In my local history research, from time to time I’ve come across references to a Dutton Park Rosicrucian temple, with veiled references to strange goings on. It’s also been mentioned to me by a few long term residents of nearby streets such as David Lang (The Lang Family of Rosecliffe Street).

When I finally started to dig into the story, I soon realised that it would be the most bizarre piece of local history that I will have written to date.

A little Rosicrucian history

There are various opinions regarding the origin of Rosicrucianism. Some point to the now generally regarded as mythical figure of Christian Rosenkreuz, who lived in the 14th century and is said to have travelled to the Near East from where he brought back the truth of ages. Others see its beginnings in three anonymous and influential books written in Germany during the 17th century.

In any event, a central Rosicrucianism belief is that its adherents possess secret wisdom that was handed down to them from ancient civilisations such as those in Egypt, India, Persia and Greece.

After a period of popularity, interest in Rosicrucianism declined during the 18th century Enlightenment period with its scientific discoveries and increased skepticism of the occult.

The later 19th and early 20th century saw a renewal of interest in the United States and Europe. One prominent figure in his period was Max Heindel, born Carl Louis van Grasshoff, who was born in Denmark but travelled at an early age to Scotland where he had an unhappy marriage. In 1896, he migrated alone to the USA and changed his name to Heindel.

After a period in the Theosophist Society, he became a Rosicrucian and claimed to have received teachings from an “Elder Brother”, or one who after many lives has reached a higher state of evolution. In 1909 published a book entitled “The Rosicrucian Cosmo-Conception” and founded the Rosicrucian Fellowship.

Heindel died in 1919, shortly before the group’s temple was dedicated. He said he had been instructed to build it at that location by Elder Brothers for the purpose of healing disease.

William Henry and Ruth Eda Ione Long

William Henry Long was born in England in 1894 and arrived in Brisbane in 1923. It’s possible that he had spent time at Mt. Ecclesia, as he was a committed follower of Heindel’s teachings. He took the name “Parcæ” for use within the Rosicrucian order.

The first mention of Long in newspapers is an advertisement for a lecture to be given in 1928 at the Brisbane Women’s Club in which be claimed to be “under the direction of the Rosicrucian Fellowship, California“.

Ruth Eda Ione Walker, known as Ione, was born into a staunch Brisbane Methodist family in 1885. She married tailor William Alcorn in 1907, but they had no children and Acorn died in 1921. Ione and Long married in 1930.

It’s possible that Ione had spent time at Oceanview with Max Heindel, as Long stated in 1950 that “Mrs. Long was up to the time of her death, and following the death of Max Heindel, in California, about 1919, the head of the order.” He was doubtless referring to the Brisbane Order that the couple had founded.

Ione was a clairvoyant and the members of the group believed that she was able to help them gain awareness of their previous lives and detect reincarnations of “outstanding characters“. Long told a reporter that amongst the order’s members were reincarnations of Queen Hatsutshep, Cleopatra, Catherine of Aragon, Sophocles, Thomas Cromwell, and Nimrod, to name just a few.

The Dutton Park temple

Sometime around 1929, the order purchased a riverside block at the end of quiet Borva Street in Dutton Park. They intended using the land for meetings of the “Solaqua Club” before a planned temple was built, but only a few advertisements appeared for these activities, suggesting that the club was not a success. If the swimming conditions were anything like those at nearby Dutton Park Baths, this is not hard to understand (see my post Making a Splash 2 – South Brisbane’s Early Swimming Baths) .

By 1934, “Aquaria”, the order’s temple, had been constructed. According to oral history collected by Stephen Carthew, they received funding from the Rosicrucian Fellowship in California.

The building was subsequently extended, and eventually had over 40 rooms. It was painted pink, surmounted by a silver dome and was colorfully lit at night.

The sect adopted the name “The Aquarians”, a reference to the next astrological age which the Rosicrucian Fellowship believed would commence in around 2638CE and “free men from the bondages of mind and spirit which they have suffered for thousands of years“. The Longs, however, believed that this new age would commence in Australia, or ‘Aquaria’, in just 60 years time.

The Aquarians were formally established in January of 1934 and Letters Patent were obtained to allow registration as a religious body corporate. The rules included a “voluntary self imposed tithe of one tenth of gross annual income.” Eight people, possibly the entire membership, were listed as office bearers, and another 4 were located in Perth and Amsterdam.

Inside the Borva Street temple

As part of a 1936 series of articles entitled “Religious Byways of Brisbane‘, the Courier-Mail published an account of a visit to a service at Borva Street. The journalist described an interior that was panelled with fine woods and dimly lit with violet globes. There was extensive use of what was then innovative use of lighting and recorded sound effects.

A wreath of red roses surmounted a cross which was lit to make it appear as if it were floating. The altar had an electric fire around which water flowed. Long later explained this altar.

“The Second (Red) altar stands on the first step between the upper and lower dais. This is the Rosicrucian Order double altar of fire and water, a combination of the Font with the Brazen Altar of the tabernacle. Here both sons of Seth and sons of Cain may kneel and worship God according to their own concepts.”

A well dressed congregation of around 12 sat on comfortable lounge chairs, visible in the painting above. After a two and a half hour sermon, the writer commented that “I was not the only member of the audience who heaved a sigh of relief as some lights went up for the hymn that gave us our dismissal“.

Another glimpse into ceremonies at Borva Street comes from a 1937 article by a journalist who attended one open to the public, aimed at evoking divine protection for Britain and Australia from expected imminent attack. The ceremony culminated with a member of the order, believed to be a reincarnation of a medieval crusader knight, ceremoniously breaking a sword.

Commercial activities at Borva Street

Rosicrucian Aquarian Mecca Proprietary Limited was registered in 1938. Various trading names were used for the activities undertaken by the order.

Education

In 1938, the Telegraph published what would now be termed an advertorial, describing a number of educational activities which were planned or underway at Borva Street, although just how many students were attending is a matter for conjecture. The institutions described included the Aquarian University, the Aquarian College of Sciences, the Aquarian Creative Art Studio, and a kindergarten.

The Venerable Dean of the College was Ruth Eda Ione Long A.M.O.R.K.T., D.A. Th., Professor of Health and Director of Etheric Research, whilst the Founder and President of the Senate was the Reverend William H. Long. Grand Knight COMM.-Prelate-Aq. A.Ac.D. A.Th., J.P. He was also Professor of Gymnosophy, Director of Scientific Research, Founder B. & I. College of Astrology, Grand Prior A.M.O.K.T., and Director of Tuition for Aquarian Courses.

The art studio was run by Margaret McNeil, whose painting of the interior of the temple appears above. This was possibly the only financially successful educational enterprise. At least two annual exhibitions of work by students were held at Borva Street in 1938 and 1939.

McNeil left this job sometime around then, perhaps influenced by the unusual developments at Borva Street described below. She later joined Vida Lahey in giving art classes to children at the National Gallery, now QAGOMA.

Mecca Medicaments

The production of a range of medical kits, much of which had a pawpaw base, was the province of Ione. They covered ailments such as pneumonia, pleurisy, antrums, appendicitis, piles and mumps.

Long described their products as “the result of our health research and experience over the last quarter century, coupled with our access to the archives of the Order‘.²

The archives were probably a reference to the Rosicrucian belief that all events, actions, thoughts, and feelings that have occurred since the beginning of time can be accessed by select individuals from the Akasha, or astral light. Fred Robinson, who with his then 19-year-old son Richard, became a neophyte in 1936, would talk of how Ione “could examine the Akashic records at will‟¹.

Aquarian Health Foods

Trading as Aquarian Health Foods, the sect baked and sold wholemeal cakes, pastries and buns. Fred Robinson, commonly known as “Brother Fred” rented a van and delivered the bakery products on commission.

Brother Fred brought the sect into the news in 1940, when his wife Alice sued him to obtain family support. He had sold their Maroochy River cane farm and given the £650 net proceeds to the Aquarians after joining them. She still had two sons to support and was unwilling to join him at Borva Street. As Fred was only earning 7 shillings a week delivering the order’s bakery products, he wasn’t able to pay her the 50 shillings expected. An undisclosed agreement was reached.

Gymnosophistry

Alexander the Great arrived in Northwest India in 326 BCE. There he encountered the “naked philosophers” of India who became known as gymnosophists, from Greek gymnós “naked” and sophía “wisdom”.

A gymnosophist movement and philosophy emerged in Europe and the US towards the end of the 19th century which combined nudity, asceticism and meditation. The Aquarians espoused the concept as part of their beliefs.

In 1940, Truth newspaper became aware of an advertisement that had been placed by “Henry” in a Sydney periodical entitled Health and Physical Culture.

“Calling all boys and youths interested in nudism and healthy outdoor activities, nature study, photography, etc., to correspond with ‘Henry,’ c/o ‘Aquaria’, Borva-street, Dutton Park, Brisbane, S.1, Queensland, who is anxious to linkup with a few dependable and sincere correspondents anywhere! Naturist lads near Brisbane also wanted to form naturist friends’ club; safe rendezvous known. No larrikins wanted! Naturist snap with first letter will be appreciated and reciprocated and all letters answered.”

Truth reporters visited Borva Street where Long, whose middle name was Henry, denied any knowledge of the advertisement. Long had become quite agitated when Ione, described as fair haired and blue eyed, entered the room, “bringing a spirit of sweet reasonableness“.

When asked about nudity at Borva Street, she commented that “We were going to form a Gymnosophic Society, but Brisbane is a backward place, very backward. I have been disappointed, because we have not been able to find the right-minded people.”

Neighbours, however, were well aware that this was not the case and local youths would try to catch a glimpse from the river of what was going on inside. In 2007, Stephen Carthew talked to several local residents with memories of almost 70 years earlier. One recalled rowing up the river and “seeing the sun worshippers on the balcony”.

Ominously, Long regularly placed advertisements such as the one below in newspapers.

The move to Brown’s Plains

All this was an impetus for the Aquarians to look for a more secluded location, especially as the Borva Street temple was adjacent to St. Ita’s Primary School. In 1939, the order purchased 151 acres (61 hectares) at Browns Plains, which by 1941 had expanded to 305 acres (123 hectares). The purchases were at least partly funded by the Rosicrucian Fellowship in Oceanside, California.¹ Another 490 acres were purchased in the late 1940s.

In 1941, they moved to the new location where they had plans for 15 buildings.

Borva Street was abandoned. One local resident’s recollection¹ was that an English migrant family squatted there for a while, and later during the war it became a popular brothel for American soldiers. He also had an anecdote from that time.

“I remember a big American Negro getting off at the number 16 tram stop and asking me, ‘Hey man where’s the cat house?’ I also remember the Yankee landing craft stopping on the bank next to the place … everyone knew what was going on there.“

The Borva Street temple was demolished in the decade following World War 2.

A suicide and a jail term

The Aquarians innovatively sought to recruit new members by advertising in UK naturist magazines, extolling the virtues of the Brisbane climate. Some 20 sponsored immigrants arrived, but all moved on soon after arriving. ROTA or the “Rosicrucian Order The Aquarians”, also advertised locally.

The Aquarians were back in the news in 1950 when Ione’s dead body was found in the deep water of Scrubby Creek, which flows through the Browns Plains property. Her wrists and ankle were tied with weights.

A subsequent coronial enquiry determined that it had been suicide. Others at ROTA said that she had been in great pain and one of the doctors gave evidence that “she was somewhat neurotic and had an organic disease“.

Truth newspaper continued to pursue Long and devoted and entire front page to the activities at Brown’s Plains not long after Ione’s death.

Soon after, Brother Fred, who had been the mainstay of the community, left ROTA. Stephen Carthew recounted that

“Fred recalled to me that Ione had (through spiritual knowledge) told him that Parcæ had been responsible for his death in a previous life, and that they had been put together to work out their karma in this particular life.”¹

Fred had worshiped Ione, whom he believed was an alien, but despised the pretentious Parcæ. Fred’s son Richard was left to hold things together.

Without the steadying influence of Ione, Long’s behavior became more overt. The Truth newspaper, that had been waging something of a war against Long for years, reported on his attempts to adopt a boy to train him as his successor.

By 1953, he had two boys aged 10 and 14 living with him at ROTA. The older boy was the son of a sect member and Long had promised the struggling parents of the other boy to educate him in his original profession of engineering. During a blackout, Long was told by an Elder Brother that the youngest boy was a reincarnation of Max Heindel, and the new leader of the Aquarians.

In September of 1953, after pleading guilty, he was sentenced to 5 years with hard labour for indecently dealing with the boys, who returned to their respective parents. Other Rosicrucian groups had long stressed that they had no connection with the Brisbane Aquarians and did so again.

Long was released after serving his sentence and lived out his life at Browns Plains, a broken man. He died in 1963. The Browns Plains property became a respected part of the Australian mainstream naturist community.

ROTA today

ROTA, Rosicrucian Order The Aquarians, is still a licensed charity today with members of the Robinson family being the listed responsible people. They operate Berriban Sanctuary, a 200 acre home for a wide range of wildlife, as well as the 10 acre Aquarius Naturist Resort.

Fred Robinson becomes a prophet

Fred Robinson led a peripatetic life, and he became deeply interested in vegetarianism as well as UFOs, believing they were the vehicles of the “angelic beings” described in the Book of Urantia and they would arrive to save the righteous. He unsuccessfully attempted to establish a utopian colony in Far North Queensland.

Later, he and Mary Broun (the future Mary Robinson) established the Shalam-Carranya Community, later known as the Universal Brotherhood Incorporated in Western Australia. At its peak in 1977, the commune comprised 71 members and 42 children. Fred’s concept was to bring up children in a man-made Garden of Eden.

Fred died in 1983, just before his 92nd. birthday. In 1989 the commune became a secular, multiple-occupancy, eco-village known as the Brooklands Community.

References

1. A world within a world within ‘the World’ : the origins of the universal brotherhood, an Australian countercultural, back-to-the-land, new age, alternative society and new religious movement Stephen John Carthew, PhD dissertation  2012. University of South Australia
2. Australasian Gymnosophical Health and Education Association & Queensland Gymnosophical Society (1948). Summerland scenes : illustrated booklet, Queensland Gymnosophical Society and its development into the Australasian Gymnosophical Health and Education Association and the Queensland Gymnosophical Community. Rosicrucian Temple Press, Kingston, Q