Collecting and preserving the history of Kangaroo Point, East Brisbane, Woolloongabba and South Brisbane.
How things change! A view of the corner of Elfin and Latrobe Streets in the 1920 showing typical wooden houses and tram tracks – Cr Elfin & Latrobe Sts.
A very different street view in 2018 – the tram tracks have gone, the roads are paved with clear lane markings.
Another Clarence Corner success story. Robert Lenehan was a highly regarded chemist located at 582 Stanley Street. He bought his first chemist shop from Thomason Chater Ltd in 1908. The building was later demolished and replaced with the Lenehan Building.
The two-storey building is situated on a corner at the Fiveways. A wide verandah covers the footpath and advertising signs cover the edges of the verandah roof. One wall above the verandah advertises the Fiveways Pharmacy and also the Clarence, opposite Annerley Road. There are several people on the footpath including a young boy and two small children.
Robert Lenehan was highly regarded as a businessman and member of the local community. He built up a successful pharmacy business and was on the Pharmacy Board for some years. He also had an avid interest in sailing, bowls and the Masonic Lodge. He lived in a residence at the corner of Vulture and King Streets.
His death notice in the Brisbane Courier, 20 February 1932 clearly outlines his many achievements.
Photos and descriptions courtesy of SLQ.
Snow in Woolloongabba in July? – Yes, in 1882!
It seems that unseasonal weather conditions started a long time ago. Westerly winds and temperatures of 11 degrees Celsius resulted in snow in the Gabba, South Brisbane and parts of the city.
Here’s a news item from the Melbourne Argus with the details.
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:
The first trams in 1885 were pulled by horses. They were replaced by electric trams in June 1897.
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
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
