Category: Queensland State Archives’ Photostream About Fortitude Valley

Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

Deepen River To Take Big Ships

When the Brisbane River main channel, from the Pile Light to Hamilton, is dredged to 31ft., the largest ships trading to Australia will be able to visit Brisbane.

The Acting Treasurer (Mr. Walsh) announced on Monday that overseas tenders would be called to deepen the river between Pile Light and Brett’s Wharf, Hamilton.

Experts said yesterday that about 5 million tons of mud and clay would have to be dredged. The job would take two years.

It is understood that British, Norwegian, German, and Dutch firms have examined Brisbane River silt problems and that each will submit quotations when tenders are called, probably early next year.

A start on the big project is possible about June, 1952. At present the State dredge fleet clears 2,500,000 tons of mud from the river each year.

The Harbours and Marine Department Chief Engineer (Mr. E. C. Fison) said

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Overseas Passenger Ships For Brisbane?

Brisbane may win back this year the visits by major British tourist liners.

Orient Line’s 23,700-ton Orion may call at Brisbane on a Pacific cruise before the end of this year, and one of the P. & O. Co’s “Straths” is a likely caller also.

This would ease Brisbane’s fears that the withdrawal of the P. & O. liners Mooltan and Maloja last year would end the trade in big ships to Brisbane.

The Orient Line withdrew the liner Ormonde from the Brisbane rune in October. 1952, and so far has not announced any replacement.

Big liners to-day must make four trips from Britain to Australia to pay. If they go to Brisbane they could only make three.

But Brisbane has claimed that Queensland has a cargo and passenger right to see the bigger, better ships.

Its port facilities have improved, its river is deeper (because of

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Tenders for the New Dredge.

The Government has authorised the Agent-General to call tenders in Great Britain for the new dredge for work in the Brisbane River. The vessel, as already stated in the “Courier,” will be a twin-screw combined suction and grab dredge, with one trailing suction pipe and four grabs. It will be 214 feet long, 38 feet broad, and 17 feet 6 inches deep, and will have a speed of 10 knots an hour.

The capacity of the hoppers will be 27,000 cubic feet, which is equal to that of three ordinary barges. The dredging depth of the new vessel will be 40 feet. A number of British firms are expected to tender. Although there are patents to be used in the dredge, it is stated that several firms have the license to use these patents, and that therefore some competition may be

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Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

Survey Of Northern Harbours

Brisbane, March 21, – A Harbours and Marine Department survey vessel will undertake a survey of two northern sugar ports within three weeks.

The surveys are of the important ports of Mourilyan Harbour and Lucinda Point. The Department’s chief engineer, Mr. E. C. Fison, said tonight that the latest sounding equipment would be used. The Mourilyan work would be the first complete survey since 1877.

The survey launch Ferret would carry the echo sounding equipment. Mr. Fison said preliminary work would be carried out by a shore party. The Ferret would later go to Lucinda Point to establish whether there is a suitable ship channel in to the harbour, which would make a shorter route than the present channel.

Description source:
Townsville Daily Bulletin, 22 March 1954

View the original image at the Queensland State Archives:
Digital Image ID 4969

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Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

Down River Wharves For Brisbane

The decision of the Government to fill in the big inlet behind the Hamilton wall, about three miles downstream, to create greater room for industries, is the final blow to any hope of the creation of a great system of wharves for Brisbane, writes our Brisbane correspondent.

The late Mr. Cullen, engineer for harbours and rivers, suggested a scheme many years ago for the development of the river down-stream. He advocated the building of the wharves at Hamilton, and suggested the creation of a wet dock in the big inlet between the river and Pinkenbah-road to cater for 20 ships. This scheme would have provided the city with a system of wharfage which would have catered for almost any future need, but it is to be discarded. Instead, the inlet is to be reclaimed, and the built-up area added to the other

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Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

Wharf Delay Holds Up Ship In Bay

Because not enough wharf labourers have been assigned to unloading a ship in the Brisbane River, another ship will be held up for at least six days in Moreton Bay.

Mr. A. M. Wilson, Queensland manager of H. C. Sleigh and Co., said that yesterday.

He said his company’s 5000-ton Norwegian freighter Hoegh Silvercloud had been anchored since Thursday night near the old Pile Light because only one wharf gang was unloading a log cargo from the freighter Dalia.

No berth would be vacant for the Hoegh Silvercloud until Wednesday or Thursday next week.

The delay would cost the ship’s owners at least £2000 Mr. A.M Wilson added.

…

Because of the hold-up to the Hoegh Silvercloud, passengers were offered air transport to Sydney at the company’s expense.

A specially chartered launch yesterday made a 30-mile round trip to the ship to bring back passengers who

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Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

The design and construction of fire engines focuses greatly on the use of both active and passive warnings. Passive visual warnings involve the use of high contrast patterns to increase the noticeability of the vehicle.

These types of warnings are often seen on older vehicles and those in developing countries. More modern designs make use of retroreflectors to reflect light from other vehicles. Vehicles will also often have these reflectors arranged in a chevron pattern along with the words fire or rescue.

Along with the passive warnings are active visual warnings which are usually in the form of flashing coloured lights (also known as “beacons” or “lightbars”). These flash to attract the attention of other drivers as the fire truck approaches, or to provide warning to drivers approaching a parked fire truck in a dangerous position on the road. While the fire truck is headed to towards

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Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

Atherton seeks new fire engine

Atherton – Photos of various types of British fire engines carrying water tanks of from 1000 to 4000 gallons, 35 feet extension ladders, and pumps with a capacity of from 250 to 750 gallons per minute were shown to members of Atherton Fire Brigade Board by the Chief Officer, Mr. C. E. Ball.

The Atherton Board may purchase a new engine this financial year. Mr. Ball said that he favored the engine illustrated with a 400 gallon tank, a Dennis pump of 500 gallons capacity, and which was also fitted with 150 feet of rubber hose to which was attached a three-eighth inch nozzle.

The hose was supplied from the 400 gallon tank, and was intended for use at fires which did not necessitate the use of canvas hose, of which the fire engine could carry more than 1500 feet.

There was cabin accommodation

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Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

Delay on fire engine work

Atherton – We had expressed disappointment to the firm in Cairns that the fitting of a water tank and body to the chassis for the fire engine to be stationed at Malanda had taken so long, said the Chairman, Cr. J.G. Winfield, at Eacham Fire Brigade Board.

There was a letter from the Department of Health and Home Affairs approving of acceptance of an estimate from the Cairns firm for £279/10/- for the work.

Cr. Winfield said on receipt of that letter he instructed the firm to proceed with it. When he called at the firm’s building about 14 days ago the work had not been commenced.

He expressed his disappointment, and was assured they would continue with the job until it was completed.

Mr. S H. Cleminson: Did they say when it would be completed?
Cr. Winfield: Not definitely but they did say it should

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Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

Fire-Hose Comedy.

An unrehearsed incident accompanied the naming ceremony of a new motor fire engine in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, England, recently.

The new engine, which replaces a manual fire-engine which had been in use for the last 76 years was named “Alert” by the wife of the chairman of the parish council.

During the subsequent display by the brigade, when one of the firemen was holding the hose the water was unexpectedly turned on. Another fireman standing close by was bowled over and had his helmet sent flying by the force of the water.

In his anxiety to save his colleague further discomfiture the first fireman swung the nozzle round, with the result that the stream caught a group of spectators, who hastily scattered, but not before many had been knocked over and drenched.

Description source:
Western Mail, 12 April 1928

View the original image at the Queensland State Archives:
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