A top hat and neck tie once owned by former Queensland Premier, Sir Gordon Chalk, has recently been acquired by the John Oxley Library.

Sir Gordon Chalk (1913 – 1991) was the 30th Premier of Queensland, being sworn in on 1 August 1968 after the sudden death of then Premier Jack Pizzey. Chalk was Premier for only a week, as Johannes Bjelke-Petersen was elected Premier on 8 August 1968.  He was the first, and so far only, Queensland Premier drawn from the modern day Liberal Party.

The top hat, made in England for Henry Bucks of Melbourne, was originally owned by optometrist Trevor Henderson. It was given to Sir Gordon Chalk by Charles Augustus ‘Big Bill’ Edwards, then president of the Lawn Tennis Association of Australia. The signatures of all three owners of the hat appear inside the lining.

After Sir Gordon Chalk’s death, his suits were donated to the Brisbane Arts Theatre by his wife, Lady Chalk. The suits were used as costumes for many productions at the theatre, but the top hat was never used, being kept in pristine condition in an antique leather hat box.

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The Hale Street Link Bridge and the Tank Street Bridge will soon provide two new cross-river links from the city to Brisbane’s south side via South Brisbane.  This inner Brisbane suburb, the home of the State Library of Queensland, has an interesting history and has always been closely associated with, and influenced by the development of the central business district.

The name ‘South Brisbane’ derives from the suburb’s position, on the south bank of the river, opposite ‘North Brisbane’, now the site of Brisbane’s central business district.

The area was originally criss-crossed with small creeks.  One watercourse, partly swamp, ran towards the river entering near the site of the Victoria Bridge.

The first sale of land in the South Brisbane area took place on 14 July 1842 in Sydney, with buyers paying from £42 to £100 for allotments.

During the convict period the land had been heavily used for agriculture with maize and other crops being cultivated.  By 1849 approximately forty houses existed in South Brisbane, mainly located along the principal streets – Stanley, Russell and Grey Streets.

Some early industries and businesses include:

• Hunter River Steam Navigation Company (1842)
• The Russell Street to Queen’s Wharf ferry known as the “Time Killer” due to the time taken to traverse the river
• Shipping/wharf facilities were a major activity
• South Brisbane Dry Dock constructed 1875-9 was superseded by the Cairncross Dock, which now survives as part of the Maritime Museum.  The dry dock serviced private, government and navy ships, including ships visiting Brisbane from overseas.  It also serviced submarines during World War Two.
• Cultural Precinct – State Library of Queensland, Queensland Performing Arts Complex, Griffith University/Queensland Conservatorium of Music, Queensland Art Gallery, Queensland Museum
• South Bank Parklands

South Brisbane Butter Co., ca. 1900.  Image No: 128864

The names of a number of early British politicians are commemorated by South Brisbane street names.  These include:

• Stanley Street – named in honour of Lord Stanley, Secretary of State for War and Colonies in the Peel Government.  Lord Stanley later became Prime Minister.

Stanley Street, 1889.  Image No: APO-002-0001-0021

• Peel Street – named in honour of Sir Robert Peel, Prime Minister.
• Grey Street – named for Henry George Grey, Secretary of State for War and Colonies in the Russell Government (1846-53).
• Merivale Street – named in honour of Merivale who was Permanent Under-Secretary of State for War & Colonies (1847-57).

Some significant dates in the history and development of South Brisbane include:

• 1863 – lobbying commenced for a bridge to be constructed across the Brisbane River from South Brisbane, due to the inadequacy of existing cross-river ferries.
• 1865 – the first temporary wooden bridge is built, later to be swept away by flood waters (1867).
• 1874 – the first permanent bridge across the Brisbane River is constructed (Victoria Bridge).  This bridge was also later swept away by flood waters (1893).

Victoria Bridge, 1884.  Image No: API-004-0001-0005

• 1875/79 – South Brisbane Dry Dock constructed.
• 1885/88 – the South Ward of the City of Brisbane was amalgamated with Woolloongabba to become the Borough of South Brisbane.
• 1893 – South Brisbane Town Hall is built.
• 1899 – Somerville House is founded by E.A. Fewings.  The school transferred to its present site, from Wickham Terrace, in 1919.
• 1903 – the City of South Brisbane was incorporated.
• 1910 – the Mater Hospital is established.

Mater Hospital, ca.1910.  Image No: APE-037-01-0004

• 1915 – St. Laurence’s College is established.
• 1925 – Brisbane State High School is established.

Find more photographs of South Brisbane in the State Library’s collection.

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Three new digital stories have been added to the Queensland Stories website. Two stories are by Ivan Roennfeldt, reflecting on his experiences in Hope Vale and Wujal Wujal, where he was involved with the Lutheran Church as a Pastor and administrator. The other is by Jarara Jackomos, who now works with AFL Cape York. This story was created during the course of the Hope Vale Digital Storytelling Project.

“This is my story” - “Gaju walan” meaning “I am strong”

“Hope Vale Water” - digging trenches to lay water pipes, Hope Vale, 1967

“Hope Vale’s War” - Monument to Hope Vale residents that died at Woorabinda

Ivan Roennfeldt’s stories complement the collection of photographs recently added to the John Oxley Library’s collections (Accession 7676 Pastor Roennfeldt Photographs). For those interested in the evacuation of community members from Hope Vale in WWII, there was a recent article in The Weekend Australian on 27-28 December by Kate Collins on p.17 headlined “The Secret PoWs of Cape York.”

Queensland Stories links

Hope Vale Water by Ivan Roennfeldt http://enc.slq.qld.gov.au/logicrouter/servlet/LogicRouter?PAGE=object&OUTPUTXSL=object_enc36ui.xslt&pm_RC=REPOMODS01&pm_OI=169&pm_GT=Y&pm_IAC=Y&api_1=GET_OBJECT_XML&num_result=0

Hope Vale’s War by Ivan Roennfeldt

http://enc.slq.qld.gov.au/logicrouter/servlet/LogicRouter?PAGE=object&OUTPUTXSL=object_enc36ui.xslt&pm_RC=REPOMODS01&pm_OI=168&pm_GT=Y&pm_IAC=Y&api_1=GET_OBJECT_XML&num_result=1

This is my story by Jarara Jackomos

http://enc.slq.qld.gov.au/logicrouter/servlet/LogicRouter?PAGE=object&OUTPUTXSL=object_enc36ui.xslt&pm_RC=REPOMODS01&pm_OI=170&pm_GT=Y&pm_IAC=Y&api_1=GET_OBJECT_XML&num_result=2

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The State Library of Queensland’s John Oxley Library celebrates its 75th anniversary this year, first opening to the public on 5 April 1934.  A range of programs, exhibitions and events will mark this important anniversary and these will be outlined progressively throughout the year. 

The John Oxley Library’s role within the State Library is heavily focused on the collection and provision of access to Queensland’s documentary history, however, the John Oxley Library itself also has an interesting history.  This history will be outlined in a number of separate blog posts throughout 2009 commencing with Part One today.

The genesis of the John Oxley Library lies in the growing interest in Queensland’s history and development, particularly in the period following Federation.  Having a similar genesis and also important to the establishment and evolution of the John Oxley Library was the Historical Society of Queensland, now the Royal Historical Society of Queensland (the Society) and its interactions with various groups and individuals within the early Queensland arts sector.

The Queensland Jubilee celebrations of 1909, combined with community enthusiasm about statehood in the period following Federation, encouraged some level of interest in Queensland history and culture.  Soon after, the Society was formally established (August 1913) with two main aims, the study of the history of Queensland, New Guinea and the nearby Pacific Islands and the collection and preservation of relevant historical material. Also, the Society was to be involved in the publication of relevant historical research as well as the collection and preservation of public records.   

But it was to be the Brisbane Centenary Celebrations of 1923/4 which first  raised significant public interest and awareness in Queensland’s history. 

Opening ceremony of the Brisbane centenary at Albert Square, Brisbane, 1924. Image no. 24773

 Crowds watching the Brisbane centenary celebrations, 1924. Image no. 201331

In August 1926, following the celebrations, the Celebrations Committee found itself with a surplus of some £2,000, which it then set aside for the following purposes:

1. The erection of a memorial to John Oxley in the form of a granite block with a suitable plaque.
2. The establishment of a memorial library to be called the Oxley Memorial Library of Queensland Literature (Oxley Memorial Library).  The proposed Oxley Memorial Library was originally intended to be part of the proposed Municipal Library of Brisbane.

The story of the John Oxley Library will be continued in Part Two soon.

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The State Library has been abuzz throughout the summer holidays with Circus activities for children and their parents continuing until 25 January.

Members of the public view collection materials.

It is not just the littlies who’ve been entertained. Circus displays including photographs, books, posters, tickets and newspapers from the State Library’s collections and a film from the National Film and Sound Archive showing Wirths Circus coming to Brisbane in the 1940s have proven to be very popular with “ladies and gentlemen, and children of all ages,” in the words of Barnum & Bailey’s ringmaster.

Among the members of the public attending the daily talks and displays (between 11.30 and 12.30) of circus related materials in the Fox Family White Gloves Room have been a number of past and present circus performers.

From left Danica Hilton, Chantel Rodriguez, Natasha Schultz, Monique Law, and Remi Rodriguez visit the Circus displays.

Chantel Rodriguez, daughter of circus matriarch Jan Ashton, and her nephew Remi both of Xsavia Circus inspected the display and discovered plenty of Ashton family memories. Danica Hilton currently performing with Cirque du Soleil in Macau was also in attendance with Monique Law and her friend Natasha Schultz, grandaughter of circus great Captain Fritz Schultz.

Barry Cannon, aka Beppo the Clown, recounted stories from his life as a circus clown and discovered a newspaper article from 1985 in the display titled “Beppo the clown turns 25″. Beppo is probably Australia’s most experienced full time professional clown and continues to perform his comedy juggling, cycling, hand balancing and novelty tricks.

Mr Carl Jossé of Redcliffe, who came to Australia from Speyer-on-Rhine in Germany in 1953, attended the Heritage displays with his wife Eleanor. Carl and his sister Freya both performed in Australian circuses in the early 1950s, including Wirths, Sole Bros and Sorlies.

Mr Carl Jossé today  Carl in New Zealand in 1954

Carl with Jonas Zilinskas in the early 1980s

Carl played accordian and clarinet and performed as an acrobat and clown whilst Freya amazed crowds with her highflying trapeze work, acrobatics and contortion acts.

Freya Jossé on the trapeze in Germany Freya in costume

Freya performed in Wirth’s Circus between 1952-53 with the famous Jonas Zilinskas before moving to New Zealand and then the USA where she worked for the Ringling Bros. She once performed for Queen Elizabeth II at London’s Royal Palladium before returning to Germany where she lives today.

Circuses have been a part Queensland’s popular culture since the earliest days of the colony and stories of circus life continue to fascinate. Come and share your circus memories and take in the Heritage Displays on level 4 of the State Library’s building at South Bank.

Many thanks to Carl and Eleanor for bringing in their photo album that includes images featured in this story.

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Some of the John Oxley Library’s most significant maps and charts, relating to the exploration and delineation of the land mass now known as Australia, are presently on display at the State Library’s Talbot Family Treasures Wall, Level 4.

The exhibition showcases some thirty rare maps, globes and related material, including:

• M. Flinders, The complete map of Australia (PART 1) from charts [to accompany] Captain Flinders’s ‘A voyage to Terra Australis’ London: G.& W. Nichol, 1814.
• R.Daintree, Map of Queensland shewing mineral areas, London: Sir Joseph Causton & Sons, [1882].

 R.Daintree, Map of Queensland shewing mineral areas, London: Sir Joseph Causton & Sons, [1882].

 M. Flinders, The complete map of Australia (PART 1) from charts [to accompany] Captain Flinders’s ‘A voyage to Terra Australis’ London: G.& W. Nichol, 1814.

The exhibition is on show until 22 March 2009.

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The recent opening of the Queensland State Tennis Centre at Tennyson is a significant milestone in the history of the area. 

The name of this Brisbane suburb probably derives from the name of the famous English poet Laureate, Lord Tennyson.  The original name of the area now comprising Tennyson was Soft Stone Pocket.

 Aerial view of Tennyson, 1946. Image no. 110614

One of the areas earliest settlers was Thomas Martin who held land in 1887 and constructed a residence which he named Hayslopes.

 Front view of the beautiful Hayslopes, a residence in Tennyson, Brisbane, 1932. Image no. 47509

The area’s association with Lord Tennyson extends to the names of many of the street names as well as the names of residences.  So, in honour of the names of many of Tennyson’s characters we have David, Merlin, Camelot, Lancelot and Vivian Streets.    We also have residences with the names Logres, Tintagel and Camelot.

Tennyson is now the home of Brisbane’s new tennis centre, replacing the former tennis venue located at Milton.

Find more photographs of Tennyson in the State Library’s collection.

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Just before Christmas we said good bye to our Manager, Original Materials, Jo Ritale who has taken up a position at the State Library of Victoria.

The equally popular Serena Coates has now been appointed to the position and will continue Jo’s good work looking after the John Oxley Library’s extensive collections of manuscripts, archival material, photographs and art works.

 New Manager, Original Materials, Serena Coates

Serena brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the position, in particular her in depth knowledge of the collections.  She previously held the position of Heritage Collecting Coordinator within the Heritage Collections Unit.

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The opening of the new Queensland State Tennis Centre, to be known as the Pat Rafter Arena, at Tennyson, is an important event in the long history of Queensland tennis.  This is a major achievement prompting many to remember the previous tennis centre located at Milton.

 Tennis player at Milton Tennis Centre.  Image no. 7708-0001-0160

The John Oxley Library holds a range of material relating to the history of tennis in Queensland, including photographs, newspaper clippings, printed material and ephemeral material.  The tennis related images held cover a wide range of places over a long time period, with many regional areas represented.

In order to mark the importance of tennis in Queensland and the opening of Queensland’s new tennis centre at Tennyson, the John Oxley Library will shortly undertake the digitisation of its tennis related photographs, with these to be made available through Picture Queensland.

Also, in the next few days, we will publish a brief post on the history of Tennyson.

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The history of Mitchelton will appear on a future segment within Channel Seven’s Great South East program.  The staff of John Oxley Library have been assisting with the research involved.

The name of the suburb derives from the Mitchell family who, together with the Nicholsons (John and William), the Keylers and the Duncan family were early settlers.  The Mitchell family arrived in the 1850s and Nicholas Mitchell later purchased 75 acres on the southern bank of Kedron Brook.  The family’s estate was called Mitchelton and was subsequently subdivided into smaller allotments.

The land was originally covered with iron bark forest which was a source of timber for various uses.

View of Mitchelton, ca. 1923.  Image No: 16226

Some early settlers, industries and businesses included:

• Chinese market gardens existed in the area facing the present Brookside Shopping Centre (1930s).

View of the Chinese market gardens.  Image No: 118864

• Edward and Hannah Pickering operated a vineyard at nearby Enoggera (1880s).

Samuel Taylor’s winery and vineyard, ca. 1915.  Image No: 49085

Some sites and buildings include:

• St. Matthew’s Anglican Church, built on land donated by early settlers John and Mary Nicholson.  The building was designed by the prominent and well known Colonial Architect, Charles Tiffin, who is said to have based his design on the church at Barford St. Martins, Wiltshire, England.  The foundation stone was laid by Sir George Ferguson Bowen, Queensland’s first Governor on 23 September, 1867.  The church building is believed to have been constructed from locally made bricks with the clay coming from a site near the intersection of the present Elsworthy Street and Grovely Terrace.
• Grovely Farm/Winery (late 1800s).  This enterprise was established by John and Mary Nicholson with their family name commemorated by Nicholson Street.  Grovely Terrace also commemorates this farm and vinyard and its alignment follows the drive that led to the Nicholson house (Grovely Lodge)

Grovely Lodge, 1948.  Image No: 46777

• Glen Retreat Winery (late 1800s).  This winery was established by John Lade with the name commemorated by Glen Retreat Road.  The winery was situated in the vicinity of the Kooya Road intersection, producing burgundy, claret, reisling and Queensland Madeira.
• Taylors Vineyard operated by the Taylor family.  This is commemorated by Taylors Road.
• Hurdcott Vineyard/Winery located in the vicinity of the present Hurdcott Street and South Pine Road.
• Auburn Winery.
• Surrenden Winery operated by the Lade family.
• The first picture theatre was established by John Nugent in Osbourne Road (1916) .  In 1923, renovations undertaken included the installation of a good guality dance floor.  During the 1920s and 1930s it was used as a community centre.  Following the theatre’s closure in 1959, the building was used as a skating rink.
• Brookside Shopping Centre – opened September 1971
• Mitchelton Shopping Centre.  Two Miss Lees (sisters) opened a general store in Blackwood Street in 1917.  Their brother, Alec, later became the postmaster for the area.

E. H. Bone’s General Store, Mitchelton.  Image No: 118979

Some important dates in Mitchelton’s history and development include:

• 1857 – land originally opened up for settlement with the first land purchased 30 January, 1857
• 1914 – Grovely State School (later Mitchelton State School) established.
• 1918 (2 March), a 1.3 kilometre section of the Dayboro branch railway line, linking Gaythorne to Mitchelton, was opened.
• 1926 (26 August), the Mitchelton Presbyterian Church was opened by Rev. W.H. Waters.

Find more photographs of Mitchelton in the State Library’s collection.

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