at Queensland State Archives:
Digital Image ID 4705

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Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

Big Australia Day Procession

Brisbane, Jan. 30.- Thousands lined city streets to-day to witness Brisbane’s biggest and most colourful Australia Day procession.

Two thousand people took part in the pageant, a feature of which was the wide variety of floats and the better standard of display than in previous years. R.A.A.F. Mustangs roared overhead in formation as the procession made its way along Queen-street.

Australia’s 162nd birthday was symbolised by the Australian Natives’ Association display showing Captain Phillip receiving his commission to found a colony in N.S. Wales.

The procession wended its way to the Exhibition Ground, where a full sporting programme was held.

Description source:
Queensland Times, 31 January 1950

View the original image at Queensland State Archives:
Digital Image ID 4719

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