“Dorra Tor” – Plywood, Politics and Punters

There's a quiet corner of Highgate Hill bordering South Brisbane where many surviving old houses boast spectacular views. One of these is the home "Dorra Tor" which has a fascinating history.  Thomas Blacket Stephens Thomas Blacket Stephens arrived in Brisbane with his wife Anne nee Connah in around 1856. He established a fellmongery and tanning … Continue reading “Dorra Tor” – Plywood, Politics and Punters

The Battle of Highgate Hill

In the late 1870s, fears of a Russian invasion led to increased spending on defence. On a hot February afternoon in 1879, volunteers were running all over Highgate Hill firing at each other and letting off their cannons in a military exercise. A crowd gathered to watch the spectacle.