ASHG held its annual general meeting on 4 November. It was a lovely night of members celebrating a great year over some refreshments.
A big thanks to all members, volunteers and contributors who’ve made our year so successful. It’s been a big year establishing our new home at Yeronga Community Centre.
At the meeting we passed the audited statements and elected the new Committee who are: President Pauline Peel; Vice President Jeff Brunne; Treasurer Glenda Sheaffe; Secretary Kate Dyson, Committee member and Membership Secretary Kit Watters, Committee member Denis Peel and Committee member Jeanette Wiley.
A big thanks to the outgoing President Jeff Brunne for his contribution over the past three years as we prepared to move into our new home at Yeronga Community Centre. We thank him for staying on as Vice President.
Thank you to Janis Hanley for her time on the Committee and for her continued commitment to ASHG.
Above: The ASHG Committee from left Denis Peel, Jeanette Wiley, Kit Watters, Pauline Peel, Kate Dyson, Jeff Brunne. Missing is Treasurer Glenda Sheaffe who was unable to attend the AGM. Photo is courtesy of Janis Hanley.
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Membership cost is currently $10 per year.
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ASHG is excited to share its program of events for June – November.
The Wednesday morning drop in days will continue providing a relaxed opportunity each week to talk history.
We’re doing things a little differently in the second part of the year with a walk, events at two of our local libraries, the first Saturday afternoon Talking History events and a book launch. Watch out for more information about each event.
On the 10th August ASHG is excited to be back at Annerley library for a morning talk at 10.30 am. Dr Janis Hanley will discuss Ekibin’s Chinese past and explore the extent of Chinese market gardens from the late 1880s to post WW2.
The Memories of Stephens, the compilation of articles from the 2023 conference will be launched by Dr Denver Beanland at the Yeronga Community Centre at 7.00 pm.
On Saturday morning 28th September Lyn Burnett, John Horder and Denis Peel consider Lost Houses and the stories that they tell.
On the afternoon of 26th October Jeff Brunne will be at the Fairfield Library looking at the question Why is Fairfield so Different.
For our last event of the year ASHG is very pleased to host Dr Kevin Rains discussing Cross River Rail Archeology on Saturday 16th November at 2.00 pm.
Monthly meetings are held at 6.00 pm on the first Monday of the month unless it is a public holiday when the meeting is held on a Tuesday.
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. The books are also available for perusal in our History Room, and at Annerley Junction Library. Note: Prices listed exclude postage.
This book, compiled by Stephen Sheaffe, yet again expands the collection of stories of Stephens, with a diverse array of topics. These include pre-colonisation views of Yeronga, local scouting, railways, local churches, local Chinese people, Tennyson, a remarkable local GP, World War II stories, graves and cemeteries, houses, state heritage properties and more. Chapters include:
– Yeronga 1823 (Dr. M. Macklin) – Stephens Army of Boy Scouts (D. Marshall) – The Wilderness of Tarragind (G. Dove) – Dr Lindsey Page Winterbotham (Prof. J. Pearn) – The Forgotten (d. Hacker) – From Softstone to Tennyson (J. Wiley) – Chinese in Stephens (Dr. J. Hanley & J. Richardson) – Toohey Forrest Land-use History (Dr. W. Metcalf) – State Heritage Properties in Stephens (G. Sheaffe)
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.
It was standing room only at the Annerley Library on Saturday 10 August, with Dr Janis Hanley presenting a fascinating exploration of the multi-cultural beginnings of Ekibin.
Engaging maps, photographs and other documents presented gave a real ‘feel’ for the area and how it changed over time. A tale of fellmongers, tanneries, wool scours and manure dumps in the catchment that impacted Norman Creek (and gave a certain aroma to the area).
An overview of how Chinese market gardeners used nutrient-rich creek water (from upstream slaughterhouses) to fertilise organically and grow vegetables successfully and productively.
Janis carefully navigated the complexities of antiquated and exclusionary immigration policies and revealed fascinating information about local Chinese residents from official historical documentation.
After the talk the room was abuzz and several descendants of Chinese Market gardeners recalled stories from their childhood.
Dr Janis Hanley provides some interesting narratives using historical maps.
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.’
