Since 1903, the little park on the peak of Highgate Hill has been a popular spot for Brisbane residents. It has seen famous visitors and has been proposed for various memorials.
Time period
Westbourne St. 1930s Architecture
Westbourne Street in Highgate Hill illustrates how the break up of large estates in the first half of the twentieth century resulted in new architectural styles being explored.
Who Shot “Spider” Raper? 1926
The shooting of a notorious criminal at Highgate Hill made big headlines in 1926. Was the man who pulled the trigger guilty of murder?
Letter to the Editor – The Postal Service
Delivery of a letter from Highgate Hill to the city by the next day was expected in 1885, preferably with the morning delivery!
Highgate Hill Reservoir 1889
Problems with water reticulation in Highgate Hill were solved by the building of a reservoir in 1889. It was gravity fed from Gold Creek dam which had the world’s first concrete stepped spillway.
Law Bars Marriage 1941
In 1941, a pregnant 19 year Highgate Hill woman is refused permission by her father to marry her 21 year old soldier sweet heart. A magistrate agrees with her father, preventing the marriage.
Runaway Horse and Cart 1907
In 1907 three small children are terrified when a horse bolts carrying them off at breakneck speed in a butcher’s cart.
A Highgate Hill Counterfeiter 1934
In the 1930s it was worthwhile for criminals to produce counterfeit coins as their buying power was still significant and times were tough.
The Hazelwood Estate, Highgate Hill 1885
In the 1880s, the large original properties on Highgate Hill started to be broken up for suburban housing.
James and Margaret Allan and their home “Wairuna”
James Allen was cofounder of the Allen and Stark company, later taken over by Myers. He and his wife built the beautiful ‘Wairuna’ on Hampstead Road.
Highgate Hill and Its History 