One of the ‘benefits’ of being in lockdown has been taking the opportunity to sort some of my photos. One of the photos was an image of a map portion of Brisbane produced for a supplement of the July Edition of the
Illustrated Sydney News, taken in a boarding house in Spring Hill. Attached to the map was a comment scribbled on masking tape saying ‘taken from a balloon’. My photo was merely a prompt to go and find the map in
Trove. Two years later I followed the prompt. I found the relevant edition but ... the map was missing, i.e. the
Trove edition did not include a copy of the supplement. But as it turns out courtesy of the
State Library of Queensland, the item does appear in
Google Arts and Culture [
here is the link]. It is amazing. I think it would make a great jigsaw.
For people who know Brisbane it is fascinating to zoom in and identify extant buildings, and in some cases sites which no longer exist. The layout of the streets is very similar to the layout used today.
Illustrated Sydney News produced a key map to the illustration in their July 1881 Edition, see below, and further below a similar view from the current (April 2020) version of Google Earth.
Here are some suggestions for what to look for on the 1881 illustration (consider this a cartographers version of ‘Where’s Wally?’).
Use the link not the picture!
- The Commissariat Stores
- The dry dock, now the Maritime Museum
- The site of the Old Gaol, now the Barracks Precinct
- The following churches
- St John's Anglican
- St Stephen's Catholic
- All Saints, Wickham Tce
- Christ Church, Milton
- The Botanic Gardens and its associated heritage buildings
- The Legislative Building
- Government House
- Ipswich Road on Kangaroo Point
- Roma Street Railway Station
- See why Wharf Street is so named
- Can you find a big top tent?
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| The wharves on Wharf St, detail from the map. |
In the remainder of this post I include the transcript of the accompanying two articles from the
Illustrated Sydney News and New South Wales Agriculturalist and Grazier (NSW : 1872 - 1881), Saturday 9 July 1881 edition and any relevant illustrations from the same edition. The author clearly had a positive spin on the city.
MR. ANTHONY TROLLOPE has described Brisbane as being a commodious town very prettily situated on the Brisbane River, with Courts of Justice, Houses of Parliament, a Governor's residence, Public Gardens, and all the requirements of a capital for a fine and independent colony. This, while accurate so far as it goes, hardly conveys an adequate idea of the true character of the busy and thriving capital of Queensland, which is far better known to Englishmen from the numerous letters received from those who have left their olden homes to seek their fortune in the bright, sunny lands of the Southern Hemisphere, than from the smartly written narratives of travellers, who, how-ever clever with the pen, have not given themselves sufficient time to become properly acquainted with the real characteristics and prospects of Colonial enterprise, as manifested by the almost marvellous rise and growth of Brisbane. The City is far larger and possesses considerably greater commercial and industrial importance than those who are not familiar with its leading features and the extent of its trade are aware. In many respects, the site is happily chosen, despite the obstacles which at present impede the navigation of the river by large vessels. We say "at present" because when the dredging operations now in progress are completed, vessels drawing 25 feet will be enabled to ascend the river to the city wharves. For some years the growth of Brisbane was comparatively slow, but with the erection of the Moreton Bay district into a separate and independent colony, under the name of Queensland, and the establishment of the seat of Government at Brisbane, a remarkable change took place. The circumstance of the colonists having become entrusted with the management of their own affairs, appears to have infused increased spirit and determination into everything they undertook, and with the increase of population and wealth, Brisbane speedily began to take rank as a leading Colonial City.
During the last few years its progress has been most rapid, and in all directions the mass of dwellings is extending much in the same fashion as at Sydney, although the demand for building land has not reached anything like the proportions of that in the older capital. Brisbane is divided into four portions -- North Brisbane, South Brisbane, Kangaroo Point, and Fortitude Valley ; it also forms three electorates -- North Brisbane and South Brisbane, each returning two members ; and Fortitude Valley, one member. The present population of the city is estimated at over 34,000, and the number is rapidly increasing. The city occupies an area of 2,138 acres, the rateable value of the house property being estimated at more than one and a half millions sterling -- the actual value being considerably in excess of two millions. The city was incorporated September 7, 1859, so that its civic existence does not extend over a period of more than 22 years. As shewn in our view the streets are broad and well-laid out, afford not only every accommodation for passenger and vehicular traffic, but also furnishing abundance of light and air, thereby assisting largely in increasing the natural healthiness of the city. The six principal thoroughfares are Ann, Adelaide, Queen, Elizabeth, Charlotte, and Mary Streets. Of these Queen Street is to Brisbane what George Street is to Sydney or Bourke or Collins Streets to Melbourne. The principal intersecting thoroughfares are William, George, Albert, Edward, Creek, and Wharf Streets. The length of street in all is 58 miles, with over 4,000 dwellings. There are 32 churches and chapels, as follows : Episcopal, 7 ; Wesleyan, 3 ; Baptist, 4 ; Congregational, 3 ; other denominations, 15. The Cathedral Church is St. John's Church, in William Street, by the river side, not far from the Victoria Bridge. Adjoining the church is a lofty frame-work of wood, intended as a bell-tower, containing a peal of eight bells. The Presbyterian Church, in Creek Street, is a fine building, and having a spire 120 feet high, forms a conspicuous object almost in the centre of our view. The Town Hall is in Queen Street, and is largely used for public meetings and other purposes. In the same thoroughfare is the Post Office, which, together with the central Telegraph Office, forms a noble range of buildings. Among the other public edifices, most of which form prominent features in our view, may be mentioned Government House, situated in the Government Domain, adjoining the Botanical Gardens ; the Houses of Legislature, in George Street, near the entrance to the Government Domain ; the Government Printing Office, the New Museum, the Custom House, the Masonic Hall, Temperance Hall, and the School of Arts.
There are numerous banksand wholesale business establishments, many occupying premises possessing considerable architectural pretension. Among the latter may be mentioned the establishments of Messrs. Hoffnung & Co., and Messrs. Elliott Brothers, which are alluded to elsewhere. The Victoria iron bridge, which, as will be seen on reference to our view, connects North and South Brisbane, is on the lattice-girder principle, with swing openings to admit the passage of ships. It was designed by Robinson and I'Anson, of Darlington ; the iron work was manufactured by Peto, Brassey, and Betts, of Birkenhead ; and it was erected under the engineership of the late Thomas Oldham and subsequently of J. R. Jones. It was commenced in 1863, and was opened with some ceremony by the Marquis of Normanby on June 15th, 1874. Its completion was delayed for some time through an alteration in the plans. Its entire length is 1,080 feet, length between abutments on shores 1,013 feet. It is divided into 13 spans, nine being of 82 feet, two of 52 feet 6 inches, and a double-armed swing span of 170 feet. The piers are a double column of cast iron cylinders, supporting lattice girders 9 feet in depth, which, to allow of expansion and contraction, rest on rollers 6 inches in diameter. The roadway between the girders is 30 feet clear, footways of 6 feet, protected by light lattice ironwork hand-railing, being carried on each side of the outside girders by cantalivers. The weight of iron used was -- cast iron, 1,190 tons ; wrought, 911 tons, making a total of 2,100 tons. The bridge has a gradient of 1 in 90, and the swing when open affords two passages of 60½ feet clear width.
Brisbane abounds with educational, charitable, and other institutions, and the means of physical recreation are afforded by handsome promenades along the upper banks of the river, the Botanic Gardens, the Queen's Park, &c. The elevated position of the city, from 50 to 100 feet above the sea-level, conduces largely to its general healthiness, which will become increased when the new thorough system of drainage becomes completed. There is an abundant supply of good water, from a large artificial lake in the ranges near the Heads of the Enoggera Creek, seven miles distance from the city, whence it is conveyed by a double service of pipes into smaller pipes that reticulate all parts of the city. The area of the watershed is about 7,000 acres, and the storage capacity of water, one thousand million gallons. Brisbane forms the terminus of the Southern and Western Railway ; the station, which is shown in our view, is one of the most tastefully designed and commodious in Australia, but, like that in Sydney, possesses the defect of being situated at a distance from the business centre of the city. Brisbane is well supplied with public conveyances, by means of which almost every part of the city and suburbs are cheaply and easily accessible. South Brisbane, which is to North Brisbane something like what the North Shore is to Sydney, is rapidly becoming a mass of spacious streets and buildings, the chief means of inter-communication between the two portions of the city being the Victoria Bridge. The extension of Brisbane backward from the river has been much hindered by the hilly nature of the ground, which has caused the formation of new roads and streets to be attended by considerable expense and labour. One marked characteristic of the population is its generally healthy appearance, and the absence of aged features. In fact, the people of the city represent more largely than those in the older capitals the large and never-ceasing infusion of fresh blood from England -- a circumstance which explains the English tone of feeling which everywhere is found manifesting itself. It is generally assumed that a warm climate produces an enervating effect upon the inhabitants ; but there is nothing of this observable in Brisbane, for the activity and unwearied enterprise of the citizens is apparent to the most superficial, and the business-like manner in which city improvements are effected might be studied with advantage by the members of the City municipality. Brisbane and its people are worthy of each other : a fine, rising city, inhabited by a young, busy, thriving, and successful population.
MESSRS. S. HOFFNUNG & Co., CHARLOTTE ST.
The fine building lately erected in Charlotte Street, Brisbane, by the enterprising firm of Messrs. S. Hoffnung and Co., consists of five storeys, each storey being lofty and well lighted. The approach to each floor being by bold and spacious stairs of cedar. The design and treatment forms a feature of attraction. The ground floor has a spacious entrance from the street at each end of the building ; the extensive warehouses in the rear being reached, by means of covered passages, from the ground and first floors of the new edifice, the whole forming a large and commodious block of buildings adapted in every respect for the extensive business requirements of the firm. The facade of the new building forms the principal architectural feature of Charlotte Street, and the structure may fairly be regarded as the most hand-some of its kind devoted to commercial purposes in Brisbane, the design being a free treatment of Italian, beautifully proportioned, and effectively broken up into bays by rich foliated piers. The floors are marked by well designed strings with enriched blockings broken around piers, producing a fine effect of light and shade; the entrances being bold and striking. The whole of the details are beautifully balanced, and the entire exterior forms a piece of architecture worthy of admiration, reflecting great credit to the architect, Mr. Thomas Rowe, of Sydney. The building has been faithfully erected by Mr. Doorey, contractor, under the superintendence of Mr. John Hall, architect, both of Brisbane.
MESSRS. ELLIOTT BROTHERS, EAGLE STREET.
The history of the business of Messrs. Elliott Brothers, the well known importers and dealers in drugs, chemicals, and sundries, of Sydney and Brisbane, is eminently characteristic of Colonial commercial enterprise. The business was first established in Sydney by Messrs. Youngman and Co. in 1844. Ten years later that firm started a similar business in Melbourne, the growth of which proved so rapid that, five years later, in 1859, they disposed of the Sydney concern to Messrs. Elliott Brothers, by whom it has since been conducted with great success. The rising importance of Queensland induced Messrs. Elliott Brothers to form a branch house at Brisbane, where there appeared to exist a reasonable chance of laying the foundations of a good business. Their expectations have been fully realized, and at the premises in Eagle Street, of which we furnish an illustration, the amount of trade done during the last five years shows that Messrs. Elliott Brothers acted wisely in selecting that city as the scene of their additional business operations, forming, as it does, a point from whence continual communication is maintained with the North and North-Eastern districts of Australia.
OFFICES OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUTUAL PROVIDENT SOCIETY, QUEEN STREET.
Our illustration gives a fine view of the Queensland branch office of this society. This edifice, which was erected in 1879 to meet the requirements of the Society's rapidly increasing Queensland business, is an imposing structure, the whole of the front being constructed of the finest ashlar stone, specially imported from the Pyrmont quarries. The entrance is in Union Street, and the ground floor is utilized for the business of the Society, while the basement and first floors are available for letting. The building is, perhaps, the most imposing in the first business street of the city of Brisbane, and reflects great credit on the architect and contractor, Messrs. Cowlishaw and Holmes. The progress of the Mutual Provident Society has been unparalleled in its rapidity. Though only 32 years of age, and confining its efforts for business exclusively to the Australian colonies, it has for several years been transacting an amount of new business largely in excess of that of any other office in the British Empire. On the 31st December last the society had in force 43,206 policies, assuring upwards of £16,000,000 sterling, with an annual income from all sources of £760,000. The accumulated funds have reached the imposing amount of £3,379,510, and the office has already divided nearly £1,000,000 sterling in cash bonuses with policyholders.
