Pine Lodge Presentation
Brisbane History Group
Harry Gentle Research Centre

On Monday 14th, I gave a presentation about the history of Coopers Plains area to residents of the Pine Lodge retirement centre in Rocklea. Pine Lodge was created by the local Russian community and is situated next door to the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God Parish Church. It was well received and I learnt some new facts when I prepared it the day before; notably the conflict of tribal land claims over south Brisbane between the Turrbal and Yagera people. I covered history up to the 1900s and ended with an interesting video about transport by WalkaboutwithRob which I found on the Mapping Brisbane History website on Transportation Systems. Some interesting memories were shared and I invited the residents to put pen to paper and send in any reminiscences they have.

I visited the Brisbane History Group at Riverhills Plaza where they have their library of archives stored. I spoke with the Treasure, Andrew Darbyshire at length who familiarized me with the group’s history. It was founded by Rod Fisher in the 1980s. We discussed the origins of Brisbane and the upcoming bicentenary of settlement in the SE Queensland area and the development of the city of Brisbane. Henry Miller was the first Commandant of the Moreton Bay Penal Settlement. Jennifer Harrison’s book on the history of convicts, “Fettered Frontier” is available at the BHG library.

Andrew also informed me that History Queensland provides Public Liability Insurance to member groups. This may be useful information for the Dutch History Cafe project. PLI is often the most expensive outlay of a small business. There is some concerning news regarding 9 Macdevitt Street, as OCCA has been given notice to leave for no explicable reason… it fact it seems quite disruptive. We’ll discuss it at the next meeting.

As I grow into the role of Chair of the CPHG, for my own sake, but also other members, I am interested in mapping the local history groups, libraries and museums in our area. Our next meeting is:

Saturday August 19th
4pm
9 Macdevitt Street,
Coopers Plains

All welcome. Please RSVP in the comments below. Anyone who wants to add to this month’s agenda, please comment below (you may need to click on the title of this post for the comment field to appear).

A name change and a new logo.

Archival material was on display at the library last month.

At a well-attended meeting last month, the group resolved to register with the Office of Fair Trade under the name Coopers Plains History Group – dropping the word ‘Local’. It also resolved to open a bank account and pursue plans for preserving the Dutch House as a history cafe.

We need a new logo as a consequence of the name change. The committee will vote on this at the next meeting. In anticipation of this, if you know anyone with some basic graphic art skills that can provide some designs, please get in touch by commenting below please (you may need to click on the heading above first to find the comment field). We had the meeting at 9 Macdevitt Street, Coopers Plains which is currently used as a Centre by Oxley Creek Catchment Association (OCCA).  We toured the property inside and out with some who were able to reminisce about the times it was built; Hank Blessing, Allan Waller and Amanda Kelly. Also with us was Neville Buch, John Prpic, and Bruce Cifuentes – we discussed the possibilities and it occurred to us to try and procure some original fittings from the other Dutch Houses that are soon to be demolished.

Last week, Consolidated Property informed OCCA their tenancy is to be terminated in two months. This was unexpected, as they have new quarters being built, ready for occupancy in July next year. We are waiting to hear from the developers as to what their intentions are.

The display of items from our archives at the library has been replaced by some interesting samples from the Woodturners Association of Queensland. I (Simon) had the opportunity to search through our archives for the first time last week. I was searching for the group’s old official certificate of incorporation. I am pleased to report that the files are well organized, thanks to the previous custodians of the history group, although there is room for further sorting.

Our next meeting will be at the Dutch House again at 4pm on Saturday 19th of August. Come along and find out what the news is. We meet every third Saturday. In September and October, we’ll meet at the library.

9 Macdevitt Street

Our next meeting will be at the Dutch House.
Come as see what we hope will be a history cafe.

9 Macdevitt Street, Coopers Plains

Oxley Creek Catchment Association (OCCA) is the current tenant and is kindly allowing us to meet there and view the interior as well. Hank Blessing, whose father and brother is thought to have worked on building the house many years ago, will be there to tell us what he knows about its construction. Following that, we can discuss the potential for a history cafe. Paul Budde, Chair of Dutch Australia Cultural Centre will also join us. Anita Love from the Griffith University’s Marketing Department will also be there to consider ways to promote the project. The first order of business is to authorize re-registration of CPHG with the Office of Fair Trade and the opening of a bank account. Donations will be accepted to cover these costs.

Don’t miss your chance to view some of the history group’s archives which are now on display at Coopers Plains Library. Thanks to Beryl Roberts and the library staff for organizing this choice selection of our suburb’s history, including a display of the Dutch houses.

Next Meeting
3pm, Friday 28th July.
9 Macdevitt Street, Coopers Plains
Agenda
Registration of association with OFT.
Open a bank account.
Conversation and tour of 9 Macdevitt Street with Hank Blessing, Paul Budde and Anita Love.

To RSVP, please write in the comment field below.
(If you’re reading the News page, click on the title of the post to find the comments field.)

I had the good fortune to travel to Indonesia last month and visit some of its Dutch colonial past.

Jakarta’s Old Batavia Town was built on the earlier settlement of Jayakarta. (Click the link for a thorough coverage.)

Dotted around the country is this quaint bakery chain store – Holland Bakery

What an inspiration for a local Dutch History Cafe! Later this month, the Coopers Plains History Group will hold a meeting at the proposed site – 9 Macdevitt Street, Coopers Plains – to formally register the group with the Office of Fair Trade and open a bank account. The meeting will be followed by a discussion with someone who had personal involvement in its construction. We’re hoping to have a content creator to record the occasion and help promote the project. Keep an eye on this news site for details. The most likely date is Thursday 27th at 3pm.

Simon

News of the Coopers Plains History Group’s Dutch History Cafe project made it into local online news and radio recently.

The Sunnybank Hills News and Mt Gravatt News ran stories on the call to preserve one of the last remaining houses and turn it into a community history cafe and community orchard.

Simon Cole and Paul Budde were interviewed on local radio in English and Dutch. ABC Radio Brisbane’s Queensland Afternoon show hosted by Katherine Feeney called Simon in to talk – a year to the day since he last was on talking about the same topic. To listen, go to 2:44:00 ~ 2:55:30 (11 mins and 30 seconds).

https://www.abc.net.au/brisbane/programs/afternoons/afternoons/102357016

Paul Budde was also interviewed on radio following interest from the Dutch Radio show 4EB and is available on SBS Dutch news.

https://www.sbs.com.au/language/dutch/en/podcast-episode/will-there-be-a-dutch-house-history-cafe-yes-or-no/hgvri005f

The petition is picking up signatories gradually, so please do spread the word and link.

https://www.change.org/SaveTheCommunityGardenAndDutchHouse

For anyone not on Facebook, please use the History Group’s news website where you can now subscribe to get the news as it comes in, once a fortnight. https://coopersplainshistory.bshn.org/news/