For want of something to do in my retirement, I have started painting scenes from my memory.
Most of these paintings are Australian scenes that stuck in my memory . The maps were added to enable visitors to understand where in the world I lived , worked
and played for the first 23 years of my life.
January 1964 and this pic shows our first European landfall after crossing the Mediterranean Sea from Port Said bound for Naples and Southampton from Brisbane
This crossing had produced the roughest weather of the trip and we woke to a pair of Messina Hydrofoil ferries going round the ship and performing rising on to their foils. It may have helped that I was aboard the "Castle Felice", an Italian Sitmar Line ship. Not far away on shore , we could see a train and road trafic passing through the village very clearly.
and played for the first 23 years of my life.
January 1964 and this pic shows our first European landfall after crossing the Mediterranean Sea from Port Said bound for Naples and Southampton from Brisbane
This crossing had produced the roughest weather of the trip and we woke to a pair of Messina Hydrofoil ferries going round the ship and performing rising on to their foils. It may have helped that I was aboard the "Castle Felice", an Italian Sitmar Line ship. Not far away on shore , we could see a train and road trafic passing through the village very clearly.
The trains are from photographs by tracing paper and carbon paper transfer of outline.
Heading to Chelmer from Indooropilly
Trams in BrisbaneFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
LocaleBrisbane, Queensland, Australia
Infrastructure
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge
[hide]Horsecar era: 1885–1899
StatusClosed
Operator(s)Metropolitan Tramway and Investment Company
Propulsion system(s)Horses
[hide]Electric era: 1897–1969
StatusClosed
Operator(s)Brisbane Tramways Co Ltd
(1896–1922)
Brisbane Tramways Trust
(1922–1925)
City of Brisbane
(1925–1969)
Propulsion system(s)Electric
Electrification500 V DC catenary
(later 600 V DC catenary)
Route length109 km (68 mi)
(max, 1954)The Brisbane tramway network once served Brisbane, the capital city of Queensland, Australia. It operated between 1885 and 1969 and ran on standard gauge track. The electric system was originally energised to 500 volts, and subsequently increased to 600 volts. All tramcars built in Brisbane up to 1938 had an open design. This proved so popular, especially on hot summer nights, that the trams were used as fundraisers and often chartered right up until the last service by social groups.[1]
Most trams operated with a two-person crew – a driver (or motorman) and a conductor, who moved about the tram collecting fares and issuing tickets. The exceptions to this arrangement were on the Gardens line (Lower Edward Street) where the short duration of the trip meant it was more effective for passengers to simply drop their fare into a fare box as they entered the tram; and the "one man cars" which operated in the early 1930s (see below).
The peak year for patronage was in 1944–45 when almost 160 million passengers were carried. The system route length reached its maximum extent of 109 kilometres (68 mi) in 1952. The total track length was 199 kilometres (124 mi), owing to many routes ending in single, rather than double, track. Single track segments of the track were protected by signalling which operated off the trolley wire. By 1959 more than 140 kilometres (87 mi) of track were laid in concrete, a method of track construction pioneered in Brisbane.
The last track opened was in O'Keefe Street Woolloongabba, in May 1961. However, this track was not used in normal passenger service and was merely used to reduce dead running from Logan Road back to Ipswich Road Depot.
Of the Australian capital cities which closed their networks between the 1950s and 1970s (only Melbourne and Adelaide retained trams, although Adelaide only had one line in operation), Brisbane was the last capital city to shut down its trams. Despite the decision to shut down the network, the city's trams were held with great affection by locals. There have been ongoing proposals since the early 1990s to reinstate a functional tram network.
LocaleBrisbane, Queensland, Australia
Infrastructure
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge
[hide]Horsecar era: 1885–1899
StatusClosed
Operator(s)Metropolitan Tramway and Investment Company
Propulsion system(s)Horses
[hide]Electric era: 1897–1969
StatusClosed
Operator(s)Brisbane Tramways Co Ltd
(1896–1922)
Brisbane Tramways Trust
(1922–1925)
City of Brisbane
(1925–1969)
Propulsion system(s)Electric
Electrification500 V DC catenary
(later 600 V DC catenary)
Route length109 km (68 mi)
(max, 1954)The Brisbane tramway network once served Brisbane, the capital city of Queensland, Australia. It operated between 1885 and 1969 and ran on standard gauge track. The electric system was originally energised to 500 volts, and subsequently increased to 600 volts. All tramcars built in Brisbane up to 1938 had an open design. This proved so popular, especially on hot summer nights, that the trams were used as fundraisers and often chartered right up until the last service by social groups.[1]
Most trams operated with a two-person crew – a driver (or motorman) and a conductor, who moved about the tram collecting fares and issuing tickets. The exceptions to this arrangement were on the Gardens line (Lower Edward Street) where the short duration of the trip meant it was more effective for passengers to simply drop their fare into a fare box as they entered the tram; and the "one man cars" which operated in the early 1930s (see below).
The peak year for patronage was in 1944–45 when almost 160 million passengers were carried. The system route length reached its maximum extent of 109 kilometres (68 mi) in 1952. The total track length was 199 kilometres (124 mi), owing to many routes ending in single, rather than double, track. Single track segments of the track were protected by signalling which operated off the trolley wire. By 1959 more than 140 kilometres (87 mi) of track were laid in concrete, a method of track construction pioneered in Brisbane.
The last track opened was in O'Keefe Street Woolloongabba, in May 1961. However, this track was not used in normal passenger service and was merely used to reduce dead running from Logan Road back to Ipswich Road Depot.
Of the Australian capital cities which closed their networks between the 1950s and 1970s (only Melbourne and Adelaide retained trams, although Adelaide only had one line in operation), Brisbane was the last capital city to shut down its trams. Despite the decision to shut down the network, the city's trams were held with great affection by locals. There have been ongoing proposals since the early 1990s to reinstate a functional tram network.
KENMORE PARK HOMESTEAD
Kenmore Park Farm was over 100 acres of mainly ex forest grazing with a strip of red volcanic soil suitable for growing crops in the middle. This stretched from the homestead down to the spring fed creek that formed part of the border. It had been set up as a beef fattening station and slaughter house to supply meat to Brisbane in the early 1900s.
At the time of our occupation the slaughter house had been converted to a milking shed and an extension added containing a large underground silo that we did not use. A stable block and horse yard with bull pen and garage forming surrounding walls were between the dairy and workers cottage. Providing shade was the inevitable Moretain Bay figtree that was over 100feet in diameter.
The homestead consisted of 3 large bedrooms and a large dining room with a brick double-sided fireplace between the dining room and a large kitchen and pantry storage. 3 room servants quarters were adjacent in the backyard.
Entrance to the property was from Moggil Road along Fig Tree Road past the church in the corner and down a long drive.
A story told by locals was that during the depression of the 30s, thousands of goats were slaughtered and sold in the city as mutton and lamb.
During my trip home in 2007 I found all the buildings gone and a modern housing development of luxury properties covering the whole farm. The church has been moved to the other side of Kenmore.
At the time of our occupation the slaughter house had been converted to a milking shed and an extension added containing a large underground silo that we did not use. A stable block and horse yard with bull pen and garage forming surrounding walls were between the dairy and workers cottage. Providing shade was the inevitable Moretain Bay figtree that was over 100feet in diameter.
The homestead consisted of 3 large bedrooms and a large dining room with a brick double-sided fireplace between the dining room and a large kitchen and pantry storage. 3 room servants quarters were adjacent in the backyard.
Entrance to the property was from Moggil Road along Fig Tree Road past the church in the corner and down a long drive.
A story told by locals was that during the depression of the 30s, thousands of goats were slaughtered and sold in the city as mutton and lamb.
During my trip home in 2007 I found all the buildings gone and a modern housing development of luxury properties covering the whole farm. The church has been moved to the other side of Kenmore.
BELLTHORPE & WOODFORD TIMBER
Ironbark is a common name of a number of species in three taxonomic groups within the genus Eucalyptus that have dark, deeply furrowed bark.
Instead of being shed annually as in many of the other species of Eucalyptus, the dead bark accumulates on the trees, forming the fissures. It becomes rough after drying out and becomes impregnated with kino, a dark red tree sap exuded by the tree.[2] The bark is resistant to fire and heat and protects the living tissue within the trunk and branches from fire. In cases of extreme fire, where leaves and shoots are removed, the protective bark aids in protecting epicormic buds which allow the tree to reshoot.
Dad and I milked the cows in the morning and had a quick breakfast before going down the mountain in the A40 to enter the 10.000 acres below from the Kilcoy road. We spent the day falling trees as marked by the forest ranger. He would put a blaze on the stump and apply the government seal together with a further blaze up on the trunk to indicate which way he wanted it to fall on the ground to avoid damage to young trees. This was not always the way the tree would fall due to heavy limbs ect. on other sides so we fell them where it was safest to fall. Having fell the tree we then had to trim it, cut off the head and measure the log . We were paid a price per " Super Foot". [1 foot x 1 foot x 1 inch.] The contents of a log were calculated by use of a set of tables in a pocket book after measuring length in feet and girth [ circumfrence in inches in the middle of the log] A log with a pipe in the middle needed an estimate of pipe girth and calculation of the ammount to subtract. The bark was never included and "Ironbark" should have all the bark removed.
On one occasion we were crosscutting the head from a tree when the saw jammed and the log rolled down the side of the mountain chasing Dad who was on the low side. What annoyed him most was that the stuck saw was broken as the log rolled down. Saws cost money and this was a new one , a "Diston" thin back. Treefelling is a very dangerious occupation
One of Mick Simpsons' on the way down the Bellthorpe range road with about 5000 super feet of Tallow Wood logs heading to the mill at Chermside. They used tandem axle petrol GMC and International trucks equiped with a tandem tracking trailer guided by a long pole pivoted at the rear of the truck chassis. The trailer was usually PIG-E-Backed on the truck when empty on the returned journey to the mountain. Each of the two hairpins took at least 1/2 hour to get round and the 5 miles down 1500 feet, more than 2 hours with another 60 miles to the mill. One load per day per truck in good weather and no breakdowns.
Logging in the 1950s. Loading logs with tractor winch by rolling .
This gentleman was living in a tent on his forest property and attempting to turn it into a farm. The soil was very shallow and of poor quality forest shale. He sold some standing timber [ millable trees] to a local sawmill. As was normal the miller asked for and got 10 years to fall and remove the timber and the farmer was paid a fixed price for what was agreed millable logs. No trees were marked and a hand shake and cash was exchanged at the time of purchase. When we arrived 9 and a half years later, the farmer met us with a shotgun and would not allow us on the property as he had seen the trees double in size and wanted paying again. The police were called and we were able to gain access to fall and remove the timber.
Osmond Brothers Case Mill, Bellthorpe.
The mill and workers residence was situated about 7 miles along the West Road alongside the main house. Power for the belt driven saws was supplied by a 17 Hp Petter two stroke diesel single cylinder blowlamp start engine. Starting the engine was achieved by heating a steel bulb on the side of the head and two men pulling on the large flywheels to rotate the crank until the piston bounces off compression and the injection lever is hit at the appropriate moment to cause the fuel to hit the inside of the red hot bulb and thus fire the piston down with the hope that the crank continued in the correct direction. If not the process had to be started again until it was running correctly.
Only one 6" belt was available and was changed to the appropriate shaft to drive the saw required. The "Breaking Down" bench along with it's trolley and rails, was out in the open and could not be operated if it was raining.
About 850 export apple cases were sawn each week and bundled ready for transport on the ex-army 3 tone Ford v8 truck down to Woodford Rail Depot where they were deposited in a suitable rail wagon for transport to Stanthorpe where the apples grow.
The mill and workers residence was situated about 7 miles along the West Road alongside the main house. Power for the belt driven saws was supplied by a 17 Hp Petter two stroke diesel single cylinder blowlamp start engine. Starting the engine was achieved by heating a steel bulb on the side of the head and two men pulling on the large flywheels to rotate the crank until the piston bounces off compression and the injection lever is hit at the appropriate moment to cause the fuel to hit the inside of the red hot bulb and thus fire the piston down with the hope that the crank continued in the correct direction. If not the process had to be started again until it was running correctly.
Only one 6" belt was available and was changed to the appropriate shaft to drive the saw required. The "Breaking Down" bench along with it's trolley and rails, was out in the open and could not be operated if it was raining.
About 850 export apple cases were sawn each week and bundled ready for transport on the ex-army 3 tone Ford v8 truck down to Woodford Rail Depot where they were deposited in a suitable rail wagon for transport to Stanthorpe where the apples grow.
Woodford Mill was in the rail yard on the eastern end of the siding. In its hayday it had a frame saw, canadien breaking down bench, 2 main benches and a 4sider for finishing. For its day, it was highly mechanised with trolleys on rails through out and winches to pull the trolleys and cone-clutch driven one over the canadiento assist with loading, positioning and unloading. During the early days it was steam driven but post war had been converted to 3 phase electric.
With only three of us working there, we were able to send a rail wagon of sawn hardwood for house building to Brisbane every two weeks. My job was to keep tally as the wagon was loaded, drive the crawler tractor snigging the logs to the frame saw, measure and dock the sawn lengths and cut the firewood.
With only three of us working there, we were able to send a rail wagon of sawn hardwood for house building to Brisbane every two weeks. My job was to keep tally as the wagon was loaded, drive the crawler tractor snigging the logs to the frame saw, measure and dock the sawn lengths and cut the firewood.
BELLTHORPE FARM
Looking out over the lower paddock and 10,000 acres of government forest surrounded by tree clad hills, across the Stanley Valley past Mt. Mee to Brisbane about 50 miles away. On a clear night the glow of lights could be seen. To the left , east past the Glasshouse Mountains to the Pacific Ocean.
Bellthorpe milking shed and yards.
Some time about 1952 Dad purchased a farm and the family went to live on the origional Campbell family farm at Bellthorpe, an area at the southern end of the 2000ft high Conondale Range. With Maleny to the north and the Glasshouse Mountains to the east. On east to Bribie Island and the Pacific Ocean. On a clear night the lights of Brisbane can be seen to the east of Mt Mee across the Stanley River Basin and 10.000 acres of government forest and range. The Campbells were a large family and were among the first settelers of the area, picking some of the best volcanic soiled areas to clear and grass, mostly with KiKU that formed a lush mat for the dairy cows to thrive on. The farm house was the only double walled construction on the mountain. Hard wood was pit sawn for the main frame and weather board exterior. Internal walls and ceiling were 6" wide local Beechwood hand plained T&G.Rain water was collected from the roof in round corrugrated iron tanks.
Bellthorpe. Dad and Allan built the new sty for the pigs that we fattened on the skim milk from the separator. The cream was sent to the butter factory at Woodford and later to Caboolture after they bought out the Stanley River Coop and supplied Brisbane with whole milk from Woodford. Dad purchased six weaned piglets and put them in the sty overnight and when we let them out into the pen , they soon found holes in the fences and roamed free until feeding timewhen we got them back in the sty. This became a daily game to plug holes in the fence. After several weeks we were able to let them out without them escaping. As they grew bigger they terraced the hill up to the dairy fence. One day they went missing and we found them on the lower level of the farm having found a track down through the bushes. This was ok and they always came back at feeding time. We fattened them to a size suitable for the bacon factory an sent them to the market at Cannon Hill, Brisbane. With the profit from the sale we bought a sow ready to farrow and soon had a dozen piglets to carry on the process. Pigs are very clean in their habits, just like lying in mud to keep cool. On one accasion i didn't manage to lock up the sow and she had her litter down on the lower level having made a huge mound of bracken furn under which to hide with them. We found them wwith the cattle dogs that the sow came out and chased and I had to put the little piglets in a sugar bag and carry up to the sty. Two 4 gallon drums of sour milk had to be carried down to the sty twice a day and if it was wet and I slipped over on the way, they still had to be fed so I had to try again even though I was soaked in curds and whey. Thats farming.
"The Dunny". The most essential structure on the farm.
At the end of two days of continuous rain and winds up to 60Mph from a cyclone, the dunny was on its side and found to have two 3 foot long stakes nailed to the side that had been intended to keep it upright. The cyclone had come in off the Pacific Ocean with a landfall north of Noosa and travelled down over the Glasshouse Mountains , blowing itself out before reaching Brisbane, depositing upto several inches of rain as far south as the Northern Rivers of N.S.W.
During the severe wind of the first night, the roof of the back shed was blown off up over the house roof damaging it such that there was only two rooms dry in the house. As we never saw the sun and sky for about a week, cupboards, clothes and furniture all started to grow mould. We were milking about 20 cows at the time and the first afternoon it took almost two hours to get them up to the bails as they would try and hide in the bushes from the constant wind and rain. This was made worse by being in cloud and not seeing more than 10 feet. It took several weeks to recover from it. The Stanley River was flooded preventing access to Woodford, the local town. About 40 feet of the approach to the river bridge at the foot of the mountain road was washed away. So we had to survive on what we had and the 14 families shared until we could get to Woodford.
At the end of two days of continuous rain and winds up to 60Mph from a cyclone, the dunny was on its side and found to have two 3 foot long stakes nailed to the side that had been intended to keep it upright. The cyclone had come in off the Pacific Ocean with a landfall north of Noosa and travelled down over the Glasshouse Mountains , blowing itself out before reaching Brisbane, depositing upto several inches of rain as far south as the Northern Rivers of N.S.W.
During the severe wind of the first night, the roof of the back shed was blown off up over the house roof damaging it such that there was only two rooms dry in the house. As we never saw the sun and sky for about a week, cupboards, clothes and furniture all started to grow mould. We were milking about 20 cows at the time and the first afternoon it took almost two hours to get them up to the bails as they would try and hide in the bushes from the constant wind and rain. This was made worse by being in cloud and not seeing more than 10 feet. It took several weeks to recover from it. The Stanley River was flooded preventing access to Woodford, the local town. About 40 feet of the approach to the river bridge at the foot of the mountain road was washed away. So we had to survive on what we had and the 14 families shared until we could get to Woodford.
1954. Bellthorpe bottom flat spring and water trough with usual "Red Belly Black " snake. The cows still wanted to drink direct from the spring and dislodged the siphon pipe daily.The water flowing from here ended up in the drinking water for Brisbane. In very dry weather I had to get water from here for the dairy by filling a 44 gallon drum on a sled and use the plow horse to drag it up to the shed. The trough was an old galvanized bath cemented to the ground and lined with cement.
The One Teacher School. Children from 5 years old to 14 years old all in one room working off 2 blackboards usually about 15 of us with a teacher straight out of Teacher Training college. I became the first pupil since the second world war to pass the "Scolarship Exam", some of which was due to my learning in the city before we moved up the mountain. The teacher lodged with the farm just below the school where the telephone exchange was situated.
The Stanley River Co-operative Association Limited operated a butter factory in Woodford from the early 1900s until the company was taken over by the Caboolture Co-operative Association Limited in the middle 1950s. At the time of the takeover we were supplying cream to the factory three days a week. There had been a percieved surplus of butter and some farmers were supplying fresh milk for onward transport to Brisbane. Due to this local milk surplus the Stanley people had bought milk drying equipment but not installed it. A large piggery was operated at the rear of the factory using the buttermilk after the Ghee had been separated. I can remember seeing the drying drums in the back yard where they had been unloaded. They were never used as after the take over the factory was shut down and used as a transhipment depot for the combined butter production in Caboolture. We continued sending cream as usual and buying our butter from the office. During my visit to Woodford in 2007 the ground was unused with no sign of the factory.
CHELMER DAIRY
fChelmer Dairy Milk Cart 1947-1951
70 gallons a day to deliver house to house before 10.00am. Over half dispensed from a pair of 10gallon tapcans, 20 gallons from our own herd and the rest from the milk factory in bottles and bulk.
Operated by Dad & brother Allan starting from 3.00am.
Mum and Dad started milking our 26 cows at 1.00am.
Allan was dropped off at school on completion of the milk round and Dad would get home for a late breakfast where he sometimes fell asleap with a cup of tea partway between the table and his mouth. Tea went everywhere. After a little rest Dad would cut and collect a spring-cart load of green corn, green oats, cowpeas or lucerne for chafing to feed to the cows while milking. That started again at 1.00pm followed by plowing and planting until dark.
As the youngest [7 yro ] my job after school was to use my pony and take the cows out to graze the long paddock[ the sides of the public roads ] without letting them in front gardens and be back before dark.
70 gallons a day to deliver house to house before 10.00am. Over half dispensed from a pair of 10gallon tapcans, 20 gallons from our own herd and the rest from the milk factory in bottles and bulk.
Operated by Dad & brother Allan starting from 3.00am.
Mum and Dad started milking our 26 cows at 1.00am.
Allan was dropped off at school on completion of the milk round and Dad would get home for a late breakfast where he sometimes fell asleap with a cup of tea partway between the table and his mouth. Tea went everywhere. After a little rest Dad would cut and collect a spring-cart load of green corn, green oats, cowpeas or lucerne for chafing to feed to the cows while milking. That started again at 1.00pm followed by plowing and planting until dark.
As the youngest [7 yro ] my job after school was to use my pony and take the cows out to graze the long paddock[ the sides of the public roads ] without letting them in front gardens and be back before dark.
The springcart in the paddock of green corn [maize] ready for a load to chaff.
At Chelmer we planted and grew for harvesting green, maize, oats, cowpeas, and sorgum [one of the millet family]. There was already a small paddock of lucerne but when we asked a contract plowman with Ferguson 3 furrow plow all the ground eccept this, he went to the pub for lunch , came back and ploughed the lot. So we had to replant the lucern in this suitable corner where it continued to grow for the 3 years we were there. The hay was cut with a sythe several times a year and fed to the cows at milking, a 4 gallon drum full topped with a quart of "Jacksons Laying Mash" promoted milkflow at milking time. We never obtained any eggs !
The other crops were cut green in rotation and chaffed for the same purpose. When maize was in use the dogs would pick the sliced cobbs and chew the still milky grains. Local schoolkids were always pinching cowpea pods and eating the peas, but only once as they might not make it home before the peas go straight through.
At Chelmer we planted and grew for harvesting green, maize, oats, cowpeas, and sorgum [one of the millet family]. There was already a small paddock of lucerne but when we asked a contract plowman with Ferguson 3 furrow plow all the ground eccept this, he went to the pub for lunch , came back and ploughed the lot. So we had to replant the lucern in this suitable corner where it continued to grow for the 3 years we were there. The hay was cut with a sythe several times a year and fed to the cows at milking, a 4 gallon drum full topped with a quart of "Jacksons Laying Mash" promoted milkflow at milking time. We never obtained any eggs !
The other crops were cut green in rotation and chaffed for the same purpose. When maize was in use the dogs would pick the sliced cobbs and chew the still milky grains. Local schoolkids were always pinching cowpea pods and eating the peas, but only once as they might not make it home before the peas go straight through.
POWER MANUFACTURING COMPANY Norman Creek, Brisbane.
Power Manufacturing Company was owned and run by Fred Ammerman, a marine engineer who had travelled the world in tramp steamers before the last war. His last ship was converted from coal to oil fired boilers in England. They were in the Carribean when the soft soldried oil pipes fell apart an set fire to the engineroom. Fred decided it was not a good place to be with the outbreak of war and went back to Brisbane to start his own marine engineering and repair business. He was soon busy repairing RAAF crash launches and Army Fairmile 72 and 112 footers. The story was that the operators would list lots of faults to try and prevent their having to put to sea.
After the war the business was busy with the expansion of marine leisure craft as well as work boats and fishing boats up to 100 feet long. The company was equiped with it's own Brass Foundry, Machine shop, Fabrication Shed and slipway and trolley.The sales shop could provide all the necessary components to fit out a new boat or repair an old one. Engineers on site carried out all the necessary work to keep small ships safe and working well. A large landing craft "Tamona" was designed and constructed for taking drilling equipment to the islands in the Barrier Reef.She was a twin screw tunnel stern and very successful.
I was taught all my basic engineering during my time there and helped to fit out asmall launch that was built for getting the copra from beach to a lugger outside the reef of an island in the Solomins. We tested it on the Brisbane river before sending it as deck cargo to the Mission. As agents for Vincent Bros. in Sydney, one of their 10 hp twin twostroke marine engines was fitted.
The main business was supplemented making brass fittings for special applications in hospitals and the food industries.
There was also income from moorings on the creek side.
After the war the business was busy with the expansion of marine leisure craft as well as work boats and fishing boats up to 100 feet long. The company was equiped with it's own Brass Foundry, Machine shop, Fabrication Shed and slipway and trolley.The sales shop could provide all the necessary components to fit out a new boat or repair an old one. Engineers on site carried out all the necessary work to keep small ships safe and working well. A large landing craft "Tamona" was designed and constructed for taking drilling equipment to the islands in the Barrier Reef.She was a twin screw tunnel stern and very successful.
I was taught all my basic engineering during my time there and helped to fit out asmall launch that was built for getting the copra from beach to a lugger outside the reef of an island in the Solomins. We tested it on the Brisbane river before sending it as deck cargo to the Mission. As agents for Vincent Bros. in Sydney, one of their 10 hp twin twostroke marine engines was fitted.
The main business was supplemented making brass fittings for special applications in hospitals and the food industries.
There was also income from moorings on the creek side.
Power Mfg. brass foundry where we cast all the parts.
A customer who ran an inter-island ferry service in the Cleveland area of Moreton Bay was having trouble with the bottom of his wooden boat being damaged at low tides when on it's mooring. So he came to Fred to design and build a small steel boat for this purpose. Fred had some arguments with licensing officials as they were used to checking wooden boats and had no experience of steel construction of small boats.
About to remove the "Grammer School Landing Stage" for annual repaint from Mobray Park 1959.
A rare turn of the century riverside park close to the city, Mowbray Park is a remnant of the riverine estate established in 1850 by the father of East Brisbane Reverend Thomas Mowbray and on which his house once stood.
Once handed to the Sth Brisbane City Council by his son in 1904 it was set up for recreational use and of the facilities erected in the following years the boat shed, croquet and bowls club remain.
Public baths were built and operated from 1919 to 1969, and their heritage listed remains - including porphyry steps with a handrail to nowhere and the porphyry retaining walls - can still be seen down at the ferry terminal.
Today this formal park with its striking World War I memorial is a delightful place for a stroll along the formal pathways lined with palms, jacarandas and figs or a picnic in the groves of eucalypts and pines.
A rare turn of the century riverside park close to the city, Mowbray Park is a remnant of the riverine estate established in 1850 by the father of East Brisbane Reverend Thomas Mowbray and on which his house once stood.
Once handed to the Sth Brisbane City Council by his son in 1904 it was set up for recreational use and of the facilities erected in the following years the boat shed, croquet and bowls club remain.
Public baths were built and operated from 1919 to 1969, and their heritage listed remains - including porphyry steps with a handrail to nowhere and the porphyry retaining walls - can still be seen down at the ferry terminal.
Today this formal park with its striking World War I memorial is a delightful place for a stroll along the formal pathways lined with palms, jacarandas and figs or a picnic in the groves of eucalypts and pines.
This was an old boat built by two brothers , one of whom was totally blind so there were handrails everywhere.
A prawn trawler operated by a Captain and crew for on shore owners. This one we had to meet out on the river with a 2" fire pump as it was taking on water faster than it's bilge pump could cope with. We managed to keep it afloat long enoughto get it on the slipway trolley and hauled it out. It was soon seen that the cause of the flooding was a rotted skinfitting where the "Heads" exited below the waterline. The owner was quoted a price for repair by fitting a new marine toilet pedistal and trap system to avoid any future problems , his reply was to just block off the hole and forget it. Asked what his crew would do, his reply was "They can bucket and chuck it"!!!
A full hull clean and new anti fouling paint applied was carried out while the sturn gland was overhauled by boring out and "Cutlass" rubber lining fitted. I had to go into the engine room and carry out repairs to an aux. drive belt system for the prawn cooker blower that had run out of adjustment. The top of the engine was about 6 inches below the bottom of the sorting table and ice water from the aft ice box drained into the bilge. Entry was through small hatch on the sorting table and when inside I was only able to crawl round the ends of the engine with my lower parts in bilge water . In the middle of hot summer, this was an example of a boast designed by boat builders not engineers. The Last job was to repair and balance the propellor as it had hit an underwater object and was creating a lot of vibration. The crew were paid only with a share of profits and took little care with equipment they did not own.
A full hull clean and new anti fouling paint applied was carried out while the sturn gland was overhauled by boring out and "Cutlass" rubber lining fitted. I had to go into the engine room and carry out repairs to an aux. drive belt system for the prawn cooker blower that had run out of adjustment. The top of the engine was about 6 inches below the bottom of the sorting table and ice water from the aft ice box drained into the bilge. Entry was through small hatch on the sorting table and when inside I was only able to crawl round the ends of the engine with my lower parts in bilge water . In the middle of hot summer, this was an example of a boast designed by boat builders not engineers. The Last job was to repair and balance the propellor as it had hit an underwater object and was creating a lot of vibration. The crew were paid only with a share of profits and took little care with equipment they did not own.
During my time at Power Manufactoring, I was asked to rebuild an exhaust box for an EX RAAF crash launch moored a little further up the creek than the works. This one had triple engines similar to Merlins. The exhaust boxes passed the gases through a water chamber to eliminate sparks for night time operation. The history of the RAAF Marine section is well documented and this boat in the pic is similar to the one moored near the works.
Fred was always talking about his wartime friends and I was fortunate to meet a couple of them when they visited Brisbane.One was a "Small Ship" captain who was very busy during the war ferrying in and bringing out coast watchers from Japanese held islands. He related stories of hiding to wait for a safe time to move and several times of having the boat shot up and sunk with the natives rescue and help to return to Port Moresby. He was a Government employee and for the last years before retirment he was offered a job on Sydney Harbour piloting a small open boat picking up mooring hawsers to carry ashore from large ships. He thought after a lifetime of adventure, the job offered was a snub so he retired early.
Another memoriable person was an AWA wireless engineer [ ex ships wireless operator ] who was on duty at the Darwin AWA wireless relay station during one of the few Japanese airraids on that city during the Pacific War.
http://www.ozatwar.com/raaf/raafmarinesection.htm
Fred was always talking about his wartime friends and I was fortunate to meet a couple of them when they visited Brisbane.One was a "Small Ship" captain who was very busy during the war ferrying in and bringing out coast watchers from Japanese held islands. He related stories of hiding to wait for a safe time to move and several times of having the boat shot up and sunk with the natives rescue and help to return to Port Moresby. He was a Government employee and for the last years before retirment he was offered a job on Sydney Harbour piloting a small open boat picking up mooring hawsers to carry ashore from large ships. He thought after a lifetime of adventure, the job offered was a snub so he retired early.
Another memoriable person was an AWA wireless engineer [ ex ships wireless operator ] who was on duty at the Darwin AWA wireless relay station during one of the few Japanese airraids on that city during the Pacific War.
http://www.ozatwar.com/raaf/raafmarinesection.htm
A church benefactor commissioned the building and fitting out of an open 16 foot boat for use by the natives at a Solomon Island Mission . It was necessary to transport the bags of copra from the beach at the mission to the waiting lugger for taking on to market on the main island.
A boat builder down river from us constructed the hull and we fitted a new 10hp Vinco twin marine engine. On a suitable sunny afternoon the Boss and I launched the boat and accompanied by the sponsor and several priests tested it on a voyage to the mouth of the Brisbane River and back to the boatyard.
After this successful run the boat was fitted to a cradle and sent as deck cargo on the monthly supply vessel to the Solomons. 1959
A boat builder down river from us constructed the hull and we fitted a new 10hp Vinco twin marine engine. On a suitable sunny afternoon the Boss and I launched the boat and accompanied by the sponsor and several priests tested it on a voyage to the mouth of the Brisbane River and back to the boatyard.
After this successful run the boat was fitted to a cradle and sent as deck cargo on the monthly supply vessel to the Solomons. 1959
BELLTHORPE
We had only water tanks supplied from the house roof and shed roof. During drought I had to try and bring water from the spring on the lower flat by horse and sled to the dairy shed. Dad found and bought a small boring plant from a water diviner who had retired. It was assembled and tried out using the 3hp Lister diesel from the milking machines that was replaced when electricity came.
We managed to get down about 30 feet without casing despite loosing the bit once and having to fish it out with a length of plain wire. The rock bit had unscrewed while we were going through a boulder at about 15 feet. Rain came and relieved the water shortage and work was abandoned. There was no knowing if we would find water, but it was good trying. Various techniques are suggested for water divining, a split willow stick or bent fencing wire were all tried without success.
John Craig was the Royal Mail delivery contractor who lived on the mountain for many years and had become a J.P. and local coroner. The stories told about him and his exploits were endless. On previous occasions when the bridge approach had been washed away, he had chopped down suitable trees and used them to bridge the gap. At normal times the carrier would take cream from the farms to the butter factory three times a week and return with meat, bread, groceries and any other goods required by the farmers. John Craig used a flat bed truck on these days and his car on the other three days when delivering the mail. While we lived there, the Deakin Brothers also operated a similar transport business in opposition to him. It was necessary to send a letter of authority to the post master in Woodford to allow Deakins to collect your mail. If you used Craig to deliver the mail it was always a day late as he was known to take it home and read it before delivery. Should you upset him he was likely to toss the mail out without stopping. Any goods would be treated the same and possibly urinated on including the food. If you were on the road in your vehicle, he would never give way and you had to leave the road to avoid a collision. It was always possible that he was drunk and been taken out of the pub by the police sargent and put in his vehicle to drive home. As he passed over the culverts on the Stanmore flats he would put his foot down on the accelerator to jump between the white marker posts before they came together. On one occasion he drove the truck off the mountain road and it rolled down until it lodged upside down on a tree. He took to the tree with an axe and let the truck roll down onto its wheels on the lower road. It started on the key and he drove to the top where the engine seized as all the oil had drained out while upside down. Most of the old people on the mountain hoped not to die up there as they did not want him as coroner looking at them after a lifetime of hating him.
The bridge over the creek at the foot of Belthorpe Range Road. The approach on one side was washed away with about 30 feet of road during the cyclone.
The bridge over the creek at the foot of Belthorpe Range Road. The approach on one side was washed away with about 30 feet of road during the cyclone.
THE BRISBANE EXHIBITION in the late 1940s.
The Brisbane "Ekka".
The Annual Brisbane Exhibition Takes place in Bowen Park Bowen Hills , Brisbane for 10 days the first full week of August.
It brought together all the agricultral, hortacultural and industrial business of the area of Queensland and Northern rivers of NSW. 10 Days of displays and contests exhibiting the best for everyone to see. On the wednesday that was a public holiday over 100,000 people went through the turnstiles to see it all and buy their commercial sample bags and look at the latest cars as well as watch Australias best horses competing in the main show ring in trotting and jumping contests. As shown the jumping was over red & white hurdles, judged on style or tip and out or clean against the clock Also in pairs and teams of four. In the late 40s early 50s this all changed to "Olympic style" figure of eight courses over rustic fences against the clock . There was a high jump for 12.2 and one for over that height also long jump over water. Trotting was a handicap culminating for a final cup race on the last saturday. A grand parade of winners was held on wednesday.
In one area of Bowen Park, a wood chopping arena was always busy alongside the side shows. [Fair} Frank Ifield , The Dare Devil Durkins and their Globe Of Death along with a Rodeo and lots of other tent shows kept the punters amused.
Dairy cows, beef cattle, chickens, Birds, Dogs, Goats and sheep were exhibited and judged.
The Tasmanian Potato Marketing Board had a continuous chip cooker producing thousands of bags of chips to feed everyone along with dagwood dog concessions. In the main hall [ that doubled as an auction shed for the wool clip at other times ] the likes of Heinz and other food suppliers sold their sample bags and the district exhibits of primary produce were to be seen along with Government department displays like Ag and fish , Forestry and Rivers and fishing.
To complete the story I competed in riding classes and showed Pearly my pony. The ground was used for special days and I rode "Sparkplug" a 12.2 speedtest pony and won races. 10 years later I raced my motor bike on the same track when Speedway was held on a saturday nig
The Ekka is Queensland's largest annual event with recent shows drawing more than 400,000 visitors.[1] It aims to showcase Queensland culture, produce, resources and initiatives. This is done through a range of competitions, award ceremonies, exhibits, educational displays, animal and performances. There is a sideshow alley, showbag pavilion, numerous food and beverage outlets and a range of entertainment including nightly fireworks displays. It typically starts on a Friday in August and continues for 10 days to close on a Sunday.
The significance of the first exhibition held in 1876 was described by locals as the most important event since the separation of Queensland from New South Wales in 1859.[2]
The first show, held between 22–26 August 1876, attracted 17,000 visitors.[3] The centrepiece of the grounds was the timber exhibition building which housed 1,700 individual exhibits in total.[2] One of the first popular attractions was a timber bridge built by saw-miller William Pettigrew. The show was a spin-off from the famous International Exhibitions being held in Britain and worldwide dating from the Crystal Palace Exhibition of 1851.
A new grandstand designed by Claude William Chambers was open for the 1906 show.[4] It was later named the John Macdonald Stand in recognition of a long-serving member of the Royal National Association. In 1920, the show was visited by King Edward VIII who was asked and gave permission for the name of the association to change to the Royal National Agricultural and Industrial Association of Queensland.[4]
A particular Ekka favourite is the Strawberry Sundae,[5] a fundraising initiative of the Prince Charles Hospital Foundation.
Side Show Alley in particular has been an integral part of the Ekka, however back in the earlier years of the Ekka, side show alley was a place for people to witness actual sideshows, such as freaks of nature, people carrying out superhuman feats of strength and illusionists performing for delighted audiences.
Showbags are also an integral part of the Ekka experience. Usually containing food items (such as confectionery) and novelty items, showbags are sold in the Showbag Pavilion. The content of the showbags are tested to ensure they comply with safety standards.[6] In 2015, there were 362 different showbags available for visitors to spend their money on and enjoy samples of products. Showbags range from $1, $2 (the famous Bertie Beetle Bag) and up to $108, providing companies the opportunity to offer their merchandise to the public at discounted prices.[7]
Competitions are held as part of the Ekka; these include agricultural products such as livestock, fruit and vegetables, and skills in areas as diverse as farriery and cake decorating.[8][9]
http://subtropic.com.au/2009/08/15/ekka-woodchop-excitement-draws-in-crowds/
The significance of the first exhibition held in 1876 was described by locals as the most important event since the separation of Queensland from New South Wales in 1859.[2]
The first show, held between 22–26 August 1876, attracted 17,000 visitors.[3] The centrepiece of the grounds was the timber exhibition building which housed 1,700 individual exhibits in total.[2] One of the first popular attractions was a timber bridge built by saw-miller William Pettigrew. The show was a spin-off from the famous International Exhibitions being held in Britain and worldwide dating from the Crystal Palace Exhibition of 1851.
A new grandstand designed by Claude William Chambers was open for the 1906 show.[4] It was later named the John Macdonald Stand in recognition of a long-serving member of the Royal National Association. In 1920, the show was visited by King Edward VIII who was asked and gave permission for the name of the association to change to the Royal National Agricultural and Industrial Association of Queensland.[4]
A particular Ekka favourite is the Strawberry Sundae,[5] a fundraising initiative of the Prince Charles Hospital Foundation.
Side Show Alley in particular has been an integral part of the Ekka, however back in the earlier years of the Ekka, side show alley was a place for people to witness actual sideshows, such as freaks of nature, people carrying out superhuman feats of strength and illusionists performing for delighted audiences.
Showbags are also an integral part of the Ekka experience. Usually containing food items (such as confectionery) and novelty items, showbags are sold in the Showbag Pavilion. The content of the showbags are tested to ensure they comply with safety standards.[6] In 2015, there were 362 different showbags available for visitors to spend their money on and enjoy samples of products. Showbags range from $1, $2 (the famous Bertie Beetle Bag) and up to $108, providing companies the opportunity to offer their merchandise to the public at discounted prices.[7]
Competitions are held as part of the Ekka; these include agricultural products such as livestock, fruit and vegetables, and skills in areas as diverse as farriery and cake decorating.[8][9]
http://subtropic.com.au/2009/08/15/ekka-woodchop-excitement-draws-in-crowds/
SURFERS PARADISE HOTEL 1946
Jim Cavill, the father of "Surfers Paradise" and builder and owner of the First hotel of the modern era also had a private zoo in the beer garden grounds and late afternoon to dusk a flock of parrots would come down to be fed by patrons. They were free to fly anywhere . Before the highrise revolution took over and Nerang basin was turned from a tidal swamp into the rich playground it is today. On the day in 2007 that I flew out of Brisbane, I was eating lunch in a park in the suburb of Stafford and we were visited by a pair of parrots flying free.
50 years ago on the Queensland Gold Coast, the Pacific Ocean would try and break through to the Nerang River at "Narrowneck". This usually happened when a cyclone came down the coast and the big waves pounded the beach and bank upon which the Pacific Highway was built. Working round the clock the council transported large rocks and tipped them on the ocean side thus preventing the whole Nerang Basin being flooded and destroying the farms ect. there at the time. Today this area is a highly developed with luxury properties.
Motor Racing On Strathpine Airstrip 1947.
Motor racing resumed after the war on the disused airstrip simply with oil drums down the cantre, Later a loop was constructed at the top end. Drag racing , sprints as it was called then included motorcycles [ In the 60s I owned a rigid B31 that had been a record holder there ]. We went to a car race there in Grans 37 Studybaker and the cars were almost all pre-war models of MG, Bugatti, Alfa Romeo and some local home brew specials.
It is now a public road and due to its history is called "Spitfire Ave."
It is now a public road and due to its history is called "Spitfire Ave."
MV Luana on towing duty looking across the Brisbane River from bottom of Chelmer long paddock towards St Lucia. A load of dredged river gravel for the depot in the West End. 1950
KINDLE
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B28KKYA
The family stories and my working life are available at the above address on Kindle.
THESE PICTURES ENHANCE THAT STORY.
50 YEARS ON, PHOTOS FROM MY WORLD TOURS
The Canadian "Horseshoe Falls" Niagara. Looking from the revolving restaurant at the top of the tower Below photo is of the"American Falls" and "Bridal Veil Falls".
From the western side of Canada," The Rockies " in April.
https://woodfordhistoricalsociety.com