Talking History: July – November 2024

Talking History: July – November 2024

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.

Text Box: Image Courtesy State Library of Queensland

Walk in the Warm Zone, a History of Villa Street Team initiative

Walk in the Warm Zone, a History of Villa Street Team initiative

Join Pauline, Jeanette and Wendie to Walk in the Warm Zone starting outside 48 Villa Street at 9.45 am on Friday 21 June and Saturday 22 June.

Walk in the Warm Zone celebrates the Australian author Jessica Anderson (1916-2010), who grew up at 56 Villa Street in the 1920s and early 1930s. Her family were Charles and Alice Queale and she had three siblings.

Jessica Anderson drew on her memories of her Brisbane childhood in her writing including Tirra Lirra by the River which won the Miles Franklin Award, Stories from the Warm Zone and Sydney Stories and her short memoir Starting too Late. Jessica Anderson referred to Stories from the Warm Zone and Sydney Stories as autobiographical fiction.

Walk in the Warm Zone combines local history with the richness of Jessica Anderson’s writing. At the end of the walk we hope you can join us in the ASHG History Room, Yeronga Community Centre to continue to talk history and have a cup of tea.

The walk is free. Donations gratefully accepted.

Bookings are essential. Book through Humanitix.

Talking History: The Rise and Fall of the Service Stations of Annerley with presenter Mark Baker

Talking History: The Rise and Fall of the Service Stations of Annerley with presenter Mark Baker

Ever wondered about the changing Service Stations of Annerley. Find out more on Monday 3rd June at 7.00 pm when Mark Baker will presents The Rise and Fall of Service Stations in Annerley.

Mark Baker has worked in the heritage sector since the 1970s.

The event is free. Donations are welcome.

See you there for what promises to be another fascinating insight into our local history.

The talk will be preceded by the (optional) monthly meeting at 6.00 pm.

Talking History – Dickebusch St, the street with no front doors

Talking History – Dickebusch St, the street with no front doors

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]

Fairfield Station signage

Fairfield Station signage

Local railway stations in Fairfield, Yeronga and Yeerongpilly are being upgraded and made accessible as part of the Cross River Rail project. ASHG is working with Cross River rail to provide historical signage for each of the stations. Research for the Fairfield Train Station has been finalised although the signage is yet to be installed. In the meantime Cross River rail have presented ASHG with 3 posters for the new local history room in the Yeronga Community Centre. The posters reflect each area of the research undertaken for the signage: Indigenous history; Rail (Fairfield) History and Urban Change. Denis Peel, Secretary of ASHG, holding the poster about the rail history of Fairfield in the above photo. Denis and President Jeff Brunne undertook the research.

Fanny Street Park historical signage

Fanny Street Park historical signage

ASHG is excited that the Fanny Street Park, Annerley historical signs are now in place. Check them out. The signs are part of improvements that Clr Nicole Johnston and BCC have been making to this beautiful yinnell/gully park. The signs provide an insight into our Indigenous history, speculate as to why the street is called Fanny Street and paint a picture of Fanny Street and the local area in the early part of the 20th century.