History, heritage. Stories of home. This blog is a place to tell authentic tales of life - a life lived or perhaps just beginning. There are so many treasured anecdotes woven into the fibre of rural and urban Australia that stay within familial or community circles. Let’s share them and savour the power of love, connection, family and home. What’s your story?
Queen Alexandra Home
For as long as I can remember, my family has told me I have dark eyes and hair like my Nanna Winnie, my great-grandmother. She was a petite, gentle lady who loved flowers and tea. What has always fascinated me is that she grew up in Queen Alexandra Home, a home for children. Situated at 347 Old Cleveland Road, Coorparoo, the building is termed ‘the grand old lady of lace’. Throughout my growing up years, whenever we drove past, I would wistfully look out the window and imagine my Nanna Winnie living there as a little girl. The stately home has always captivated my imagination.
Winifred was born in 1909 and the third of four daughters. Their mother died when the girls were still little, so their bereaved father divided them up and kept working. The older two girls went to different relatives, the younger two he kept together and sent to a home for children. Winifred was about five years of age, and her sister Eileen about three years of age when they joined the home in 1914. This story is reminiscent of an Australian Little Women, set right here in our own Brisbane in its founding days.
Deirdre, who works for the Department of Education, is the current Facilities Coordinator and she agreed to meet with me and allow me to shoot inside the home, which has been a dream of mine for many years. Deirdre took us on a tour in 2017 so when I started this blog, I thought a Queen Alexandra Home post would be such a great feature. After my shoot this year, Deirdre put me in touch with Jinx Miles, a Conservation Architect, and Judy Gale Rechner, a local historian and author. Judy wrote the book ‘Grand old lady of lace’ in 2002. It is the reference for my history on Queen Alexandra Home. Jinx was the heritage consultant for the most recent restoration of the home in 2019. It was so fantastic to meet them and get their insights on the home and its history.
Queen Alexandra Home’s history begins with Reuben Nicklin. Reuben emigrated to Australia in 1865. He married Jane Lahey and they had three children: George, born 1868, Alice, born 1870 and William, born 1872. Reuben’s business dealings went well. He was the manager of a firm of importers and a landowner. He commissioned various buildings around Brisbane to be built, including his home Langlands, in Coorparoo. At that time, Coorparoo was a rural district. Can you imagine today’s bustling inner-city suburb of Coorparoo being acres of farmland?! In about 1887, Langlands was sold and eventually became the centre of Villanova College.
Reuben purchased six and a half acres further along Old Cleveland Road. This was to become the site of Hatherton (later Queen Alexandra Home), their new family home, which was built in 1887. It sat on the crest of a hill, right next door to Coorparoo State School. It is true that men of stature lived on hilltops, but Reuben and Jane Nicklin were no toffs. They were devoted to the growing city of Brisbane and its people. Jane was known as a tireless worker in social and religious work, and she visited the sick with gifts of food. Reuben was known as a modest man, and was well-liked by his associates and employees. He provided tennis courts and a cricket pitch on Hatherton’s grounds at his own expense for local youths to enjoy.
In time, George and William joined the family businesses. George’s son, Sir Frank Nicklin, would become one of Queensland’s premiers in the 1950’s. Alice Nicklin had fallen in love with a local fellow, William Horsley. She was 19, and her parents weren’t too keen on the match. Reuben decided to travel home to England and include an eight-month tour of Europe and America. He and Jane hoped this time apart would cool Alice’s feelings for William. The three boarded the RMS Quetta in February 1890. Only ten days after their departure, while navigating the waters off the Torres Strait, the ship sank. Tragically, Reuben and Jane died. Alice survived. She was a strong swimmer, and clung to various things, including a dead sheep, until she was rescued. She returned home to her brothers after a stay in hospital. Queensland was in shock after the tragedy. Many of the passengers were well known figures in the area. In 1894, Alice married William Horsley and they had six children together. Members of the Nicklin and Lahey family lived in the home until the turn of the century, upon which it was rented to various individuals.
The Methodist church set up a home for children in Indooroopilly in 1909. The object of the home ‘was to provide a home for children who needed its shelter and provision, and subsequently endeavour to place them with families and employers who will train them for a career of usefulness’. Some children were orphans, but the home was not an orphanage. It was designed for children who could not be cared for at their home.
The Ladies Committee who ran the home was formed in 1910. These women were the daughters and wives of wealthy, prominent men, so they did not work secularly and had the time to devote to charitable causes. They were an extremely hard-working group, who tirelessly raised money for the benefit of the home for decades. The home at Indooroopilly was named Queen Alexandra Home, after King Edward VII’s beloved wife. Within a few months, it became evident that the home was too small and too far away from public transport for visitors, so they set about looking for another location.
The Nicklin family had put Hatherton up for sale and some members of the Ladies Committee visited. It was a suitable size and in a good location for visitors. There was plenty of space to play, grow produce and keep cows. It was also above flood level and caught the breeze. It was priced at £2,500. George, Alice and William agreed to a donation of £500 for the worthy cause, so the price was reduced to £2000. The Ladies Committee gratefully accepted and the move in date for the new Queen Alexandra Home was set for the 30th November, 1911. With Coorparoo State School being right next door, the children only had to cross a lane to get to school. On Sundays the children would walk around the corner to Cavendish Road and attend church and Sunday School. My Nanna Winnie got married in that church years later.
The cost of board, or maintenance fee, was a set weekly rate. Most applicants were fathers whose wives were sick or had died. The Ladies Committee required a character reference and proof of ability to pay the maintenance fee. Some families could not afford the weekly rate but still needed their children in care. In special cases, the ladies accepted a lower maintenance fee for these children. The ladies ran the home in a businesslike fashion, but were sensitive to people’s plight and genuinely wanted to help.
Each year, the Methodist church would host a Sunday School picnic. The children loved these events. The ladies made the most of the opportunity and had cakes, fresh produce and refreshments on sale for fundraising purposes. My Nanna Winnie remembered these garden parties with great fondness.
The children were required to pitch in and complete chores around the home. Nanna Winnie remembered scrubbing the internal wooden stairs. That is how a staff so small accomplished so much - the children had to help. When my Nanna (Winifred’s daughter) saw my photo of the internal staircase she said: “Imagine how many kids have slid down that railing!” I chuckled to read in the book that Sister Mabel used to delight the children by routinely sliding down that very banister!
In 1911, the State Children’s Act was introduced which specified that children attend school until they turned 13, when they could be apprenticed or employed. The child was to receive pocket money, and the remainder of their owed funds were held in trust until they turned 21. Boys were generally sent to work in rural areas, and girls to work in private homes. Any mistress who wanted to take on a girl was vetted to ensure she would not work the girl too hard, treat her badly or feed her inadequately. Some girls who grew up in the home decided to stay and work there once they came of age.
The cost of a cot (child’s bed) was £5. One girl after coming of age and receiving her bank book paid for a cot as a token of ‘appreciation of the shelter and care given to her and her five brothers and sisters’. That story really touched me and speaks volumes about how the children felt about their childhood there. At garden parties when guests visited the home, the cots were made sure to be clean and the donor’s name clearly visible.
Visiting for parents, relatives or friends was strictly on Saturdays. An older lady named Mrs Petfield would occasionally come to stay, doing sewing and mending. She was affectionately known as Grandma Petfield. The children generally liked the staff and Matrons too. Winnie and Eileen loved their Matron so much they wanted their father to marry her! The timing puts this as Matron Horsley, sister of William Horsley, who married Alice Nicklin.
Winnie and Eileen’s eldest sister was sent to live with wealthy relatives up north. Consequently, she had beautiful dresses, ribbons and dolls. When she would see the little ones that were in the home, Winnie would say: “When you’re finished with that, can I have it?” Most of the time though they made do with handmade clothes peg dolls. On the weekend their father would visit and bring a little gift. One time, he brought a chocolate for his daughters. Winnie saw him but Eileen was away playing. Winnie ate her half and set out to find her sister. By the time she found her, the chocolate was melted in her hand but Eileen licked it right off. Isn’t that such a sweet story of the closeness of the two sisters?
In 1918, the decision was made to add an extension to the home to allow for more children. The ladies increased their fundraising efforts and Matron encouraged the children to play concerts in the suburbs to raise money for the building fund. The Ladies Committee specifically requested that the new wing be set back about three feet to pay homage to the original house. They wanted the new part to be easily recognisable. The Spanish flu delayed work on the new wing, but in October 1919, the Prime Minister unveiled the memorial stone. The new wing allowed more dormitories to be added so more children could be accommodated. Another of Nanna Winnie’s stories that she passed down was that little Eileen wasn’t allowed to have water past a certain time at night, because she was prone to wetting the bed. But she got so thirsty! So her big sister Winnie filled her mouth up with water at the tap on the verandah and squirted it into her little sister’s mouth. These two had a very close bond and it is true that they were fortunate to have each other to cling to.
Around 1921, the isolation ward was built and proved vital in the prevention of sickness during the Bubonic plague, and waves of other children’s diseases such as measles, chicken pox, influenza and polio. Alterations and renovations were undertaken in 1937 and there was a special garden party on 27 November which the Governor attended to reopen the home. During WWII, the children were evacuated to the country for their safety. In 1942, while the children were away, Queen Alexandra Home became Somerville House for a time. Schoolgirls attended their classes there. The staff and children of Queen Alexandra Home returned in 1945 and it continued to operate as a children’s home until 9th September 1960. The government purchased it and it became a Domestic Science Centre, teaching women dressmaking, millinery, cake icing, cookery and floral art. Later on, bakery and pottery classes were introduced. In 1977 it became a Tafe. In 1986, more renovations were completed and it became a community centre. Now it is used by the Department of Education.
Most of the children after they had grown up described Queen Alexandra Home as a happy place, and for this I couldn’t be more grateful. During the 20th century, about 500,000 children experienced life inside an Australian home for children. One hears horrific stories about abuse in orphanages and children’s homes. My Nanna, Mum and myself went to the exhibition Inside: Life in Children’s Homes and Institutions when it was at the Queensland Museum in 2014. It was utterly heartbreaking, and very confronting. I am so disgusted that the neglect and abuse happened to innocent, vulnerable children in care. But I am pleased that finally their stories are being heard, believed and put into the light. My Nanna Winnie’s memories were pleasant and she never shared any bad experiences. The Ladies Committee and staff worked hard to care for the children and made sure they were nurtured. Life in the home was not luxury, but the children were fed, clothed, educated and jobs found for them when they were old enough. In the book ‘Grand old lady of lace’, there is the story of one girl who didn’t have happy memories. No doubt there were difficult times and children who did not enjoy their time at the home. That is to be expected. However, I’m glad that for the most part, Queen Alexandra Home was a happy place.
The following are historic photos available online from the John Oxley Library.
Queen Alexandra Home in 1911 at the time of its sale to the Methodist Church
The Ladies Committee in 1913
Matron and children circa 1917
Matron, Sisters and children circa 1919
Matron McLaren on the ground floor verandah, 1920
The Home after the extension - notice how the extension was set back approximately three feet
Garden party on the grounds of Queen Alexandra Home, 1921
Governor Sir Leslie Orme Wilson unveiling the new memorial gates after renovations in 1937. Look at all the beautiful ladies in hats!
Things have changed a lot over the years but its original glory is well preserved. The most substantial renovations were undertaken in 1919, 1937, 1961, 1986 and 2019. One of Deirdre’s stories from the 2019 renovation is brilliant. While doing excavation work under the floorboards of the Kingsbury Room, bones were discovered! Deirdre rang the police. The conversation went a little something like this:
“We found bones!”
“Mmm hmm.”
“Under a heritage building…”
“Mmm hmm.”
“They’d be over 100 years old…”
“Mmm hmm.”
“It used to be a home for children.”
“OK WE’LL BE THERE IN TEN MINUTES!”
You can imagine the haste of the police once they knew its history. Deirdre said the site was a crime scene for an hour until they were discovered to be cow bones!
Jinx showed me a secret room which was amazing. On the verandah there is a door that opens to what seems to be a small cupboard. There are stairs inside that once led up to the Matron’s room! It has sections of paint from the 1800’s, from when the Nicklins’ resided there. I do love a time capsule in a cupboard…
Please enjoy the following gallery of my photos taken at Queen Alexandra Home in May 2022. Use the arrows to flick through the images.
Unfortunately, none of the furniture, artwork or items that are in the home now belonged to the family. They are all recent additions. There is one painting of interest though.
This gorgeous piece is called Monday Morning and was painted by Vida Lahey in 1912. She was a relation of Jane Lahey, wife of Reuben Nicklin. The original hangs in the Queensland Art Gallery and a copy sits in one of the rooms at Queen Alexandra Home. I loved this painting long before I knew that it had a connection to the home. I bought a postcard from the gallery years ago with this print on it. It is on my bedroom wall with prints of other artwork I love. Now that I know its connection with Queen Alexandra Home, it is even more special to me.
It has been a wonderful journey compiling this blog post. From initial contact with Deirdre, to photographing the home, to meetings with Deirdre, Jinx and Judy and writing this story- my expectations for this project have been exceeded. Thank you to these amazing women and also the Department of Education for allowing me to carry out my creative vision.
This journey has enriched my portrait of Nanna Winnie and I have learnt so much about what life was like for different people in one home over many decades. May Queen Alexandra Home always be the jewel of Old Cleveland Road and a treasured Brisbane icon.
Nanna Winnie married and had three daughters and loved her family very much. She met my Mum but unfortunately she and I just missed each other. She died in 1997 and I was born in 1999. It is my dearest wish to one day meet her in paradise and she can tell me all about her childhood at Queen Alexandra Home.
Thank you for reading and sharing in this journey with me.
Kate x
Mt Coot-tha Aboriginal Art Trail
In February, my family and I went for a bushwalk at Mt Coot-tha’s JC Slaughter Falls and we noticed Indigenous artwork painted on some rocks. I looked it up later and the track we were on used to be an Aboriginal Art Trail! I had no idea that this existed! It was commissioned in 1993 for the International Year of the World’s Indigenous People. It has since been de-commissioned and renamed the Hoop Pine Track. It was a fantastic discovery. I wondered at the time if it was ancient rock art.. but the 90’s is ancient now, right?
The day was dimming, so we walked to the viewing platform then returned the way we came. We will have to go back soon and complete the whole circuit.
Please enjoy this gallery of photos taken on that relaxing afternoon bushwalk.
Rock textures
Aboriginal artwork
Can you spot the figures?
Kate x
Yerra-bin / King Island
Wellington Point has always been a destination in the roadmap of my growing up years. My parents took me to meet friends to play on the playground and climb the majestic trees when I was little. We had picnics by the water and I practised my amateur photography there as a teenager. I went to a high school nearby and even filmed on the Wellington Point jetty for my Year 12 Film and Television project. One of the many attractions at the Point is a little island in the distance that you can actually walk to at low tide! Whenever we would visit I would see it in the distance and wish we had time to walk there. Or if we did have time, it was high tide! Fortunately, everything aligned recently and we were able to walk all the way along the sand bar to the island. There are two informational signs on the island, one which welcomes you to Yerra-bin. I wondered what the traditional Aboriginal name was for the island. I actually didn’t even know what the English name was - it’s King Island. Between 1904 and 1906, Yerra-bin beame home to the Phillips family. They had seven children and a maid and they all lived on the island! It was recommended by medical professionals for their daughter Jo to bathe in the sea water every day as she suffered from polio. They lived in tents and marquees, and their kitchen and dining room was under a big cotton tree. Food was sourced from around the island with fresh water being brought from the mainland. If that wasn’t astounding enough, the father commuted to Brisbane every day for work!
In 1943, The American Navy set up a camp for 1500 men at Wellington Point. Yerra-bin became a target for bombing practise. Thankfully it is still in one piece for us to enjoy today!
Before you set off, definitely remember to wear shoes. Mum and I took our thongs off and left them in the car, thinking we’d be walking on soft sand. It is actually quite gritty and sharp from the rocks and coral so our feet were sore by the end of the 2km return trip. Remember, it’s a seabed when the tide’s up!
Please enjoy this gallery of photos from our walk from Wellington Point to Yerra-bin.
Mangroves- a childhood playground
Looking back from Yerra-bin to Wellington Point
The loveliest sunset
Wellington Point is such a relaxing spot with something for everyone. I’m so glad we finally got to walk out to Yerra-bin - I don’t mind a bit of island exploring, especially when it finishes with a sunset this gorgeous!
Kate x
Hervey Bay
Turn left out of our driveway, right onto Old Cleveland Rd, left onto the Gateway and… breathe a sigh of relief. 2021 was a big year for us and to say we were looking forward to our end of year holiday would be an understatement. After driving north for three and a half hours we arrived in Hervey Bay. We hadn’t been to Hervey Bay before but it had been on the list for a few years and we decided 2021 was the year to tick it off. We hoped it would be the perfect location to unwind. As it turned out, it was a most enriching and memorable holiday.
We checked into our accomodation and immediately took snacks and drinks out onto the balcony. The sun was setting and our view over to Shelly Beach was just exquisite! After I got some snacks into my belly I couldn’t resist the photographic pull any longer, so I crossed the road, headed down the steps to the beach and started shooting. It was a beautiful dusk. We didn’t know it was a full moon so we were in raptures! To illustrate- I took over 440 photos in under half an hour! They don’t call me shutterbug for nothing!
Cotton candy skies looking out over to K’gari/Fraser Island
I couldn’t resist making these images a moody black and white…
Down to the sea
Mum and I were so excited over how many shells there were on the beach! Needless to say we didn’t know it was called Shelly Beach at that point… We heard about the famous Maddigan’s Seafood so we finished our first night in Hervey Bay with the best fish and chips in town.
Over the few days we were there, we spent a lot of time in the shallow water at Shelly Beach. Hervey Bay’s calm water is perfect for paddle-boarding, jet-skiing and swimming. The waters around Fraser Island are so clean and refreshing. Fraser Island is now also called K’gari (pronounced Gari) and the custodians of the land are the Butchulla people. K'gari means ‘paradise’.
Phone photo- Paddle-boarding in Hervey Bay
Our host said Hervey Bay is Australia’s whale watching capital, which I didn’t know before! He explained that the whales come to Moon Point for a rest and a play; it’s not as rough as the open ocean so they go there to chill out. He said the best month to see them is September. Another creature one has to keep a close eye out for are dugongs. They’re shy, so they don’t come out too often. On one of the mornings, he told us there was a dugong just off the shore and he contemplated waking us up to see it!
On Sunday, Dad and I visited the Hervey Bay Historical Village and Museum. I do love a historical village! Is there anything sweeter than losing reality for a little while and walking into old wooden buildings imagining you’re a pioneering school teacher in the middle of the outback teaching the next generation? Just me then… Brian did a corn shelling and rope making demonstration, which was so fascinating. I realised just how much I am a product of modern society. I was amazed at the way people back then invented ingenious machines to do the work. Necessity is the mother of invention, so they say. I didn’t even know how rope was made! Brian showed us how to attach the twine to the machine and turn the handle. As I’m a little bit thick, I asked him the obvious question- ‘how do you make a long piece of rope if the machine is only that long?’ Dad told me later he was waiting for someone else in our group to ask that stupid question but… it was me. Brian let me keep the rope I made and he attached a little tag that says ‘I made this rope on a machine over 100 years old at the Hervey Bay Historical Village and Museum’. I think after some hard knocks I would’ve been a pretty good pioneer. Thankfully we’ll never know…
We wandered down to the blacksmith shed and met Peter. He demonstrated his skills and made a replica horseshoe. He used to work in Sydney on Tommy Smith’s racehorses.
The rope making display and the 100 year old machine
Schoolhouse nostalgia
Which line are you on?
Another favourite display
If I had to pick a favourite room, it would be the Iris Beckman Building Ladies Display. The garments on display are works of art. There are the sweetest little baby jackets, bonnets, booties all handmade with love. What captivated my attention was a cabinet with gorgeous dresses owned by various ladies and donated to the museum. Some are wedding dresses, others debutante gowns. One young lady even won belle of the ball in her dress in 1965! It’s an exquisite dress, so I can see why!
The gorgeous ‘belle of the ball’ dress
Another beautiful dress on display
I wonder what these ports and trunks could tell us about their travels?
Dennis the fire engine
Beautiful sea treasures in a room filled with minerals, crystals, shells and coral
Call me Carrots… if you dare
Everyone at the village was lovely, and the facilities were super clean. I could see my face in the bathroom floor it was so clean- I think that deserves some recognition.
The next day Dad and I walked to the very end of Urangan Pier. It felt like such a huge achievement, considering it’s almost a kilometre! It used to be even longer. There were many fisherman along the way, contentedly waiting by their rods. There were millions of tiny crabs busily working away.
The end of Urangan Pier, looking back on the fisherman
I found Hervey Bay Eco Marine Tours in a Fraser Coast brochure. I really wanted to experience the traditional culture of the Butchulla people and there was a whole section in this brochure that had Aboriginal experiences available. We booked the Turtle Discovery Tour with Hervey Bay Eco Marine Tours. Tuesday morning we met Joe Joe at the office and he fitted our snorkels and flippers. We boarded the Milbi (meaning ‘turtle’ in the Butchulla language) and got settled. Joe Joe (the entertainment) and Will (the skipper) immediately put everyone at ease with their cracker jokes and chilled music. The sweetest little family were sitting next to us, they had a two year old daughter who was Miss Personality! She had no fear at all, so her parents had to keep an eye on her constantly so she didn’t end up overboard. I got comfy cross-legged on the back of the boat on one of the platforms where you could sit (pictured below). Little Miss sat on my lap and we said ‘bubble’ and ‘fish’ as we floated through the stunning scenery. It was impossible not to relax.
Phone photo- Pelican Bank straight ahead!
On the way to Pelican Bank, Dad was the first person to spot a turtle! We saw quite a few dolphins which had everyone in the boat standing up oohing and aahing. Joe Joe spotted a stingray and there was an abundance of harmless jellyfish bobbing along the boat. Joe Joe had fish spotting sunnies so he stood at the back of the boat and could see whatever was in the water. He told us stories and jokes and kept us laughing.
The Milbi stopped near Pelican Bank and we disembarked. Pelican Bank was a paradise - crystal clear blue water and pristine white sand. Joe Joe set up umbrellas for us white fellas so we didn’t end up pink fellas. We were free to explore and enjoy the island. They said we could also use the time to practise using our snorkels, ready for the open ocean. While I was swimming, I accidentally kicked a big fat jellyfish. The texture is unmistakable. There’s a reason Dory called her jellyfish ‘Squishy’… I put my snorkel up to my face and peered under. I didn’t spot it straight away, and hoped I had been imagining things. But alas, there it was. It was the weirdest looking jelly I’ve ever seen. Hope he’s doing ok.
Mum and I walked around the whole island with Joe Joe and chatted. He told us about meeting Prince Harry (on Harry’s Instagram he posted “I met Joe Joe!”) and playing the didgeridoo for Olivia Newton John when he saw her at the airport. He also told us about how he is the model for Michael Cook’s photographic work, which is exhibited all over the world. Fiona Foley, the award-winning author and artist, is Joe Joe’s cousin. I was so excited to learn that connection because in my research about Butchulla country I saw her name featured a lot.
Joe Joe and the Milbi
While Dad and Joe Joe were talking, Mum and I were playing around nearby in the shallow water. As we were hyper alert to spotting marine life in the waters, I spotted something floating nearby. I moved closer and saw it was a half masticated fish. I nervously picked it up by the tail and exhibited it so my parents and Joe Joe could admire my bravery. However, when I went to fling it back to the ocean, it broke in half, becoming more gross and I screamed, running back to shore. So much for that plan.
Joe Joe played the didgeridoo and clap sticks for us. The clap sticks were made from black wattle. He told us the most fascinating things about plants, stars and the sea. As we cruised past the islands, he pointed out big nests that we could see in the distance and explained what birds lived there.
Joe Joe’s humorous re-enactment of ‘Cookie’ and ‘Smithy’ landing in Australia
Our Milbi family started to board again and while waiting for the others, some of the kids started jumping off the roof into the water. I decided I wanted to do that too. I mean, how hard could it be?! Will moved the boat out a bit deeper for me because I’m so tall, and I climbed up the ladder to the roof. I then realised my mistake. Looking down, the water looked miles away. My pride stepped in and I said to myself- “can’t back out now!” So I jumped and accidentally screamed again. The feeling of falling for what felt like forever was super scary! Joe Joe was proud of me for having a go, and I was proud of me too, but I think I’ll leave it to the kids next time!!
After some more cruising around the Great Sandy Strait Marine Park, Will announced that we had reached the reef. I’d never snorkelled before and was so excited. There was beautiful coral and fish! I felt like I had a portal to another world, I couldn’t stop peering under the water with my snorkel, marvelling at all that lay beneath. On the way back to the marina I got to cuddle baby girl again. She was very tired after such a big day, but she fought off sleep like nobody’s business. The atmosphere on board was like that of a big family. We parted ways at the end of the day with happy hearts and wonderful memories of the Milbi. It was an enriching cultural experience that I can’t recommend enough.
That night, we went to Enzo’s on the Beach for dinner. It was incredible!! Mum and Dad ordered the scallops for an entrée and I got oysters. I traded Mum an oyster for a scallop and… It was the most amazing thing I’ve ever tasted. Mum and Dad said they were the best scallops they’d ever had! I’m still drooling over them, even now. We were at a table overlooking the beach and it couldn’t have been more perfect. It reminded us of a restaurant we visited in Pattaya, Thailand with our dear friends while they were living there. Such happy memories.
Mum and I went to the Urangan Markets the next morning. The markets are on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 7am-1pm. I got gluten free vegan donuts and natural facial products from Wander & Find so I was a happy girl. We went for a little stroll on the pier and a crowd was gathering around one fisherman with a line that was completely bent over. He was trying to reel in whatever was on the end, but it was so strong and very stubborn! Eventually they realised it was a stingray. They were able to hook it up and set it free again. Poor fella got caught in all the action!
Urangan Markets
On one of our final evenings in Hervey Bay, we enjoyed a lovely sunset cruise with Blue Dolphin. They provided drinks and nibbles and it was our job to relax! Just gorgeous!
Phone photo- Mum and I onboard the Blue Dolphin
Where the whales play
Thank you for the most wonderful holiday Hervey Bay. You exceeded our expectations and were the perfect getaway to recuperate from 2021. We will definitely be back! Maybe we will return in September to see some whales…
Kate x
Framing Guide
Congratulations! You’ve just bought your new Kate Bryan Photography fine art print! Now what? Well, the fun is only beginning! Let me help you frame your print so you can have it sitting pretty on your wall as soon as possible.
Step 1. Gather some inspo
While you’re waiting for your print to arrive in the mail, find some inspiration pictures that you like. Create a folder on your phone, cut out images from old Country Style magazines or put together a Pinterest board of frames you like. Some prints look great with a white mat board framing the image, others look like a beautiful natural window when they fill the frame. Many custom framers have a selection of sustainable Australian native timber options, which is a stunning go-to for natural images (see Step 2 for my list of framers that stock these).
Step 2. Choose a framer
Choose a local framer. If you live in Brisbane, I would recommend Artis Pura or The Framer West End. If you live elsewhere in Australia, click here to view my list of framers that stock sustainable Australian native timber custom frames. Take your print to your framer as soon as you receive your print and talk about your vision. You might want to show them your inspiration folder too. As all Kate Bryan Photography prints are custom sizes, your framer will create a frame especially for your print. It will be snug as a bug and look fantastic.
Step 3. Hang your frame
Hang your piece on two hooks. Steer clear of any sticky hooks; you don’t want your frame to fall and get damaged. Humidity and moisture will harm your piece over time so try not to hang it near direct sunlight or an air-conditioning unit.
Happy framing! Don’t forget to send me a picture or tag me on Instagram so I can see your masterpiece.
Kate x
Maryborough
This is a story about Mary.
In Queensland’s Wide Bay region lies a historic city called Maryborough. The area was called Moonaboola by the First Nations people. The town was settled by Europeans in the mid 1800’s, and was even considered for being the capital of Queensland! It would have been a bustling town in its beginning- manufacturing trains, building ships and receiving immigrants from the other side of the world. In 1848, the Governor at the time, Charles Fitzroy, named the river after his beloved wife, Lady Mary. He also instructed the booming town to be named Maryborough. Lady Mary was the daughter of the Duke of Richmond. She and Captain Charles Fitzroy married and his career saw them travel the world before arriving in Australia in 1846. They had four children; three sons and one daughter (named Mary).
Maryborough is also put on the map by being the birthplace of the author of Mary Poppins. The genius behind the iconic nanny, P. L. Travers (born Helen Lyndon Goff) was born in an upstairs bedroom of the Australian Joint Stock Bank in 1899. The building is now a Mary Poppins museum called The Story Bank. Her father was bank manager for a few years while she was little. Her story is brought to life in the film Saving Mr Banks. Just make sure you have some tissues handy! The museum is just gorgeous; full of wonder and whimsy. One of the lovely ladies there gave us an introduction of what to expect inside. She said it’s an interactive museum- read things, touch things (there was sanitiser everywhere). “If the phone rings, answer it!” she laughed. With that invitation, I was itching to get through the door, like an excited child in Mary Poppin’s world.
Jane and Michael
Up the banisters!
The quilt is a gorgeous collage of mementos relating to Travers’ life
Admiral Boom!
With your imagination well and truly fired up, one feels like a creative release. A room upstairs has word-searches, colouring ins and a large board with dozens of words and lots of colourful, intertwining wool. P. L. Travers once told a friend that the people and the objects of her life were like a spindle around which she wove the threads of her imagination. The activity invites guests to choose one of the coloured threads and connect the words that illustrate the story of your life. It was so much fun reading the words and winding my pink thread around the words that meant something to me. It took me ten tries to get my wool to wrap around the ‘Animals’ nail. It’s a popular one!
Get a picture with Mary Poppins herself, outside The Story Bank museum
Wait…
Now you may cross! Spit spot!
The staff at Story Bank were so friendly. Make sure you pop in the next time the wind changes and you find yourself in Maryborough.
After The Story Bank, we took a drive around town, and stumbled upon Point Lookout- the spot where someone kept watch to signal the arrival of supply ships. The lookout was used between 1843-1856.
We then made our way back to Queens Park and had a wander. It’s a lovely pocket - within walking distance from the park are four heritage buildings: The Story Bank, Heritage Centre, Court House and Customs House. I read every plaque and took a million pictures! We were there on a Thursday, when the bell rings out over town. There is something so wonderful about hearing a town bell chime when you aren’t expecting it!
The original residence at Customs House was built in 1899, and is now Portside, a vibrant cafe and restaurant. Time didn’t permit us to enjoy a meal there, but the music and atmosphere that was drifting onto the street was hard to pass up!
Customs House is a striking building with its locally made red-faced brick
Queens Park has a model railway system made by the Model Engineers and Live Steamers Association. If you are in town on the last Sunday of the month, stop by to experience the mini steam trains whistling along and Maryborough’s Brass Band playing in the 1890 rotunda.
The Court House
This Banyan Fig is thought to be planted in the late 1800’s, and is one of the largest of its kind in Australia! Next to the giant tree are musical instruments that can be played by passersby. The delightful sounds ring throughout the park for everyone to enjoy.
The Heritage Centre is a treasure trove of information. Downstairs is the Maryborough Family Heritage Institute, which has one of the largest collections of genealogy records. These include immigration details, and cemetery and burial records for a number of Queensland regions.
Located upstairs is the Maryborough District Family History Society, which has more information for the avid genealogist, with a large volume of records, historical books, articles and photographs. What are you waiting for? Dive in!
The Heritage Centre, where they have immigration records and genealogy clues to help you discover your Queensland ancestors
Brennan and Geraghty’s Store Museum is a historical grocery store that was operated by one family between 1871 to 1972. That’s over 100 years in one family! The store shut its doors in the 1970’s and was obtained by the National Trust of Queensland for future generations to enjoy. I wish grocery stores were still so quaint and adorable.
I have personal connections to Maryborough too. My lovely great grandmother Winifred (not Mrs Banks) moved to Maryborough while pregnant with her first child in 1931. Winnie went up to Maryborough from Beenleigh, although newly married and pregnant, to support her father. She worked in a hotel or pub, so I guess that does make her like Mrs Banks. Strong women! My great grandfather sent money to her weekly, but she never received it. After a while, it was discovered that her step mother had been steaming open the envelopes and taking the money before Winnie got her hands on the letter! Once my great grandfather heard about this, he said ‘that’s it, you’re coming home!’ But before she made the journey, her first baby girl was born in Maryborough.
I was also reminded recently that my grandparents met in Maryborough. I never realised how much Maryborough is part of the tapestry of my heritage! It is a lovely city, and I am proud to have connections to it. I’m looking forward to going back to The Heritage Centre when it’s open and seeing what else I can discover about Maryborough and my family.
Kate x
Jimbour House
Jimbour House - an exquisite sandstone jewel framed by majestic Moreton Bay figs is a 25 minute drive from Dalby, Queensland.
This segment from Jimbour House’s website sums it up beautifully:
“A vision sprung from the plains in 1875 - ornate French doors, Tuscan columns, those wide Queensland verandahs and a roof forged from Welsh slate. Everything about Jimbour’s main residence surprises, delights and intrigues. The construction draws you in, but the stories of these walls keep you captivated with every step.”
Prior to the arrival of Europeans, the land was known as Gimba and inhabited by people of the Barungam language group. Gimba means ‘little white clouds’. The Barungam people hadn’t experienced sheep before and the view of sheep grazing across the grasslands reminded them of little white clouds. How fluffy and soft that image is! The name ‘Jimbour’ was inspired from the original language word of ‘Gimba’.
Jimbour was quite an establishment - 200 people lived and worked on the property and 45 shepherds cared for 300,000 sheep. That’s A LOT of cute clouds.
In 1844, the famous explorer Ludwig Leichhardt stayed at Jimbour Station in the slab hut before his exploration of western Queensland and the Northern Territory.
The dreamiest pavilion overlooking the rose garden and pool
Jimbour was sold in 1912 after a financial downturn. The house unfortunately fell into disrepair. Ceilings collapsed into empty rooms. The once spectacular garden was now a wilderness. Thankfully, the Russell family rescued Queensland’s jewel and reopened the house with a fundraising ceremony for Dalby hospital in 1925.
Located in the drawing room is a bedside table that was owned by Florence Nightingale. The book lying on the table reveals an inscription to her godchild, who was Mrs Russell’s mother.
Jimbour has a delicious connection with aviation. Charles Russell returned from the United States and brought with him a Beechcraft F17D Staggerwing. The Russells owned Tiger Moths, Miles Geminis and various Beechcrafts from the 1930’s onwards. Charles was determined to conquer the obstacle of distance and modernised Jimbour by introducing flight. An innovative step, which helped him oversee the numerous pastoral properties he had.
One challenge the graziers experienced was being trapped by rising floodwaters. In 1936, Charles found himself in such a situation and telephoned his agent to send a plane to rescue him. He was put through to the pilot to obtain landing instructions and upon hearing a female voice, Charles exclaimed ‘My God! It’s a woman!’ Nancy Bird-Walton, a pioneering aviator, rescued him, much to his surprise. His comment became the title of her autobiography.
The private airstrip can be used today for incoming guests, or even wedding photos, as I recently saw on Jimbour House’s Instagram page. SO COOL!
The aviation connection was a delightful surprise for my Dad, who is passionate for all things with wings. He starting flying at age 14. Now he keeps his feet on the ground and face pointed skyward. The fact that Jimbour has its own airstrip and hangar was super exciting to him. He peeked into the hangar and subsequently declared ‘there’s nothing in there!’ Of course, I then had to peek too and saw there was, in fact, a car in there. He only has eyes for planes!
This is the photo I colour-picked my branding colour green from. I love green! It’s the Australian bush, it evokes a nostalgic eucalyptus scent in my brain and makes me think of family driving holidays out in the middle of nowhere. The best sort of memories.
Jimbour House has always been a centre for the community. Today they welcome visitors to tour the house and gardens, host functions and music festivals, celebrate weddings and even invite film crews to shoot there.
Come and savour this European beauty in Queensland’s western downs while oversees travel is but a distant memory. The captivating stories will stay with you for a long time to come. Be careful what you say though- it might be immortalised in someone’s autobiography!
Kate x
Visit Jimbour House’s website to find out more and plan your visit.
https://jimbour.com/
Taabinga Homestead
Taabinga Homestead is located in Wakka Wakka country, less than three hours from Brisbane and directly inland from the Sunshine Coast.
Mum found this spectacular place on the internet and I purposely didn’t look into it too much before our arrival, thrilled by the prospect of staying at a 175 year old homestead. My imagination was captivated and I wanted to see it firsthand, unspoiled.
Taabinga has been passed down from generation to generation of the Youngman family. Libby Leu and Colin Marshall own it now. It boasts being one of the oldest continually occupied homesteads in Queensland. Plus, it’s still a working cattle farm! What a unique gem tucked away in Queensland’s southwest Burnett region.
Staying on a property as special as Taabinga was a dream come true. Libby was so kind and took me inside to see the original homestead, as I had expressed my interest in heritage properties. Walking slowly into the grand dining and lounge room, my breath caught in my throat. The grandness and gravity of the room was intoxicating. Libby related that many happy family dinners had been spent there over the years. It was easy to imagine generations of family celebrating life in these stunning rooms. Everything from the 1940’s wallpaper, gold framed mirror and beautiful Indigenous artwork enchanted me.
If I ever become sophisticated enough to have wallpaper, I want my teacups to match.
A cosy corner with all the classics
There are many outbuildings, including a dairy, meat house, laundry and blacksmith’s workshop. Back in the day, Taabinga would have been a bustling hub, with townsfolk coming and going, and staff and family working hard. Life on the land certainly wasn’t easy. The kitchen was in a separate building near the house. So you actually had to walk outside to go to the kitchen (it’s still original, and outside). And when I got up in the early hours to go to the bathroom (which was inside, FYI) I shivered and thought about the hardy stockmen while I washed my hands with icy water.
I soon learnt though that there was much more history on this site than 175 years of white man.
Of course, a property like Taabinga doesn’t survive 175 years trouble-free. One challenge came in the shape of a fierce storm in October 2018. It left significant damage to the main home and outbuildings. The Department of Environment and Science provided a heritage conservation grant to restore the damaged stone work. The renovations were completed in 2020.
Oh I love old doors!
The gorgeous canopied driveway with signature grid- keep the cows in
I wanted to get some photos and Libby directed us down to one of the cow paddocks. I was a bit hesitant, but Libby reassured us- ‘They’re not bulls, just young females. They might be curious but they won’t hurt you.’ Right. Between you and me I was still very nervous and trod slowly, chanting ‘Hiiiii cows!’ the whole time. I got some curious cows in my photos and the light couldn’t have been more perfect. I think by the end, the cows and I had a mutual respect for our working relationship.
… hi cows …
A ten minute walk up an adjacent hill leads you to the homestead’s private cemetery. To be honest, I put off editing the photos I took there until the end because they made me so emotional. The site is so special, and standing there I felt very sombre, appreciating the lives laid to rest. Libby explained that members of her family had been buried in the cemetery, and pointed them out. There was also the grave of two children of the first white landowners, Charles and Rosa Haly.
Up until then, I didn’t know that properties could have their own cemeteries. And I was also amazed that the site had been a designated cemetery for so long.
The grave of the two Haly children
What I found to be particularly remarkable were eight stones lined up at the eastern end of the cemetery. I had noticed them but weren’t sure what they meant. I found it intriguing that they were in two straight lines, I thought surely it wasn’t an accident they were positioned like that. Libby explained that those stones were believed to be the graves of Aboriginal children, who died around 1858. Hearing that made the hairs on my arms stand up straight and rendered me speechless. I felt so honoured to be visiting this sacred spot. Libby related that long ago, some boys who worked on the station started playing around with the stones and moving them. The head stockman quickly and firmly put a stop to that- ‘Don’t touch them, they are Aboriginal children’s graves. Put them back.’ Libby and Colin have invited people of Wakka Wakka descent to visit Taabinga and pay their respects to the Aboriginal children buried there, in the way befitting their culture. One elderly Aboriginal woman refused to come, it was so upsetting to her. It is certainly a tale that the local people know and respect. I am so glad the precious anecdote has been passed down the generations, so the children can be remembered.
Four stones in two distinct lines - the Aboriginal children’s graves
The all-encompassing peace was extraordinary. Birds called merrily to each other, and a wallaby stopped and looked at me for a while. Visiting the cemetery touched me deeply; it’s a place I’ll never forget.
We walked back down the hill to the homestead and took some photos of the house as the sun sank below the horizon. What an idyllic spot to spend the last light of the afternoon!
Plaque reads: ‘Taabinga was taken up in 1846 by the brothers Charles Robert and William O’Grady Haly. The property then had an area of 305 square miles, and it included the whole of the Stuart River watershed, from the Bunya Mountains to Home Creek near Tingoora. Mount Haly was named after them. Charles Robert Haly, who was born at Amboise in France, became the sole owner in 1859, and he was the first member of Parliament for the Burnett district, in 1860. Thomas Alford, formerly part-owner of the Coochin Coochin station, purchased Taabinga in 1875, and, for a period, his younger brother Richard Symes Alford, managed it for him. In 1887, Thomas Alford sold 155 square miles to Arthur Youngman of South Yarra, Melbourne, who gave the land for a post office, police paddock, churches and school of the arts. This decided the site for the town of Kingaroy. Arthur Youngman died in 1935.
This plaque was unveiled by his widow, Daphne Florence Youngman, on Thursday, 17th March, 1966, and it was affixed to part of the original homestead as the gift of the Queensland Women’s Historical Association.’
Eventually, the sun set on our remarkable day. The golden light of the afternoon almost matched the warm hospitality we experienced from Libby and Colin. I can’t thank them enough for making our stay at Taabinga so personal and memorable.
To round off our visit to a true blue Australian homestead, we watched The Man From Snowy River that night. The theme song played over and over in my mind as I drifted off to sleep, and I reflected on the hard slog of the families who settled Taabinga, but more significantly, the Wakka Wakka people who worked hard long before that, and loved and lost along the way in this treacherous but mesmerising country.
Kate x