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.
In January Annerley-Stephen’s History Group (ASHG) moved into their new home at the brand new Community Plus+ Yeronga Community Centre.
The YCC had its official opening on Thursday 31 May at a packed event that started with a traditional smoking ceremony, followed by Welcome to Country, the ribbon cutting ceremony and a morning tea. Congratulations to Community Plus+ YCC and all who contributed to making this brilliant new centre possible.
ASHG are proud to be located in the YCC and were pleased to greet visitors in our room. The All Gauge Model Rail Group (AGMRG) also had their room open to visitors.
The outcomes of having a permanent home were apparent. On show were the current maps and documents display (thanks Mark Baker) and the Villa Street community project (thanks to the Villa Street project team and past and current residents). Visitors were introduced to our upcoming talks and walks, our publications and the opportunity to become a member. . Visitors were inspired and excited by the history room.
Thanks to the members who set up the history room and multi purpose room displays and all the members who were at the launch and who shared their knowledge and passion for local history with the visitors. Thank you Kate, Pauline and Kerry (and Brisbane Living Heritage) for the photos.
Aunty Debby Sandy gave the Welcome to Country. Mark Bailey conducted the Official Opening and the President of Community Plus+ was the MC.
The Smoking Ceremony was an invitation to all who came into the centre.
Guests listened intently at the launch held in the multi purpose room. The ASHG display is in the background.
A display of maps and documents available to local history researchers are on the display in the history room.
Proud ASHG members.
Villa Street community project …. the people, the stories.
Jim, Robin and Jeff. Enjoying the history on display. The painting on display is of 85 Villa Street. It was painted by Robin and Jeff’s daughter Sonia 35 years ago as a student at Yeronga High School.
The ASHG display window currently features a display recognising Reconciliation Week. We were pleased to be able to take Aunty Debby Sandy through the history room. Aunty Debby gave the Welcome to Country and began with Wai Bulka (welcome). She was delighted to see Wai Bulka in our displaying welcoming all to the history room.
More happy people talking history.
Talking publications – having at chat about the Women of Stephens.
ASHG has been engaging with former and current residents of Villa Street, Yeronga to gather stories, photos and documents that tell the history of Villa Street.
It is a work in progress. On Tuesday 7 May at 7.00 pm the Villa Street team will share some of the early findings about this beautiful street.
The talk will follow the business meeting at 6.00 pm.
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]
Interested in how suburbs get their name? Come along to the ASHG Talking History at 7.00 pm on Monday 4 March and hear Michael Macklin tell the story of how the suburb Yeronga got its name.
The talk will be in the multi purpose room at the Yeronga Community Centre, cnr Villa Street and Park Road. Please enter off Villa Street.
The monthly ASHG business meeting will precede the talk at 6.00 pm.
EVENT FULLY BOOKED. Options are being explored for a second event. Stay Tuned! This talk highlights the area’s multicultural beginnings. It explores the extent of the Chinese market gardens from the late 1880s to post[...]
On 2nd September ASHG’s newest publication, Memories of Stephens compiled by Stephen Sheaffe AM will be launched by Dr Denver Beanland AM at the Yeronga Community Centre. Memories of Stephens brings together the presentations from the 2023 Memories[...]
Hear the stories of some of the “lost” and even “lost and found” houses of the area, including Lyn Burnett on 19 Albemarle St, Yeerongpilly, and John Horder on 59 Dudley Street West, Annerley. Do[...]
Once again, Annnerley Junction Fest will take over the streets of Annerley for a day of local music, food, market stalls and a whole lot of fun. And… ASHG will have a stall there. Come[...]
