Highgate Hill and Its History

Stories from Brisbane's Inner Southside Past.

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The Fascinating Story of the First Victoria Bridge

November 1, 2020August 8, 2025 / Paul's Blogs / 25 Comments

Due to political bastardry, bad contracting, financial crisis and the forces of nature, the first Victoria Bridge took 10 years to build at more than double the expected cost. Twenty years later it was replaced. Here's the fascinating story.

Omnibus Families of the Southside

October 3, 2020February 14, 2026 / Paul's Blogs / 2 Comments

For some 40 years, horse drawn omnibuses provided the principle mode of public transport in Brisbane, Now they are all but forgotten.

Brisbane’s Omnibuses

September 5, 2020December 21, 2025 / Paul's Blogs / 7 Comments

For some 40 years, horse drawn omnibuses provided the principle mode of public transport in Brisbane, Now they are all but forgotten.

Holy Hawthorne Street

August 8, 2020March 24, 2026 / Paul's Blogs / Leave a comment

Once the location of two bora rings, there are now three churches on Hawthorne Street in Woolloongabba. The spiritual nature of the location disappeared with modern development and the building of the freeway which cuts the street in two.

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Vulture Street – From Dotted Line to Bitumen

July 11, 2020December 24, 2025 / Paul's Blogs / 10 Comments

Vulture Street started life as a dotted staight line drawn across a map of Brisbane in the 1840s. It took another 40 years to become a useful through road.

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The Origins of Orleigh Park

June 13, 2020September 20, 2026 / Paul's Blogs / 13 Comments

With its huge spreading shade trees and pleasant breezy riverside location, Orleigh Park is understandably a great favourite with many residents and visitors. However, this pleasant place of recreation had its origins in tragedy.

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Daphne Mayo – Brisbane Sculptor lo

May 16, 2020December 14, 2025 / Paul's Blogs / 15 Comments

Daphne Mayo is most famous for her work on Brisbane's City Hall. She was highly successful in both an artistic and commercial sense thriving as a women sculptor in the Depression years. She lived in Highgate Hill on and off for 40 years.

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More Tales from Musgrave Park

April 18, 2020September 14, 2021 / Paul's Blogs / 17 Comments

After reaching a peak of social prominence in the early 20th century, Musgrave Park underwent many changes, survived numerous threats to its existence and has emerged with a new identity.

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Musgrave Park – The Early Days

March 28, 2020September 15, 2026 / Paul's Blogs / 9 Comments

Over time, Musgrave Park in South Brisbane has been perceived in many different ways, reflecting changes in our society and the demographics of the surrounding neighbourhood. Come with me on a journey through its past.

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Sankey Street, Steeped in History

February 29, 2020September 7, 2022 / Paul's Blogs / 7 Comments

Sankey Street is one of the steepest in Brisbane and is named after a family who lived in the area well before the street was conceived. The family has connections with Queensland's early military history as well as optometry.

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Recent Posts

Recent Posts

  • A Walk Down Montague Road Part 2
  • The Prince of Wales Visits Kurilpa
  • A Walk Down Montague Road Part 1
  • The South Brisbane Races
  • The Blakeney Street Shooting
  • Highgate Hill’s “Sailors’ Gully”
  • The Fraught Beginnings of St Andrew’s South Brisbane
  • Pirates in Moreton Bay – and on Highgate Hill
  • Glenview – An 1883 Highgate Hill House
  • Sabbath Wars
  • “Trevenen” – the Life and Death of a Highgate Hill House
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  • Say Tristram’s Please !
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  • Dornoch Terrace – A Pathway Through Time Part 2
  • Dornoch Terrace – A Pathway Through Time Part 1
  • The Rosicrucians of Dutton Park
  • Margaret Gregson – The Duchess of Montague Road
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  • The Tragic Tale of Mary Anne Williams
  • The Granvilles come to Brisbane
  • Brisbane – Horse and Carriage
  • Grange House South Brisbane
  • Dishonourable Real Estate Practices of the 1880s
  • Making a Splash 2 – South Brisbane’s Early Swimming Baths
  • Making a Splash – Brisbane’s Floating Swimming Baths
  • All That Glitters – Brisbane Gold Rushes

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