Category: Queensland State Archives’ Photostream About Fortitude Valley

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Put life into Australia Day

The Australia Day Celebration Committee wanted to put “life” into the Australia Day procession through Brisbane next year (January 26).

The committee secretary (Mr. D. Murphy) said this yesterday.

Purely commercial floats would be eliminated. Seventeen bands would take part.

For the Exhibition Ground ceremony, there would be a military tattoo, a parade of massed pipe bands, and athletic and equestrian events.

A public dinner would be held at night at the Victoria Park Golf Club.

Decription source:
Sunday Mail, 14 December 1952

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Digital Image ID 4718

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Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II

The coronation of Queen Elizabeth II as monarch of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan and Ceylon took place on 2 June 1953, at Westminster Abbey. Elizabeth ascended the throne at the age of 25, upon the death of her father, King George VI, on 6 February 1952, and was proclaimed queen by her various privy and executive councils shortly afterwards.

The coronation took place more than a year later because the tradition that holding such a festival is inappropriate during the period of mourning that follows the death of a monarch and also on account of the need to make preparations for the ceremony. During the service, she took and subscribed an oath to, among other things, govern the peoples according to their respective laws and customs, was anointed with holy oil, presented and invested with regalia,

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Ancient Cars For City Procession

Ancient motor cars, some nearly as old as Federation, will take part in the Australia Day procession in Brisbane on January 29.

Two sections in the cavalcade of cars will cater for those before 1920 and those between 1920 and 1930.

At least one 1904 model has already been promised.

The car section of the procession is being organised by the Chamber of Automotive Industry and the R.A.C.Q.

The Australia Day Celebration Committee secretary (Mr. W. Murphy) said last night the procession would be the biggest to pass through Brisbane.

Description source:
The Courier-Mail, 15 January 1951

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Digital Image ID 4710

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City Parade Prizes

A prize will be given for the most typical Australian girl in next Monday’s Australia Day procession.

A pennant will also be awarded to the best float in each of the 11 groups in the procession.

The Australia Day Celebration Committee secretary (Mr. W. Murphy) said this yesterday.

Twelve bands will march in the procession. They will include the Northern Command, Queensland Mounted Infantry, and RAAF Bands.

Sports will be held at the Exhibition Ground starting at 11 am.

Mr. Murphy said the Australia Day committee would be grateful for suggestions on the form celebrations should take.

Description source:
The Courier-Mail, 23 January 1953

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Digital Image ID 4722

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The notable 19th-century architect of skyscrapers, Louis Sullivan, promoted an overriding precept to architectural design: “Form follows function”.

While the notion that structural and aesthetic considerations should be entirely subject to functionality was met with both popularity and scepticism, it had the effect of introducing the concept of “function” in place of Vitruvius’ “utility”.

“Function” came to be seen as encompassing all criteria of the use, perception and enjoyment of a building, not only practical but also aesthetic, psychological and cultural.

Among the philosophies that have influenced modern architects and their approach to building design are rationalism, empiricism, structuralism, poststructuralism, and phenomenology.

In the late 20th century a new concept was added to those included in the compass of both structure and function, the consideration of sustainability, hence sustainable architecture.

To satisfy the contemporary ethos a building should be constructed in a manner which is environmentally friendly in terms

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History Of The New Court Complex Site

Did you know that the site of Brisbane’s proposed new Supreme and District Court complex was the location of our city’s first water supply? The site, bounded by George, Roma and Turbot streets, was the location of the Roma Street Reservoir which was constructed by convicts in 1838 to create a water source for the new colony.

Convicts, under the direction of Captain Logan, built an earth dam across the creek between Roma and Little Roma Streets. A pipeline made of hollow hardwood logs carried the water down the hill to the soldiers’ barracks near Queen and George Streets, and from there to the commandant’s house in Queens Gardens.

In 1842 Brisbane was opened to free settlement and as the population grew added pressure was put on the reservoir. Many complaints about the putrid quality of the water appeared in

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Brisbane To Have 12 Storey Building

Brisbane, June 1. – A £400,000 twelve-storey building is to be built in Brisbane. The building which will be situated on the corner of Adelaide and Edward-streets is being built for the Mutual Life and Citizens’ Assurance Co. Ltd. and will be the most modern in Australia.

It is the first large-scale building to be erected in Brisbane since 1938. New construction methods will enable the building to be completed before December next year. The building will be 132 feet high the maximum height allowed.

Description source:
Maryborough Chronicle, 22 June 1954

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Digital Image ID 14066

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Hard demolition begins on former Executive building

Following months of preparation, hard demo started on 15 May on the former government Executive Building at 100 George St, which will be removed from the Queen’s Wharf Brisbane precinct to make way for the future multi-billion dollar integrated resort development.

The former Executive Building, the previous office of nine Queensland premiers, is that tallest building to be demolished in Brisbane’s history, standing at 15 storeys and more than 60 metres.

Set to gradually come down from the top, level-by-level, it is one of three non-heritage buildings to be demolished by the end of the year.

To continue reading visit:
Queen’s Wharf Brisbane

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Digital Image ID 21602

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New Federal Building For Brisbane

Brisbane, Monday. – Plans have been prepared for a new eight-storey Commonwealth building at the corner of Ann and Creek Streets, Brisbane, adjoining the present Commonwealth offices, at an estimated cost of £2,000,000.

It will be the first in Brisbane designed to resist atomic bombs. The new building will be erected in three sections and tenders for excavations for the first block are expected to be called within four months.

The structure will be steel framed, encased in concrete, with double reinforced external concrete walls and concrete floor slabs. There will be reinforced concrete permanent internal partitions; reinforced concrete rigidity and fire curtain walls to give added strength, as recommended by the Department of Civil Defence, to give protection against atomic bombs.

Tenders for the first block are expected to be called in 12 months and construction is expected to take five years. Another

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Bright procession planned for 1953 Australia Day

Drum majorettes, clowns, and stunts are sought by the organisers of Brisbane’s Australia Day procession on Monday, January 26.

They are part of the Australia Day Celebration Committee’s plans for a better, brighter procession.

The committee secretary (Mr. W. Murphy) said yesterday that public address systems would describe the floats, and a prize would be given for the most typical Australian girl in the procession.

Pipe bands and Army brass bands would march, and all Brisbane brass bands had been invited to take part.

Business firms could enter floats of significance for the day, but blatant advertising floats were “out.”

To continue reading visit:
The Courier-Mail, 9 January 1953

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Digital Image ID 4703

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