42. Different Times

Those readers who have been following my blogs will probably recall me mentioning the Sandgate Historical Society and Museum on a number of occasions. One of the people with a close association to the Museum is Pattie Tancred, who also writes short stories for the Sandgate Guide from time to time, which are well worth reading.

Hopefully, some of you read her entertaining article in the February issue of the Guide which outlined how Sandgate became a self-governing entity in 1880. Pattie’s articles are often inspired by information which she has been able to glean from delving into the archives of the Museum.

What caught my eye in her February article was her reference to the first council meeting in Sandgate, in 1881, and the myriad of immediate problems which the newly appointed council members had to address. Many of the issues which the local people (Sandgate’s permanent population at that time was approximately 500) were concerned about were as basic as immediate road repairs, rubbish disposal and the removal of night soil.

Sandgate was still a somewhat isolated community in 1880. It was connected to Brisbane by daily horse-drawn coach services, but the trip was an arduous one and I would guess that it was too expensive for most people. Some Brisbane residents were able to come and enjoy the delights of the Sandgate waterfront but for many it was not worth trying to make the long return trip by coach.

In 1882, when the Brisbane to Sandgate rail line was opened, that situation changed dramatically, and Sandgate became a popular day-trip destination. The Sandgate Historical Society and the Keep Sandgate Beautiful Association have several publications available, with photos and written content, describing the growth of Sandgate over the next 10 years.

To put things in a wider perspective, in the year 1880 Australia itself was yet to become a nation. This did not happen until 22 years later, in 1901, when the 6 British colonies came together and became the Commonwealth of Australia.

In 1879 bushrangers still provided the main headlines. Captain Moonlight and Ned Kelly were caught that year and hanged. Canberra was not yet the national capital (not until 1913) and Australian troops had not yet landed in Gallipoli (not until 1915). So, the 1880s were, to my mind, a very long time ago!

1879 was also the year when my paternal grandfather, Pieter van der Kwaak, was born in the town of Rijnsburg in Holland. This was around the same time that Monet, the French painter, painted the picturesque landscape which surrounded that town. That painting is now housed in the Musee d’Orsay in Paris.

For my Dutch readers, 1879 was the year when King William III married Emma of Waldeck and Pyrmont. She was 20 years old, 41 years younger than William, who was 61 years old. Their daughter, Wilhelmina, the future Queen of Nederland, was born in 1880. (She became Queen in 1898).

But let’s focus on Sandgate. In the early 1880s a small local Aboriginal community still made a living out of the oyster trade. They also held corroborees and hunted for mud crabs in Cabbage Tree creek, which they apparently managed to sell in Sandgate for sixpence a piece. Some of the prominent First Nations’ people mentioned in the Sandgate Museum’s records were King Sandy, King Jonny Boat and Margaret Catchpenny.

The Shorncliffe pier was built in 1879 and in 1883 the Sandgate to Woody Point ferry started operating (see post 28). Penny Farthings were still popular (see post 11), but sanitation was very poor and horse-drawn water carts were still used to deliver water to homes. While churches were being built in Sandgate, I believe that in 1880 there were as yet no electricity or telephone connections.

The names of some of the 1880s residents of Sandgate are still familiar to us today. Dowse Lagoon was named after Thomas Dowse (see post 5) and Baxter’s Jetty was named after John Baxter (see post 32). Southerden Street was named after Edward Barton Southerden, the first Mayor of Sandgate from 1880 to 1881, and Deagon Street was named after William Deagon, Mayor of Sandgate from 1882 to 1884.

Since 1880 much has changed in Sandgate and it is good to occasionally reflect on this and to think back to how the people before us experienced life in Sandgate so long ago. It is also true that some of the things which we love about our village today  have survived for us to enjoy.

The pier is still here, the trains are still running, mudcrabs are still being caught and Moreton Island is still visible in the distance.

And the people are still walking and talking!

O.P.

P.S. Next week’s post will be about Charles Dickens and Christmas in Holland. A very different story!