The History of Fairfield

Denis Peel and Jeff Brunne have been researching the history of Fairfield and are progressively publishing their work here.

A private photograph taken around 1900 looks down on the present suburb of Fairfield from Annerley.

A Birdseye View of the History of Fairfield (Denis Peel)

History is normally reported from the point of view of humankind, that is, how the passage of time has affected the human population. This article looks at the changes that have occurred in the inner Brisbane city suburb of Fairfield in the last 200 years and speculates how those changes may have affected the population of birds.

By using historical accounts, maps, plans, photos and paintings the environment of Fairfield is analysed at three, hundred-year intervals, i.e. 1820, 1920, and 2020. For each of these times the major types of habitats extant for birds will be conjectured and the species of birds likely to be found in those habitats discussed. Some current recording and past anecdotal observations of birds will aid the discussion that this article aims to encourage.

This was also the subject of a talk by Denis Peel at Fairfield Library in 2023.

What Makes Fairfield So Different? (Jeff Brunne)

Why is Fairfield so unlike the other suburbs that border it? Is its unique geography the answer?

This article discusses broad historical and cultural trends, particularly from the perspective of ordinary people. In this case, the focus is on how social history can be affected by geography.

This was also the subject of a talk by Jeff Brunne at Fairfield Library in 2024. Click here to view the presentation and here to read the notes for the presentation.