Trams used to be an important means of transport in Brisbane. The first tram rolled along tracks from Logan Road at Woolloongabba to the southern end of the Victoria Bridge on June 21, 1897. The Brisbane Tramways Company started with 20 trams and expanded to almost 200 more modern trams and trolley buses.
With the rise of cars and a massive fire that gutted a major depot, tram patronage declined. Trams were gradually replaced by the more economical motorised buses. The last trams ran in April 1969. Today many people look back on the tram era with nostalgia and regret.
Here’s a summary of trams in Brisbane:
Overview of trams in Brisbane.
The first trams in 1885 were pulled by horses. They were replaced by electric trams in June 1897.
Horse-drawn tram in Woolloongabba.
Strap hangers on a crowded tram in 1937.
Crowds of people turn out in the streets of Brisbane to farewell the military contingent 1914.
Ian Gall cartoon captioned Lady with a Punch recruiting female tram conductors during WWII.
Tram covering the route from Woolloongabba to Breakfast Creek in 1886.
Accidents did happen! fortunately this one had a good outcome.
The RSPCA of today would be happy with this notice. In the days when horses were an important means of transporting people and goods, it is hard to imagine how owners could mistreat them. Unfortunately instances of cruelty to horses were fairly common, but it is good to see that penalties were also imposed. The fine of two pounds in 1929 would be about $150 today. A horse wither is the ridge between the shoulder blades.
Mother’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday in May in most English-speaking countries. This article in the Brisbane Courier of 12 May 1930 describes the origins of Mother’s Day.
The Courier Mail, Saturday 12 May 1934, page 11.
WHITE FLOWER ON MOTHERS’ DAY -Story of a Beautiful Custom
BADGE OF CHIVALRY
Tomorrow, the second Sunday in May, every part of the English speaking world will celebrate Mother’s Day, and men and women in every walk of life will wear a white flower in honour of Mother.
This beautiful custom, which is entirely free from mawkish sentiment, has associations of simple grandeur and dignity to the thoughtful man or woman to whom the word Mother is symbolic of all that is best and noblest in womanhood.
Just as in mediaeval times, the white flower was an emblem of the chivalry of knighthood, which held all women in reverence, so in the modern age, disfigured by a materialism that often makes men lose sight of spiritual things, the little white flower survives as the badge, the insignia of every true man’s innate chivalry to womanhood, idealised by his mother.
OLD ENGLISH CUSTOM
The beginning of the Mothers’ Day observance has been traced to the United States, but in its turn the movement derived its origin from the old English custom of Mothering Sun day. English provincial life is rich in beautiful customs which have been handed down from preceding generations, and faithfully observed with quaint and simple dignity.
One day in Lent is always observed in some counties as Mothering Sunday. On that day there is a happy family reunion around the fireside, with mother in the place of honour, enthroned in the most comfortable chair, radiantly happy with her sons and daughters around her. They have travelled from near and far to do honour to her on this one day of family reunion.
Among them is, perchance, the wanderer who has sailed in ships to the
uttermost parts of the earth, and found, like Sinbad, ‘strange islands far beyond the setting sun.’ Living the rough life of the men of the sea, rubbing shoulders with men of all nationalities, he has not forgotten the mother who waits for his return in the little seaport town, and he is numbered among the family gathering on this the mother’s proudest day of the
The way people shopped for their everyday needs in the late 19th and early 20th century was quite different from how it is done today. One of the most important shops was the General Store which was usually a family-run business with owners living on or close to the premises. The stores were usually very well organised with different types of goods in distinct sections, e.g. fabric, clothing and haberdashery would be on one side, food on the other, and hardware at the back of the shop. There might be a cold room or cellar to keep perishables. Dry goods such as flour and sugar were kept in bins under the counter. Friendly, personal service was the norm and shopkeepers generally knew their customers well.
W. Smallbone store in 1913, a typical general store of the time.Advertisement in the Daily Standard , 9 August, 1913.
A good example of the general store of the 1900s is W. Smallbone in Wellington Road, Kangaroo Point (now East Brisbane) in 1913. The picture shows a typical store of the time. Note the horse and cart and lady in elegant dress on a bike. A variety of goods at good prices is offered and personal service emphasised.
The advertisement offers city prices, phone orders and deliveries.
It was meant to be a beautiful ornamental aquatic plant, but turned into one the world’s worst water weeds. Water hyacinth was introduced to Australia as an ornamental aquatic plant and released into ponds and lagoons in metropolitan Brisbane and public parks all over Queensland in the early 1900s. However, due to its rapid spread and extensive root system it soon became a major pest of rivers, creeks and dams, choking wetlands, killing wildlife and interfering with transport and recreational use of the waterways. Today infestations are controlled by a combination of mechanical, biological and herbicide treatments.
The plant started to become a major problem in the Brisbane River in 1901 as it was swept downstream as far as the city reaches after flooding upstream. Infestations have continued periodically since then, as shown in these pictures near Kangaroo Point from the 1960s.
River hyacinth infestation on the river near Kangaroo Point ca. 1960. (State Library of Queensland. ID: 6668-0001-0010)
Ferry trying to get through a water hyacinth infestation at Kangaroo Point in 1964. (National Library of Australia 1483961431-1)
The most effective control method is removal and eradication by herbicide. This news item is a call for action to remove the deadly weed as it makes river navigation difficult and often impossible.
A story with a difference. News item from The Daily Standard, 13 February 1929.
Part 1:
Part 1 of news article
Read on for Part 2:
…..Robert Jones (31), carpenter, on remand, was charged with having, on February 4, at Main Street, Kangaroo Point, broken and entered the dwelling house of Bertram A. Reader, and stolen goods to the value ot £56 I8s 11d, therefrom.
Witness Reid, an inspector for the Queensland National Bank, stated that about 8.30 p.m. on the date of the charge, a woman came to the gate of his home and told him somethlng, in consequence of which he went down Main Street in the direction of the ferry.
On the corner of the ferry street witness saw a man, at whose feet were two leather cases, and on whose arm was a travelling rug.
Witness said to him, “Did you just come up the footpath from towards the hotel?” Defendant replied, “No, I came in the opposite direction.”
Witness said, “There have been several burglaries round here. I’m looking for a man who came out of the Reader’s premises just now.”
Defendant replied: “My name is Jones. I’m Perdriau’s* traveller, and I can assure you that I am all right.”
The dialogue relating to the neighborly act, to which defendant replied he would do as witness was doing were he in his position then took place.
Defendant moved towards the ferry, and going through the turnstile he just missed the boat. Witness said; “I must apologise for making you miss your boat, old man.”
Defendant then told witness that it was all right, and in response to the latter’s intention to go and look for the right man, defendant said, “My name is McLaughlin. I’m Perdriau’s traveller.”
Said witness, “You told me only five minutes ago that your name was Jones.”
Witness then went, home and got into touch with the police. Later, in company with the complainant, witness saw some of the missing property at the Water Police depot.
A further remand was granted until February 19.
*Perdriau may refer to the Perdriau Rubber Company which was established in 1904 and in 1929 merged with Dunlop becoming the Dunlop Perdriau Co. Ltd.
The Woolloongabba Cricket Ground, aka THE GABBA, was established in 1895 , with a capacity of 37,000, lush grassy banks, and beautiful Moreton Bay fig trees for shade. The first match was played on 19 Dec 1896 between ParliamenT and The Press, resulting in a tie with 61 runs each.
21 February 1899 – an Intercolonial match in progress1931 – a huge crowd watch test match between Australia and South Africa
The first Test Match was on 27 Nov 1931 against South Africa. The first player to score a Test century at the Gabba was the great Donald Bradman when he scored 226 against South Africa in 1931.
A famous moment: the deciding run-out in the first ever tied test, Australia vs West Indies.
The grass and fig trees have sadly been replaced by modern concrete stands and facilities – capacity has also been increased to 42,000, now known as the Brisbane Cricket Ground. ( Photos SLQ).
Comments:
Bruce G:Just as Lang Park will always be Suncorp to us baby boomers, the Brisbane Cricket Ground will always be THE GABBA
John G: I remember listening on the ABC to the tied test. Legendary commentator Alan MacGilvray had left the ground to catch a flight when he thought Australia would easily win. Little did he imagine what would follow. In the last over Australia needed seven runs with three wickets in hand including the captain and legend Richie Benaud. Mayhem was to follow with the Aussies losing two wickets before the last ball was to be bowled with them needing one run to win the match. As shown in the famous photos Windies fieldsman Joe Solomon ran out Ian Meckiff as the last two Aussie batsmen scrambled for a single and victory. They didn’t make it, resulting in the first ever tied Test.
Darcy M: It was more interesting as racetrack for Galloways. Much more interesting. Still have an original racebook.
I guess in these days of technology we wouldn’t find romance in a butcher’s knife – but things were different in 1922. Here’s an interesting snippet from the Daily Mercury, 18 Feb. 1922.
from The Daily Mercury 13 February 1922.
Typical butchers in early 1900s with meat on chopping blocks and carcasses hanging inside the shop.
This must have been an amazing sight in the 1960s at the busy intersection, known as the Gabba Fiveways where Logan and Ipswich Roads meet Stanley and Main Streets. Trains, trams, buses, trolleybuses and cars are travelled through the intersection.
One of the last trains to cross the Fiveways, 1967.
When a steam train needed to cross, a railway signalman would walk in front waving a red flag and ringing a bell to stop the traffic. He was known as ‘the bell man’ and children loved running alongside the train. It was always a crowd stopper and memorable sight.
The last train ran in 1967 and the last tram in 1969.
Customers are treated to personal service at Coffey Pharmacy, previously Kangaroo Point Pharmacy, located at 687 Main Street, directly opposite the Pineapple. It has been run by the Coffey family for over sixty years.
With over 20 years’ experience, pharmacist Craig Coffey is passionate about sharing the knowledge from his family tradition to care for the residents of KP and surrounding areas. Their motto is to put customers’ health and wellbeing above profit.
Old glass jars filled with raw materials labelled in the original Latin names are a visible reminder of the bygone days of how medicines used to be dispensed.
