Category: Queensland State Archives’ Photostream About Fortitude Valley

Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

T. C. Beirne’s Christmas Novelties.

A great attraction has been added to T. C. Beirne and Co.’s Christmas novelties in the display of toy animals, forming a complete menagerie in one of their windows. Crowds of children visit the display daily. Another novelty that is exciting interest is the Speedaway, which is on view in the toy department. A miniature racing track occupies the centre of the room, and a large number of miniature motorists take part in the race. The result is exciting and most amusing.

Description source: The Brisbane Courier, 12 November 1913

Image source: Queensland State Archives Item ID 1640281

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Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

25/ Christmas hotel dinners

Most Brisbane hotels are arranging special Christmas dinners, with all the “trimmings,” this year.
But the cost will range from 25/ – 35/ a head, plus extras.
Some hotels were already booked out yesterday, but most still had tables available. Main features of menus will be roast turkey.

Description source: The Courier-Mail, 16 December 1952

Image source: Queensland State Archives Item ID 1640281

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Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

Santa Goes By Ship

Although Christmas is nine days away, Santa Claus already has called on 15 children in lonely parts of Queensland – by ship.
The youngsters live with their parents on nine lighthouses between Cape Moreton and Dent Island, off Prosperpine.
The Navigation and Lighthouses Department steamer, Cape Leeuwin, has just completed a visit to each of the lonely outposts delivering Christmas fare such as plum pudding, nuts, ginger and other delicacies, and toys for the children.
The vessel is due in Brisbane this afternoon.

Description source: Brisbane Telegraph, 16 December 1948

Image source: Queensland State Archives Item ID 1640281

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Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

The Christmas Tree

There was a little tree that came
Into our house. It had no name
Until the fairies, overnight,
Dressed it with shining candle light;
And threaded tinsel in and out,
With jewel balls hung all about.
At the top, to keep all well,
With a sparkling wand to cast a spell,
Good Fairy smiles, and takes kind care
Of all the presents that are there.

Description source: Warwick Daily News, 3 December 1954

Image source: Queensland State Archives Item ID 1640281

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Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

Christmas Waits.

The good old-fashioned custom of Christmas waits was observed in one or two directions, and the residents on River terrace, at any rate, or such as the melodious strains awakened, were delighted by some admirable selections of music, given with faultless taste and feeling, at an early hour of Christmas morning, by what appeared to be a compact little brass band, softened by a reed or two. The music performed had been chosen with evident care, and the effect, in the still, calm watches of the night, was exquisite.

Description source: The Telegraph, 25 December 1886

Image source: Queensland State Archives, Digital Image ID 5067

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Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

Christmas

Arrangements are being made in every household for Xmas and decorations are placed in all the shops. At the different stores an array of beautiful toys can be viewed, and it looks as though Santa will have a very busy time.

Description source: Balonne Beacon, 21 December 1950

Image source: Queensland State Archives Item ID 1640281

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Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

Romance of Food: Oranges

Oranges are commercially the most important of fresh fruits, since they grow in all sub-tropical countries and can be brought without difficulty across the seas to the world’s markets.
Originally, the orange grew wild in Eastern Asia. It was cultivated at an early date in Asia Minor and the Mediterranean region, establishing itself in the sunny, mild climate of Italy, Southern France, and Spain. Orange trees were taken to the West Indies, Brazil, and Florida by the Spaniards, and the Franciscan Fathers planted them in California. And they flourish in South Africa and Australia.
Orange groves with their delightful fragrance, alive with birds and bees, are a delight to the senses, and no industry could be more welcome to the country than the cultivation of the golden fruit.
Frost is the greatest enemy of the orange grower. In some districts there is a system of

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Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

The Blackall Ranges.
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Fruit Growing on the Top.
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Mr. Charles Ross, F.R.H.S. (instructor in fruit culture), has returned from a visit to the top of the Blackall Ranges. He travelled from Yandina to the foot of the ranges in a springcart, and thence “footed it” to the top. The locality visited bears the name of Coolloollabin.
Mr. Ross visited the district at the invitation of the local progress association. He states that several settlers both at the foot of the mountains and on top are growing bananas extensively, and are also giving some attention to cultivation of oranges. There is, says Mr. Ross, great variation of soil in the district, ranging from a good friable shaley loam to a strong volcanic loam. The tall varieties of bananas are doing remarkably well. The Cavendish bananas are a great success, and the growers say they pay best in the long

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Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

Eucalypts, commonly known as gum trees, form an integral part of the Australian identity with the bush. From the children’s song Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree through to the distinctive smell of eucalypts to iconic paintings and photographs, eucalypts are an essential part of Australian culture, featuring in art, music and literature.

The sight and smell of eucalypts are a defining part of Australian life. The sight of the blue haze from the eucalytpus oil arising from the bush in the mountain ranges of Sydney gave the Blue Mountains their name.

Eucalypts come in a great range of shapes and sizes – from tall trees to small shrubs. Eucalypts are a dominant part of the Australian flora. Eucalypts range across Australia – the only landscape they are completely absent from is the high alpine areas, although they are scarce in rainforests and in the arid

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Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

Plectronia is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the Rubiaceae family, and includes only one species: Plectronia parvifolia.

It is a plant from Burma and Malaysia. The leaves of this thorny bush are largely consumed by the natives in their curries. The pulp is attached to the seeds and eaten by the natives, but for the European taste, it is not very pleasant. In India the fruit is eaten by the Indians, and the leaves are also used as food and for the curries as a seasoning.

Description source: Wikipedia

Image source: Queensland State Archives, Digital Image ID 22449

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