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
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.
War Comes to West End
After the outbreak of war in 1939, Air Raid Precautions committees were formed all over Australia. This post looks at the West End, Brisbane, group and how the war impacted them and their community.
Dornoch Terrace – A Pathway Through Time Part 2
In part 1 of my history of Dornoch Terrace, I looked at its ancient origins as an Aboriginal pathway and early European settlement through the 19th century. This post covers the development of the street into a prestigious "dress circle" in the 1920s and 30s, followed by a period of decline, and finally the emergence … Continue reading Dornoch Terrace – A Pathway Through Time Part 2
The Lang Family of Rosecliffe Street
Mr David Lang has lived in Rosecliffe Street, Highgate Hill, since his birth over 90 years ago and the Lang family have owned their property for some 135 years. David has many recollections of daily life in times gone by.
The Three Torbrecks
Since the early 1960s, the Torbreck apartment building on Highgate Hill has been a Brisbane landmark. The original Torbreck on the site was demolished in 1958 but another was built nearby by the same family in 1908.
Ferdinand and Josephine Papi – an Edwardian Power Couple
Ferdinand Papi was an early Italian migrant who became a highly respected teacher. Josephine Papi was a philanthropist involved in countless community activities. Images from an old family album help bring their lives and this period of our history to life.
Daphne Mayo – Brisbane Sculptor lo
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.
Sankey Street, Steeped in History
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.
Highgate Hill and Its History 