On Saturday 31 October the John Oxley Library White Gloves Tour continued to Longreach. As the sun went down on a beautiful outback afternoon the Oxley’s treasures were displayed in the charming interior of the Stockman’s Hall of Fame, R.M. Williams Cottage. Adjacent to the cottage 150 locals were gathered for the latest At Our Table banquet held in the Cattlemen’s Bar and Grill.

On the following Monday afternoon locals made their way to the Longreach Library where they donned the white gloves and examined the John Oxley Library materials on display. These included a range of items relating to the central west including fascinating letters from Aramac Station written in 1889, a scrapbook kept by John Howe, son of the famous shearer Jackie Howe, the first QANTAS Log Book from 1921, and Queensland’s earliest known handwritten journal of recipes and remedies from 1866.

Thanks to Carmen from the Longreach Library and the hospitality and interest shown by the people of Longreach. Thankyou also to those who shared their stories and donated materials to the John Oxley Library collection during this fantastic White Gloves Tour to the Central West.

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Did you know that the site of Brisbane’s proposed new Supreme and District Court complex was the location of our city’s first water supply?  The site, bounded by George, Roma and Turbot streets, was the location of the Roma Street Reservoir which was constructed by convicts in 1838 to create a water source for the new colony.  Convicts, under the direction of Captain Logan, built an earth dam across the creek between Roma and Little Roma Streets.  A pipline made of hollow hardwood logs carried the water down the hill to the soldiers’ barracks near Queen and George Streets, and from there to the commandant’s house in Queens Gardens.  The engravings below from 1865 show the reservoir in the bottom image in the right foreground.

  View of Brisbane, 1865.  Image No: 19422

In 1842 Brisbane was opened to free settlement and as the population grew added pressure was put on the reservoir.  Many complaints about the putrid quality of the water appeared in the pages of the Moreton Bay Courier including the following:

“We need only point to the neglected condition of the public reservoir at North Brisbane, upon which that section of the town is chiefly dependant for its supply, to prove the utter indifference hitherto displayed in this respect.  Constructed for the purpose of collecting and preserving the waters that drain from the hills in the vicinity; reserved from sale as a public property for the purpose, the reservoir is still abondoned to the destructive ravages of wanton neglect.  Its embankments are gradually being washed away, and the water that should be saved for a time of need is allowed to drain off whithersoever chance may guide it.  The basin is open alike to the uses of herds of cattle, of stray pigs, dogs and horses.”  (Moreton Bay Courier, 23/3/1850, p.2)

“Sir - I must crave space in the columns of your journal to draw the attention of the authorities concerned to the present state of the Reservoir, and quality of the water we are compelled to drink.  It does not need any scientific knowledge to see at once the impurity of the water - full of animal and vegetable life, and thickened by the visits of cattle, horses, ducks, &c., stirring up the mud and giving it a body.”  (Moreton Bay Courier, 24/10/1857, p.2)

The Roma Street Reservoir remained the main source of water until 1866 when thankfully the Enoggera Reservoir was constructed.

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Meriba Gidhal: Torres Strait Island Treasures of the Margaret Lawrie Collection Exhibition was officially opened by Her Excellency, Ms Penelope Wensley AO, Governor of Queensland, on the evening of 21st October, 2009 at the John Oxley Library.

Lillian Noah (IKC staff), Elizabeth Fa’Aoso (curator), Her Excellency Ms Penelope Wensley AO and Segar Passi (Murray Island artist)

This exhibition is part of the Q150 and John Oxley Library 75th anniversary celebrations. It creates an insight into Torres Strait Islander culture, with stories depicted in art form and photography.  These images express the spiritual connection of Torres Strait Islanders with their ‘mother land’.

The stories describe the physical and geographical formation of the land and sea, flora and fauna, the sky and the natural elements.  They reaffirm the creation and existence of the Torres Strait and its people.  On the night there was an atmosphere of great pride, excitement, energy and appreciation.  The event was attended by Torres Strait Islander Elders, Torres Strait community members, Brisbane Traditional Owners, family of the late Mrs Margaret Lawrie, regional Indigenous Knowledge Centre Coordinators and dignitaries.

  Members of the Lawrie family

Governor Ms Penelope Wensley, Indigenous Knowledge Centre Administrators and Cairns State Library staff

Mr Segar Passi of Murray Island, the last surviving artist who worked with the late Margaret Lawrie, and whose work features in the exhibition, attended with his two daughters and grandchildren.

  Segar Passi with his grandchildren

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We’ve just finished installing the latest Treasures Wall exhibition on Level 4 – Meriba Gidhal: Torres Strait Island Treasures of the Margaret Lawrie Collection.  The install is the culmination of many months of preparation, and it is very satisfying to finally see all the collection and loan items up on display. 

 ”Amipuru” by Ephraim Bani, 1967.  Call No: TR 1791/349

Exhibition installation can be an exhausting few days – climbing in and out of the wall; carrying table-tops and fitting mounts;  getting artworks hanging in just the right spot; adjusting lights; stretching and bending and squeezing in to small spaces! But at the end of the day it is lovely to look back on what you’ve done and see the transformation of an empty space in to a colourful display.  It’s one of the highlights of our job.

For the Exhibitions Conservation team, the preparation of items for Meriba Gidhal has primarily involved mounting and framing the watercolour paintings and pencil drawings, and preparing the loan items for mounts. For every item there are photographs taken and condition reports written, mount assessments done and light levels established. Behind the scenes has been a flurry of activity. We breathe a sigh of relief that everything has been safely installed, and we now begin work on the next one!

 Watercolour by Kala Waia.  Call No: TR 1791/345

 The exhibition opens tonight and will be on display until February 28, 2010.  Enjoy!

 Rhiannon Walker - Exhibitions Conservator

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Throughout 2009, the John Oxley Library has been celebrating its 75 years of existence with a range of programs and events to mark this significant milestone. It has also been a time to reflect on the value of the collection and those who have contributed to its growth. 

It is thanks to the generosity of donors that many of our remarkable collection items are available to researchers in the John Oxley Library Reading Room.

In September, a special morning tea, organised by the Queensland Library Foundation, was held in the State Library of Queensland’s boardroom. The Governor-General, Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce AC and Mr Michael Bryce AM AE joined the State Librarian, Ms Lea Giles-Peters, and her staff to thank the many donors in attendance for their wonderful contributions to the John Oxley Library.

Among the valued guests present were Mrs Joyce Hewitt, who had donated a diary written by Ms Lucy Adams whilst on voyage from Ipswich to England in 1866 and a letter from the bushranger James Macpherson, written from Brisbane Gaol in 1869. Mrs Hewitt’s Great-Great Uncle was the turnkey at Brisbane Gaol at that time.

Well known former Brisbane TV personality, Mr Hugh Cornish, also enjoyed the event. Hugh donated his entire archive to the John Oxley Library and this provides a great insight into his personal and public life.

Hugh is seen pictured above with Ms Shirley Lahey, who has donated artworks, papers, and awards belonging to her aunt, the famous artist Vida Lahey.

We are always interested in collecting materials that document Queensland’s unique history, so if you have something tucked away under a bed, or at the back of a cupboard, please consider the benefit to future generations of donating these precious items to the State Library of Queensland. 

Contact the Heritage Collections Unit on 38407880 for more information.

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The new Kurilpa Bridge, linking Kurilpa Point in South Brisbane to Tank Street in the Brisbane CBD, was officially opened on Sunday 4th October by the Queensland Premier Anna Bligh. The name of the bridge comes from an Indigenous name for West End.

The $63.3 million Kurilpa Bridge, designed and constructed by Baulderstone Pty Ltd., is the world’s largest tensegrity pedestrian and cycle bridge which balances tension and compression components to produce a light but incredibly strong structure.

The cables and flying struts are designed to resemble the ropes and spars of sailing ships and boats. There are two large viewing and relaxation platforms, two rest areas, and a continuous all-weather canopy along the entire length of the bridge.

The bridge completes a pedestrian and cycle loop between the city and South Bank via the Goodwill Bridge and serves as a link between the cultural precinct and the Brisbane CBD.

State Library has a large collection of photographs of bridges, including bridge openings.

  Official opening of the Indooroopilly Toll Bridge, 1932. Image No: 181335

  Crowds of people gathered for the opening of the William Jolly Bridge, 1932. Image No: 34276

The Kurilpa Bridge is the most recent of the Brisbane bridges. Why not check out our photographs of other Brisbane bridges on slideshare or The Commons on Flickr.     
 

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Last Friday evening, State Library was first to screen the Common Ground 2009 slideshow. The slideshow contained over 400 images from cultural organisations which have images in The Commons on Flickr and was curated (chosen) by Flickr members.

Common Ground event, Queensland Terrace

Greg Poppleton (Sydney Educational Radio’s Phantom Dancer) mixed some amazing tunes to accompany the historic images on the slideshow.

“The images are amazing. There are happy, sad, funny and cute images and also ones that make you think and ones that are unexpected. Some show ordinary people doing ordinary things, while others are extraordinary and make you gasp. They demonstrate not only the differences between the collections from which they are drawn, but also the things that are the same, the common ground” (Liz Holcombe, Australian War Memorial).

This event was also hosted, around the globe, by other members of The Commons.

In Australia, The Powerhouse Museum and the State Library of New South Wales joined forces in Sydney and the Australian War Memorial in Canberra also participated.

In the Northern Hemisphere, George Eastman House, State Library and Archives of Florida, Oregon State University Archives, Brooklyn Museum together with the New York Public Library and the Swedish National Heritage Board all hosted events at various times over the weekend.

If you missed the event, you can still see the images in this slideshow on Flickr Commons and read the Common Ground wrap-up on the indicommons blog.

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A two hour presentation on Irish records filled the State Library’s auditorium 2 to capacity this morning, proving once again that there are more than a few sons and daughters of Erin in our midst with a passion for tracing their family history.

Senior Family History Librarian Stephanie Ryan covered the range of materials available to researchers including maps, directories, county records, books, indexes, reports and online resources such as Ask about Ireland.

Interesting insights into the historical context of Irish immigration to Australia were provided and key documents were considered such as Griffith’s valuation of Ireland 1848-1864 and reports on the potato famine of the 1840s, including the Devon Commission: Report from Her majesty’s Commissioners of Inquiry into the State of the Law and Practice in respect of the Occupation of Land in Ireland: with minutes of evidence, supplements, appndices and index, 1845.

The State Library’s Family History Unit has a guide titled Resources for Irish history: a select list available onsite and a range of other useful information guides available via the State Library of Queensland’s website.

Thanks to Stephanie for her entertaining, informative talk and to all who attended.

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Two local studies librarians, Jamie Treble from Logan City Council Libraries and Kyla Stephan from Gold Coast City Council Libraries recently took part in the Storylines - Q150 digital story workshops.

Jamie has told an evocative story about the floods that passed through Logan in 2008. Kyla shares the tale about Southport’s World War I digger memorial and all the places he has been stationed. For more information about the project and other stories that people have made, visit the Storylines website.

On 18 September local studies librarians and staff from the John Oxley Library attended the South-East Queensland local studies librarians meeting. During the meeting, attendees discussed the multitude of interesting projects they’re involved in. Below are just two examples.

 Southport’s Digger, by Kyla Stephan

 Let the rivers run, by Jamie Treble

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Common Ground – a global meet up celebrating The Commons on Flickr will be held at the State Library of Queensland. This event will also be hosted, around the globe, by other members of The Commons.

The event in Brisbane will consist of a large projection onto the screen in the State Library’s stunning Queensland Terrace using a slideshow of content from The Commons on Flickr participating institutions that is curated by its community of users – making the Flickr Commons go ‘live’ through a connected slideshow. This special event will include images from Picture Queensland – the State Library of Queensland’s image library.

Light refreshments will be served.

When 6pm, Fri 2 Oct
Where Queensland Terrace, level 2
RSVP to marketing@slq.qld.gov.au (acceptances only Thurs 1 Oct)

  Cherry Walker modelling swimsuits at Surfers Paradise, 1951.  Image No: 181603

  Asking for Gary Cooper’s autograph, November 1943.  Image No: 105715

  Crocodile bagged on the Herbert River. ca. 1930.  Image No: 6670-0001-0034

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