Boosting Brisbane provides a treasure trove of visual delights. So if you are into history, literature, fine arts, architecture, geography, media, technology, museology or culture of Brisbane in particular this timely collection fits the bill.

Like putting old wine into new bottles, this collection of 7 papers by historian Rod Fisher offers a goodly drop for anyone thirsting for the history and heritage of the Brisbane region. They were originally written from 1991-2010, only a couple having seen the light of day. That was because they were mostly commissioned at greater length – and dealt with specific issues: 1. How ‘midnight demolitions’ of the old Bellevue Hotel, Cloudland Ballroom and Commonwealth Bank brought about the 1st protective heritage legislation in Qld. 2. To what extent the oral testimony of continuity and descent of the Turrbal people around Brisbane was matched by the historical record. 3. How Yeronga Memorial Pk evolved physically and spatially since the early days and by what means. 4. What steps and actions caused Lang Pk to change from a public space to a venue primarily for a single spectator sport. 5. How to write the contextual history for a thematic study exhibition on the Brisbane River which would draw upon the disparate collections of 6 mostly non-river institutions. 6. How the whole region of SE Qld developed thematically and materially, including Brisbane, Ipswich, Toowoomba, both coasts, major islands, many valleys and various ranges. 7. Whether heritage theory and practice should be focussed more sustainably on the character of a locality, as tested on the Killarney Estate. Having been revised as necessary and collected together, these papers are a boon for everyone interested in those aspects, places, buildings, events, related persons – and much more. If you happen to be a glutton for research, these chapters also show the way. That includes discerning patterns, analysing records, exploring buildings, interpreting parks, assessing heritage, examining localities, investigating regions and structuring narratives. Among the many historical sources are municipal records, reserve files, parliamentary papers, state yearbooks, municipal handbooks, heritage reports, judicial records, newspapers, maps, pictures, graves – and of course the actual places and people themselves. Here we see the applied historian at work. The other tie that binds all of this together is the author’s conviction that history must speak for itself, so that only when familiar with the evidence ought we evaluate, interpret and shape it in our own image. This also applies to cultural heritage, which comprises all of those tangible and intangible things we want to retain for ourselves and the next generation. As that is but one type of historical evidence, there is a dynamic reciprocity between the two. What this book really shows is how history becomes heritage through establishing its significance – unless heritage becomes history first!

Packed inside this unique collection on colonial Brisbane are no less than 22 essays by historian Rod Fisher. Most were published as scattered articles in various formats over 25 years, 3 have never seen the light of day and all are brought up to date. While stepping through the years from 1842-1901 and sometimes further as a continuum, they are grouped under 5 main themes. ‘Occupation’ deals with early settlement, employment and pursuits until the 1860s. That involves the lie of the land including the town, its old windmill, industry, photography, cultural associations and personnel. The next theme of ‘Alienation’ traverses the same years in exposing, as never before, the aboriginal experience and ethnic mix, while taking the formation of the New Church until the early 1880s as an instance of sectarianism. The ‘Separation’ section concerns several historical oversights about 1859: the time-lag in acknowledging Brisbane as the colonial capital; rediscovery of the original proclamation of Queensland; recognition of the role of its prime public servant; and ongoing history of the first colonial flag; as well as the visual means used by a sojourning artist to promote Brisbane’s new-found status in 1864-66. Then ‘Personation’ portrays the rise and fall of 4 ‘representative men’ from early colonial years to the end of the era: an Anglican brewer turned public servant and teacher; English Swedenborgian artist, musician and naturalist; Scottish Presbyterian novelist, merchant and planter; and Irish Catholic building contractor – not forgetting their supportive and long-suffering wives. Going back from the late 1880s to the 1840s and then forward into the next century, the final theme of ‘Location’ examines the iniquities of urban Frogs Hollow, origins of rustic Bulimba, trends in old South Brisbane, controversies of North Brisbane Cemetery later Lang Park, perceptions of Brisbane River and sad saga of Moreton Bay.

In a single timely tome, Rod Fisher packs a lot of what’s known about the history of the timbered house in Qld – the sum of research, writing and practice over 4 decades. While breaking new ground on its origin and development, the first 4 chapters concern several key themes: 1. the evolution of a Vernacular class of housing in the north of Australia: from aboriginal to modern day, comprising a series of styles and the means of identifying each one by era and attribute 2. the historical context to traditional housing: using census data and contemporary testimony to amplify its configuration which reflects cyclical condition, personal choice and social acceptance 3. the human dimension to the main varieties of habitat and its environment: specifically the pros and cons of observers and occupants of the day followed by resolution of their discrepancies 4 whether Brisbane was in any way different from the rest of the state: examining which varieties made the greatest imprint, from elite and multiple types to the predominant gabled, hipped, pyramidal and later multi-gabled dwellings of the Vernacular tradition The next couple of chapters are casestudies illustrating those aspects, particularly the evolution of traditional housing and the impact of historical change. Though set in Brisbane they reflect larger issues: 5. the early inner suburb of Petrie Terrace: which exhibits not only changes in timbered housing over time, but also the effect of road improvement, shopping centre diversion, stadium development, building renovation and gentrification more generally 6. a timbered dwelling of nearby Bowen Hills: which, being modified several times in its lifetime and finally removed elsewhere, demonstrates change, as well as the influence of the locale and the impact of transportation improvements on housing and community At the same time, this volume serves as a guide and reference, partly by information, advice and example, but more specifically by means of the handy classification of Vernacular styles in the 1st chapter, and ultimately by instructions for researching any house in Qld: 7. a step-by-step guide to historical investigation and exposition: using a dwelling in Annerley/Tarragindi as the example That practical purpose is reinforced in the final 3 chapters by a Supplement of related material, Glossary of requisite terms and Bibliography of relevant sources on both the history and heritage of timbered housing – plus plentiful illustrations of course. As there hasn’t been a work on this intriguing subject for a long time – nor anything ever like this one – it will serve general readers, professionals, researchers, writers and academics on the one hand, and owners, occupants, renovators, restorers and vendors on the other, whether in Brisbane, Qld or elsewhere in Australia. To all and sundry, its core message is conveyed by one of Joni Mitchell’s bygone ballads: Don’t it always seem to go That you don’t know what you’ve got ‘Till it’s gone They paved paradise And put up a parking lot

1864 was a tough year for the fledgling town of Brisbane as two devastating fires swept through its commercial hub. This book is the first comprehensive historical record of both the ordinary and well-known citizens of the early settlement city who survived the fire’s ravages to lay the foundations of Australia’s third biggest city.

I keep coming back to the light of Brisbane. If you are born into it, this palette of gentle pinks and oranges at dawn and dusk, the blast white of midday in summer, the lemon luminescence of mid-morning and mid-afternoon, you keep it with you, and measure all other light by it. If you live away from it, then step back into it, it is the first thing that tells you you're home. Brisbane reveals a city of wooden houses where mango trees abound, where the serpentine river seems to be of the city and yet somehow not, where ghostly memories of demolished landmarks like Cloudland and The Bellevue Hotel hover and where the chime of the City Hall clock echoes through time and place. Taking readers on a unique personal journey, Matthew Condon unearths the city's history – sometimes literally – and paints a portrait of transformation from a sleepy capital city that's more like a big country town, to a vibrant, confident place, but one where time can still move slowly. In a new epilogue, Condon returns to the house he grew up in; standing and looking out from the verandah, the past collides with the present, but the view is as he remembers it. '…a beautifully produced guide to the city that also evokes the soul of the place and establishes the historical context.' — The Brisbane News 'Dismayed, enmeshed and enchanted by Brisbane, he has added himself to the long line of its eccentric rhapsodists.' — Peter Pierce, The Canberra Times 'One of the finest writers of his generation…Condon weaves forensic examination of the city's ever-shifting history through intimate personal recollections of his childhood perceptions of the place.' — John Birmingham, The Monthly

This book describes seminal moments in the history of the capital city of Queensland, which in just one generation has grown from country town to vibrant modern metropolis. It had a tough start. It became a separate state with less financial support from London than any other colony in the mighty British Empire. Almost a century later is was briefly the Allied Forces headquarters for the Pacific War, delighting and depressing its citizens in equal measure. Then it had to shake off corruption in high places before it could realise its great potential. There was some intrigue along the way. Early Brisbane society was enlivened by its own aristocratic Lady Di; a gruesome murder started a dynasty; the Battle of Brisbane was hushed-up to maintain morale; and the local 'Rat Pack' played a rather different Joke. Prior to European settlement - as Meanjin - it was a busy meeting place for the many indigenous clans in the Moreton Bay region.

This second edition has been reviewed and expanded to include some of Australia’s best qualified historians and researchers in Aboriginal history. Many of these authors continue to campaign for more research into First Nations history and the Frontier Wars. This second edition of Brisbane: The Aboriginal Presence now comprises a foreword which examines recent research in Aboriginal studies, and seven instead of six papers on race relations in the Brisbane region between 1824 and 1860. It covers the convict and early settlement periods until the Separation of Queensland from New South Wales in late 1859. The papers provide overviews of race relations during each of these periods, and highlight various themes, including: • Aboriginal occupation before European settlement • The impact of European settlement • Reciprocal attitudes and relations • Aboriginal resistance and European repression • Sexual relations between Aborigines and Europeans • The role of law, administration and the press • Aborigines in the local economy • The failure of assimilation • The fate of local clans These themes are illustrated by numerous incidents and case studies including: • The observations of explorers, missionaries and administrators • Convict, runaway and settler experiences • Violent clashes on Stradbroke Island in 1831–32 • Aboriginal hangings between 1841 and 1859 • Unrest in the ‘suburbs’ during the late 1840s to 1850s • Squatters, Governor Gipps and the Kilcoy poisonings between 1841 and 1843 • The white raid on Yorks Hollow camp in 1846 • The police attack on Breakfast Creek camps in 1846 These papers are based on detailed research of primary sources by experienced historians who are distinguished for the originality and calibre of their work. This attractive and informative volume is for everyone interested in race relations generally and Brisbane in particular, including students, teachers, schools, libraries, academics and the general reader.

This study evolved from the author’s examination of a series of sketches undertaken by a young Englishman during his sojourn in Brisbane, the seat of government of the newly created Colony of Queensland. Initial research revealed a somewhat hazy outline of his ancestry and early life, until an independent researcher in the UK, preparing a photographic study of his subsequent built legacy, discovered a key piece of the jigsaw. This book is the culmination of the author’s subsequent research, carried out in three corners of the globe, which now shines a definitive light on the lineage of Richard Harding Watt. He was a wealthy business man and developer of a number of distinctive heritage listed buildings in Knutsford, perhaps best known as the model for Elizabeth Gaskell’s novel Cranford.

Imperial Boredom offers a radical reconsideration of the British Empire during its heyday in the nineteenth century. Challenging the long-established view that the empire was about adventure and excitement, with heroic men and intrepid women eagerly spreading commerce and civilization around the globe, this thoroughly researched, engagingly written, and lavishly illustrated account suggests instead that boredom was central to the experience of empire. Combining individual stories of pain and perseverance with broader analysis, Professor Auerbach considers what it was actually like to sail to Australia, to serve as a soldier in South Africa, or to accompany a colonial official to the hill stations of India. He reveals that for numerous men and women, from explorers to governors, tourists to settlers, the Victorian Empire was dull and disappointing. Drawing on diaries, letters, memoirs, and travelogues, Imperial Boredom demonstrates that all across the empire, men and women found the landscapes monotonous, the physical and psychological distance from home debilitating, the routines of everyday life wearisome, and their work tedious and unfulfilling. The empire s early years may have been about wonder and marvel, but the Victorian Empire was a far less exciting project. Many books about the British Empire focus on what happened; this book concentrates on how people felt.