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.’
The Annerley-Stephens History Group is a community group encouraging broad involvement in the history of our community.
All people and peoples are living histories…understanding the linkages between past and present is absolutely basic for a good understanding of the condition of being human. Penelope J. Corfield
There are a number of ways of engaging with ASHG.
We regularly hold public talks and meetings at our facility at the Yeronga Community Centre at 62 Park Road, Yeronga and elsewhere. Please refer to upcoming events and the calendar for more information.
Every week we host informal “Drop-in days” at the ASHG history room. Times and dates are shown also in upcoming events and the calendar.
As an active local history group there are many opportunities to volunteer with ASHG. Read more about them here.
We encourage all those interested in the history of our area to become members. Read more hereabout the benefits of ASHG membership.
However you choose to engage with ASHG, we appreciate your interest in history and extend a warm welcome to you. We know you will enjoy connecting with us.
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.
Want to find about about the Clifton Hill street with no front doors; learn more about the history of Villa Street or; hear about the rise and fall of service stations in Annerley… then come along to our Talking History nights..
Want to see our display of historical maps and documents about the local area – drop in Wednesday morning. And.. watch out for more information about Saturday drop in days from April.
Do you have photos or stories to share about Villa Street? Email us on [email protected]
Are you interested in knowing more about us? come along to our business meetings and stay for Talking History – 1st Monday of the month except for public holidays (April and May meetings and Talking History on Tuesday 2 April and Tuesday 7 May).
