What sort of lives do old scout dens lead ? What do these community buildings become when there’s no longer a scout or guide group?
Last week on our morning walk, my husband, Paul, and I dropped in on the Qld Wood Turners situated on the Norman Creek park near Juliette Street. It’s at the bottom of Dunnellan Street where it turns into Pine.
The building was absolutely bursting with people working lathes, saws, and planers, creating all manner of objects from all sorts of timber.
Downstairs were the toy makers, experts in tiny.
If you have an interest in wood turning, this is the place to be – check it out here.
Our guide on the day was Brian Dodson, member since 2002. Brian proudly explained the building was a former scout den. He wasn’t sure of the company.
The wood turners had added a large meeting room, almost doubling it in size, but at its core was a den.
I looked back across the creek to the former Stephen’s guide hut in Baron Street — now home to the Norman Creek Catchment committee.
I emailed a girl friend who used to be a Stephen’s Girl Guide. Yes, she did remember a scout den ‘across the ditch’, the ditch being Norman Creek. She couldn’t remember if the scout group was Stephens though.
There had been a Stephens Scout den in Annerley – in Waldheim Street. Could this Pine Street den have been a second one?
I followed up the Scout Archive – the Queensland Scouts Heritage Centre situated at Samford. They kindly tracked the den down to being part of the Buranda Scout group.
Qld Wood Turners: side of original scout den. Window shades are recent.Qld Wood Turners: former scout den end.Inside QLD Wood Turners – hive of activity.Former Stephens Guide hut, Baron Street. Now Norman Creek Catchment Committee.Looking across from former scout den to former Stephen’s guide hut.Looking ‘across the ditch’, Normal creek to the former scout denRear of former Stephens Guide Hut.Rear of former scout den. Far end is a recent extension. Front door of former scout den.
On Tuesday evening, our April Talking History was on Dickebusch Street, Clifton Hill Moorooka.
An entire street without front doors? How can that be?
There are ten houses on Dickiebusch Street, and all are accessed from other streets: no actual houses with street addresses on Dickebusch St (Flemish for thick bush).
Kate Dyson, ASHG Vice president, took us through the brief history of the land on which Clifton Hill War Services Homes Estate in Moorooka was built.
She looked at the naming of some of the streets and their connection to European First World War sites, with a focus on Dickebusch St, the street that connects Longueval St, Waterlot St and Delville Avenue.
It was then on to a brief look at the lives and stories of some of the residents: owners and tenants who lived out what might have been ordinary lives but had experienced extraordinary times.
Speaking to Kate afterwards, she expressed how finding these exceptional stories of people living in ordinary suburban streets is what makes researching local history is so important. History lurks in the seemingly every-day.
Forty-four attended Kate’s talk on Tuesday evening. If you were unable to make it and are interested in hearing more or sharing information, email us – [email protected]
ASHG explores many facets of local history, a history firmly rooted in lands of the Yuggera people. Our work embodies our respect for Elders, past, present and emerging, and their ongoing care for this country and the community.
In traversing these pasts, ASHG aims to learn from First Nations perspectives and knowledges, with their rich storytelling traditions, and strong awareness of the interconnections of people, land, and natural environments.
ASHG captures and relates stories of the everyday – and the extraordinary – embracing the stories of those on the margins to grow our awareness of the diversity of our community, and the changing cultural and global influences across time.
We focus on the area defined by the former shire of Stephens, with Logan Road and Cornwall Street forming distinct boundaries the north and east respectively.
In current terms, Stephens was centered in Annerley, and included Fairfield, Yeronga, Yeerongpilly, Tennyson, Tarragindi, Holland Park West, and parts of surrounding suburbs of Greenslopes, Moorooka and Mount Gravatt. See more information on the Stephens Shire here.
Our work weaves together stories told, memories shared, archival records, family histories, physical and social landscapes, and various forms of creative expression.
ASHG is an active vibrant group. We share these local stories and learnings through coming together, ‘talking history’, conferences, books, blogs, image, social media, connecting with other community groups, and participating in community events.
Come see for yourself, through one of our ‘Drop in‘ days or through one of our ‘Talking History’ events. See our Calendar of Events for times and dates.
‘What matters is not the past, but our relationship with it.’
ASHG actively publishes local history books about the areas covered by the former Stephens Shire. Books are available for purchase from the our History Room, during its opening hours, and from Annerley Meats, 502 Ipswich Rd, open Monday to Saturday. We also offer these books for sale at ASHG events and stalls also offer these. The books are also available for perusal in our History Room, and at Annerley Junction Library. Note: Prices listed exclude postage.
This book celebrates the lives and stories of women from all walks of life who contributed to the rich tapestry of the south-side of Brisbane. It is a compilation of the papers delivered at the 16 October 2021 lASHG local history conference. The book is compiled edited by Pauline Peel, Kate Dyson and Denis Peel. Chapters include:
– The headwomen of the Chepara people (K. Wilshire) – Tracing female convict lives (J. Richardson) – Nurses of World War One (Prof. L. Shields) – Jessica Anderson’s Yeronga (R. Blair & A. Hay) – Calling Paula Gubar a dressmaker …. (K. Forsythe) – The story of the Fairfield Hat Factory (S. Monk & L. Hurse) – The Brisbane Line (Dr J. Powell) – Four Generations of Annerley-Stephens (G. Dove) – Annie MacKenzie (J. Wiley) – Lady Cilento (S. Sheaffe AM) – Local women: a designer, an author & a poet (K. Dyson) – Mabel Alice Love (Kathryn Watters)
This book is an exploration of wartime and its legacy from a local perspective, and it is a revealing chronicle of the people, streets and parklands of Stephens Shire.The papers delivered at ASHG’s 26 October 2019 conference are collected in this book. The book is edited by Stephen Sheaffe. Contents include:
– Yeronga Park (R. Walding) – Burnett, Qld Aboriginal soldier in the first AIF (R. Pratt) – Military camps in Stephens (P. Dunn) – Local History Beyond Appearance (N. Buch) – War Service Homes (C. Black) – Interwar housing a Four Mile Swamp ( K. Dyson) – Annerley Drill Halls on Portion105 (M. Baker) – Finding the first war Service Homes (D. Peel and K. Dyson) – The military hospital at Greenslopes (C. Strakosch)
Echoes of Stories of Stephens contains 18 vibrant chapters exploring our local history . The book is based on Annerley-Stephens History Group local history conference of February 2019. The book is edited by Stephen Sheaffe. Contents include:
– Stephens Divisional board 1886-1903 (T. McKell) – The Yerongpan of the Chepara People (K. Wiltshire) – The Comercial Development of Annerley Junction 1866-1966 (M.Baker) – Cotton Growing in Stephens Shire during the Americal Civil War (M. Macklin) – Brandons Shoe repairs (M. Scully) – Annerley Meats (M.Scully) – The Stephens Croquet Club (V. Layne) – Tarragindi Buses (N. Wilson) – The ‘Sunbeam’, Streetscape Heritage in Fairfield (J. Pearn).
The Stories of Stephens is the collection of papers about the First Nations People of Stephens, A short history of the Shire, Yeronga, and Fairfield as well as stories of prominent names of Stephens. The papers were delivered at the Annerley-Stephens History Group 2016 local history conference. The book is edited by Stephen Sheaffe. Chapters include:
– A Short history of Stephens (S. Sheaffe) – Aboriginal Landscape and History in Stephens Annerley (R. Kerkhove) – Yeronga from Colony to World War – Annerley’s Original Parkland (N.Buch) – Junction Park School (J. Lergessner) – Tramways of Stephens (p. Hyde & R. Thomson) – Strong and Dunn Families (J. Collins) – John Leary Cracknell (M. Morris)
This was the very first collections of stories about Stephens, drawn from the 17 July 1994 Annerley Conference, organised and curated by Stephen and Glenda Scheaffe. It represents the history of Annerley from its beginnings as farmland owned by T.S. Stephens to an important inner-city suburb of Brisbane. The book is edited by John Kerr. The contents include :
– The Stephens family (L. Stephens) – John Soden’s Omnibuses (B. Roberts) – Five Decades of Plicing in Stphens (B. Rough) – Growing up in Annerley between the wars (R. Wood) – Children of the Creek 1935-1940 (G. Jurott)
Children of Stephens $5
(Class packs available)
Children of Stephens is a delightful booklet written and researched by Jarrah Pearce. Jarrah recorded several oral histories to compile a collection of activities for primary school children. Lots of fun, and the booklet brings many insights into Stephens past. Contents include:
– Map of Stephens – Generations – Before the Second World War – Game: Hopscotch – During the War – Game: Beam – Post-War era – Game: Fly
If you would like the books posted out to you, or want to ask any questions about ASHG activities, please use the contact form below.
The short answer is talks, walks, opportunities to participate in history projects, and good online resources.
ASHG recently conducted a small survey on what history and heritage activities and topics members and locals were interested in. Surveys were handed out at an ASHG monthly meeting, at the Annerley Festival, and at the Memories of Stephen’s conference.
Survey placesBreak up between members and non-members
The results of the survey will help us hone our aims with the history room, plan our programs and understand how best to engage people in local history and heritage.
This survey is just a starting point – a guide and point for discussion. From time to time we will check in on how we are doing, or conduct quick online polls.
Activities of interest
People rated their interest in each activity as high, medium and low. Responses were scored 3 for high, 3 for medium, 1 for low and zero if not checked.
Scores were averaged, making ‘3’ the highest possible score. Here are the things you are saying to us:
Tell us about the history – Guest speakers at the monthly meetings, and history talks scored the highest for everyone, members and non-members.
Walk us through the streets – Heritage walks rated next. ASHG’s first self-guided walk is being published next week.
Let us help tell the stories – people are keen to participate in heritage projects. There are many ways people can participate, through activities like:
researching on Trove, and other online archives
visiting archives – city, state and national archives, state library and specialty archives
taking oral histories, telling oral histories,
exploring family histories
writing about our heritage
digital story-telling -sharing stories through video clips, podcasts and posts
creating tiny exhibitions in our history room’s storefront ‘curiosity cabinet’.
Make our history easily accessible to us through online publications and websites
Teach us skills to uncover our history through skills focused workshops
Keep up conferences and books
Full survey results for activities – highest possible score is 3.
Topics of interest
The second part of the survey was topics of interest. These were grouped into categories of history approaches, history areas, periods, places and things and social history.
Topics of high ranking are early 20th century, women, oral history, heritage places and First Nations heritage.
Below the topics are ranked in order based on percentages of those taking the survey. Some of the rankings changed to the above as a few topics were introduced after the test survey.
That’s a quick snapshot of what people want. Our new history room at Yeronga will help us to deliver these things – ASHG just received the key!
