Category: Kangaroo Point

Weddings in the historic cliff-top St Mary’s Anglican Church at Kangaroo Point are always special. However, the wedding of Vilma Fay Grant to Dr Robert Scott must stand out as being extra special and memorable.

On Saturday, 16 December 1950, Vilma Fay Grant, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. V. Grant of Kangaroo Point, celebrated her wedding in the church built by her great great grandfather, Mr. Alfred Grant.

In 1871, Mr. Alfred Grant commenced the building of the church, which was completed and consecrated in 1873. (see more about St Mary’s in the Churches page)

The Courier Mail of the day reported it as follows:

These two photos show typical streets in Kangaroo Point in 1935.

Houses and street construction in Darragh Street. Forms have been laid for the construction of footpaths and kerbs. Several workmen are consulting on the construction of a retaining wall on an adjacent residential property.

A quiet residential street on 21 June, 1935.

 

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.

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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:

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.

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.

 

The first forms of transport in the early days of the colony were bullock drays which could haul heavy loads across rough tracks. Pack horses and pack mules were also used. Once settlement increased and roads were formed, horses and waggons took over from the bullocks.

For many years local businesses delivered their goods by horse and cart and the sound of the clip clop of horses and the smell of their dung became an important part of daily life. Bread, milk, fruit and vegetables, and many general goods were delivered this way until the early 1970’s, although motorised vans already started make an appearance in the 1920s.

Can you imagine painting the iconic Brisbane Story Bridge structure, 44m above the roadway and 80m above the Brisbane River, without safety harnesses or scaffolds, just planks to walk and sit on? Well, that’s how it was done in the 1950s!  Seems scary or even crazy to us now, but they were agile and used to it and many even smoked on the job! Obviously they had no fear of heights and enjoyed the views.

These three photos from Sandra Hobbins’ family album show how her father, Eric Hobbins, and his offsider carried out their work for over 25 years from the 1950s. “It took them six years to paint the first undercoat, then back again to do the top coat.” Sandra’s father was also a tap dance teacher, which might explain his agility.

According to Council records, currently (2018) the bridge is repainted every seven years using 17,500 litres of paint and covering 105000 square metres of steel surfaces.

 

 

Not everyone lived in workers cottages in the early days of Kangaroo Point. There were many well-to-do families who built stylish houses and had a busy social life.  One example is the ‘Residence’, a two-storey brick house with sash windows and arched porch, possibly 23 Walmsley Street, Kangaroo Point, home of the Hughes family. (Description supplied with photograph.) The front garden is laid out with flower beds and shrubs,(photo and text: SLQ #70335).

This family group photograph also shows their clothing and the rich furnishings of the room’s interior. To the left of the group is a whatnot stand (an antique stand with shelves for small objects) and a metal photograph frame. The two older girls and Mrs Hughes are all wearing their hair in an upswept style. 

Mr and Mrs George Hughes with their two daughters pictured in the garden of their home. The family are posing together with cane chairs and there is a small cane table covered with a lace cloth.

The residence which was built in 1890-91 is now listed on the Brisbane Local Heritage Register. Here are a two pictures of how it looked in 1999 and 2005.

 

 

Ferries have always been an important and popular means of crossing the  river from Edward Street or Eagle Street in the city to Thornton Street in Kangaroo Point. Here are some pictorial reminders of the changes over time.