There are some poignantly historic markers of death in the Springsure region, the most notable the remote cemetery marking the Wills massacre at Cullin-la-ringo. You can read about that story here. But in the town’s spread-out cemetery lie some fading remnants of people whose tales are slowly being lost to history. John George Wheeler wasContinue reading “Springsure cemetery holds links to history”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
One turn of the windmill
Hughenden, 1928 – Fifty-year-old Charles John Burdekin Abbott had made sure the windmill was turned off before he climbed up to do some repairs. According to newspaper reports, he and a workboy were at his neighbour’s property Wyoming. His neighbour was in hospital, so he was doing him a favour. But a gust of windContinue reading “One turn of the windmill”
Fence the dams, the town cried
Charters Towers, 1885 – The drowning death of Nell Richards led for calls for the town’s dams to be fenced before any more children were lost. Elizabeth Ellen, known as Nell, was watching her younger sister bathe with several other children at Mr Mill’s dam at the top end of Mosman Street. Nell was onContinue reading “Fence the dams, the town cried”
Settler’s wife burns while cooking dinner
1926 – “Harry, I am in flames,” Florence Muir cried. She had just put a pot of apples on the stove, and while walking to the table smelt something burning. She looked down and saw her dress on fire, the flames quickly growing. Her husband, Harry was having a rest as he waited for hisContinue reading “Settler’s wife burns while cooking dinner”
Amputation saved life – briefly
1880 – Henry Yelverton was considered the most experienced timber merchant in the colony of Western Australia. Yelverton was the man responsible for supplying timber for and constructing the Busselton jetty, the 1.8k heritage-listed landmark and major tourist attraction. He was certainly one of the richest men in the region. As well as his timberContinue reading “Amputation saved life – briefly”
Teen sulky driver hits stump
1922 – Fourteen-year-old John Geoghegan was driving home in a sulky with his sister when it hit a stump and overturned. They were about six miles from Jarrahwood, a small settlement between Busselton and Nannup in Western Australia. His sister was thrown clear. A local woman, Mrs. Buckingham, who was riding home, found the boyContinue reading “Teen sulky driver hits stump”
Busselton’s old cemetery boasts many great stories
The stories this graveyard could tell. The Old Busselton cemetery lies within cooee of the famed Busselton Jetty, the southern hemisphere’s longest timber jetty. The man who was responsible for the supply of that timber lies in the cemetery. Henry Yelverton died in a timber industry accident that led to an in-the-field leg amputation. ReadContinue reading “Busselton’s old cemetery boasts many great stories”
Massacre sign does not tell full story
It was commonly known as the Wills massacre, but the history of the battle which took place at Cullin-la-ringo near Springsure in Central Queensland is being slowly reshaped. The 1861 attack, in which 19 European men, women and children were killed, was the single largest massacre of colonists by Aboriginal people in Australian history. ButContinue reading “Massacre sign does not tell full story”
Cowcatcher kills engine driver
George Kembery (also called Kimbery by the newspapers) was an off-duty engine driver who fell asleep on the railway tracks at the Bogantungan Railway station. This obviously wasn’t a clever place to sleep, especially at 3am on a Sunday morning when the goods train from Emerald was due. The first anyone knew of his presenceContinue reading “Cowcatcher kills engine driver”
Was this the Wheeler?
Springsure – Does this fallen, eroding gravestone honour the man after whom the Capricorn Coast’s controversial Mt Wheeler was named? Now known as Gai-i, the popular narrative for a long time was that the mount was named after cruel Native Police inspector Frederick Wheeler, who was allegedly involved in a massacre of local Darumbul people.Continue reading “Was this the Wheeler?”
Way to go Australia 