Over the last 30 years or so, the original late 19th and early 20th century homes of South Brisbane have steadily disappeared. One standout survivor is Oriana at 39 Russell Street, on the corner of Manning Street. It has gradually become an incongruous 930 square metre piece of suburbia complete with garden and Hills Hoist, surrounded by high rise development.
Author: Paul's Blogs
A Walk Down Montague Road Part 2
n Part 1 of my walk down Montague Road, I covered the early history of the road, and then worked my way down to the bend in near Davies Park. In part 2, I'll continue down to the end of the road at Orleigh Park. Where I've published a detailed blog post, you can access it by using the "more on this topic" button.
The Prince of Wales Visits Kurilpa
In 1920, Edward, the Prince of Wales, toured Australia. He made a brief tour of Kurilpa, passing huge crowds, and driving up a very dusty Dornoch Terrace. made a stop at Highgate Hill Park.
A Walk Down Montague Road Part 1
Since the beginning of European settlement, Montague Road has seen farms, housing and industry. Now it is transitioning again. This post recounts stories of its past.
The South Brisbane Races
From 1853 to 1865, race days were held in South Brisbane, variously on Boxing Day or New Year's Day, and occasionally mid-year. The organisers tried to avoid clashes with races at Coopers Plains, New Farm and, from 1865, at Ascot. The South Brisbane races were revived in 1873, and the last occurred in 1874 to … Continue reading The South Brisbane Races
The Blakeney Street Shooting
A story of Brisbane's gangland of the 1920s, in which anger, aggression and jealousy lead to a fatal shooting in Blakeney Street, Highgate Hill.
Highgate Hill’s “Sailors’ Gully”
There are intriguing references to a location called Sailors' Gully in Brisbane's Highgate Hill over a 30 year period at the end of the 19th century. A 1930s description mentions runaway sailors living here in tents and later building houses. My research has identified four of the sailors who gave it this name, and revealed their stories.
The Fraught Beginnings of St Andrew’s South Brisbane
In the 1870s, Anglican parishioners of South Brisbane were looking for a large elevated site on which to build a new church, hall and rectory. Their innovative plan wasn't to be completed for 13 years, and then only due to a nasty divorce.
Pirates in Moreton Bay – and on Highgate Hill
A group of escaped convicts from Norfolk Island created havoc in Moreton Bay before being tracked through Highgate Hill and captured near Goodna. Their story has a final unexpected twist..
Glenview – An 1883 Highgate Hill House
We've lived in our house now for almost 40 years. In this post I describe Glenview's origins and some of the people who have lived here, as well our journey through restoration and maintenance of this old house.
