Rocklea Munitions Laboratory & Mural
Dennis Fire Engine
Skyline Drive In Cinema – rare photo

Rocklea Munitions Laboratory is at 21 Engineering Street, Salisbury. It is the only building of the period with external styling (Art Deco). Brisbane City Council – Salisbury Heritage Trails lists the building as ‘a point of interest’. Recently, a company appears to have bought the property, and erected a tall structure in front of it. The Laboratory faced north to a large open space.

The Rocklea Munitions Works Laboratory was built between 1942 and 1943. The plans for the laboratory building were drawn up by J. S. Edwards of the Department of Interior in Victoria, during September and October 1942. The laboratory was designed to test the raw materials used in the production of the munitions, to ensure they met the quality standards and produced reliable ammunition.

A Mural honoring the women who worked in the Rocklea Munitions factories during WWII has been painted on the factory wall of 106 Blomfield Street by the proprietor of an ecological household products company, Craig Jones. A video of it being painted is on Facebook. (White Magic EcoLiving)

A Dennis Fire Engine from the mid-1960s is sitting at a disused factory on Boyland Avenue, Coopers Plains. It belongs to Dennis Weisz who also owns 25 Rosedale Street, a historic, but derelict Queenslander near Coopers Plains station, which was reported in this newsletter in June last year. In the late 1960s, Mr Weisz worked with his father’s business which pioneered an aluminium foundry for lace work furniture.

The Skyline Drive In Cinema was on the corner of Troughton Road and Musgrave Road in what is now Robertson. I’ve seen very few photos of it, but my colleague John Boers, town planner, who grew up on Troughton Road, sent me this photo.

Events

Chrome Street Fiesta

The Coopers Plains History Group and Moorooka History Group will be at the Chrome Street Fiesta from 2 – 5pm on May 30th. There will be a history walking tour of the Salisbury Munitions area (weather permitting), a fund quiz and prize as well as our usual information stall where historians will be ready to chat about local history. Details:
Food Connect Shed, 8 Textile Crescent, Salisbury.
More information on Facebook

Remembrance Day at God’s Acre

The Friends of God’s Acre will hold their annual memorial event on Sunday June 28th from 10am at Archerfield Cemetery in front of the Airport Terminal on the corner of Beatty and Grenier Roads. There will be a sausage sizzle and historical talk by one or two of the Committee, followed by a tour, usually focusing on one family and changing each year.
For more information see Friends of God’s Acre.

Regular Meetings

The Coopers Plains History Group meets at the Coopers Plains Library Meeting Room, which is booked on the 3rd Saturday at 4pm for February, April, June, August and October.
https://coopersplainshistory.bshn.org/

The Moorooka History Group is meeting on April 11th at 10am. Normally it meets on the 1st Saturday of the month at 10am at St Brendan’s Church (entrance at the left hand side) Hawtree Street, Moorooka. Call or text Barbara on 0422 287 425.

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A Broader Look at Coopers Plains
Bi–monthly meetings

A Broader Look at Coopers Plains is a book currently being authored by Simon Cole, Chair of the Coopers Plains History Group. The work is an over-arching review of the origins of the place we now call Coopers Plains, what has transpired and what we have as a suburb now. Here are some excerpts from the Introduction:

‘Crossroad’ is a metaphor for Coopers Plains in more ways than one. This book covers the area’s distinction as an early crossing of colonial tracks between four destinations south of the old Brisbane town centre. This early period was also a crossroad between two cultures, meeting over vastly different stages of development.
The actual crossroad was not just metaphorical, it was real and yet ephemeral, not fixed and unchanging. The tracks, roads, rails and highways moved over time, crisscrossing over the area and only settling fairly recently into what has become something of a crucifix, as will be described later.

Bi-monthly meetings The Coopers Plains History Group will no longer meet every month. Newsletters and meetings will be every other month this year.

Events

We have 550 members online. Let’s get offline and meet in person!

Regular Meetings

The Coopers Plains History Group meets at the Coopers Plains Library Meeting Room, which is booked on the 3rd Saturday at 4pm for February, April, June, August and October.
https://coopersplainshistory.bshn.org/

Moorooka History Group
Normally meets on the 1^st Saturday of the month at 10am at St Brendan’s Church (entrance at the left hand side) Hawtree Street, Moorooka. Call or text Barbara on 0422 287 425.

End of Year Tour

We have 550 members online. Let’s get offline and meet in person!

Coopers Plains History Group Social and Trip to the Brisbane Motor Museum

Saturday 13th of December

We’ll meet on the balcony of the Coopers Plains Library at 10am for a morning chat (BYO coffee). Then at 10:45 an optional trip out to the big (and still fairly new) Brisbane Motor Museum in Banyo for a self-guided exploration and lunch at the cafe (which has a full menu). A fun filled morning. It’s a 40 minute drive to Banyo and we will arrange car pooling on the day. RSPV if you can offer a lift or need one.

Buy tickets at the door or in advance at 07 3195 7804 or tickets@brisbanemotormuseum.com.au
Adults $21.25 – $25 ● Seniors & Concession $17 – $20 ● Children 12-16 $10.65 – $12.50
For more details and to RSVP, please text or call 0491 737 603 and leave a message for a call back.

Unveiling of Salisbury Quarry Park
End of Year Social and tour of the Brisbane Motor Museum

Salisbury Quarry Park The park formerly known as Lillian Avenue Park at 313 Lillian Avenue has been renamed Salisbury Quarry Park to mark the site’s role as a source of gravel for the first roads laid out in Salisbury.
A commemorative sign was erected showing a brief history of the location.

The unveiling was an event to behold, with Cr Steve Griffiths boldly removing tenaciously attached plastic covering with the help of a Council grounds worker. In attendance was Barbara Ravenswood of Moorooka History Group (who passed Cr Griffiths’ request for a name suggestion on to me, also pictured) and a number of petitioners and local residents. To see the entertaining video, go to our Facebook page.

Brisbane 100 History Conference The History Conference commemorating the centenary of the amalgamation of Greater Brisbane was a big success. Dr. Denver Beanland AM spoke about “The Coming of the Greater Brisbane Council (GBC)” and former Lord Mayor Ms. Sallyanne Atkinson AOI gave an interesting presentation “Leader of Civic Reform” about William Jolly, Brisbane’s first Mayor. The Q&A ended with a very pertinent question from the audience, “Why did Brisbane amalgamate?” The answer just scratched surface, so proffer one myself: 

It was attributable to Queensland being a frontier super-state whose political institutions were still in flux some time after the other colonies/states’ had settled down. Evidence: The last border change was in 1883 [the ‘New Guinea grab’]: The Qld delegation missed one of the federal constitutional conventions because they were consumed with debate about whether or not the colony should be divided up into a federation itself because of its size: The Central Qld Separation Movement (there were others): Abolition of the upper house. Many, if not all of those politicians involved in the amalgamation would have had living memory of some of these changes. They were thinking big and pioneering. The tradition lives on: Qld is the only state with a political party with representation in parliament that has a secessionist policy (Katter’s AP).  There is a contrast with WA, which is also a super-state, but its border has been fixed since 1825 and so in that sense is not the ‘frontier/pioneer’ state Qld was/is: WA’s secessionist sentiments were/are focussed on that border, not on internal divisions. Perth hasn’t been amalgamated to the extent Brisbane was. Now that everything has settled into a pattern across the country it is much more difficult to change them.    (Simon Cole, 2025)

Events

We have 550 members online. Let’s get offline and meet in person!

Coopers Plains History Group Social and Trip to the Brisbane Motor Museum

Saturday 13th of December

We’ll meet on the balcony of the Coopers Plains Library at 10am for a morning chat (BYO coffee). Then at 10:45 an optional trip out to the big (and still fairly new) Brisbane Motor Museum in Banyo for a self-guided exploration and lunch at the cafe (which has a full menu). A fun filled morning. It’s a 40 minute drive to Banyo and we will arrange car pooling on the day. RSPV if you need or can offer a lift.

Buy tickets at the door or in advance at 07 3195 7804 or tickets@brisbanemotormuseum.com.au
Adults $21.25 – $25 ● Seniors & Concession $17 – $20 ● Children 12-16 $10.65 – $12.50
For more details and to RSVP, please text or call 0491 737 603 and leave a message for a call back.

Monthly Meetings

Note the Coopers Plains History Group and Moorooka History Group will not meet in December or January. We will begin meeting in February.

Coopers Plains History Group

normally meets at the Coopers Plains Library Meeting Room which is booked every 3rd Saturday at 4pm.

Moorooka History Group

normally meets on the 1st Saturday of the month at 10am at St Brendan’s Church (entrance at the left hand side) Hawtree Street, Moorooka. Call or text Barbara on 0422 287 425.

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Salisbury Park Renamed

Coopers Plains – First Crossroad of Brisbane

The Coopers Plains History Group is proud to announce the renaming of Lillian Avenue Park at 309 Lillian Avenue to
SALISBURY QUARRY PARK.

In the 1930s, Beaudesert Road and Boundary Road in Coopers Plains were the only sealed bitumen roads in these outer communities.  Salisbury expanded east along Lillian Avenue. At the time, all roads were constructed by hand with picks and shovels.  Archie Hastie and Bob Cordingley were dray men who used drays to cart gravel from a quarry on this site to where the road gangs were working.  It was slow and somewhat tedious work but eventually, due to their efforts, basic roads connected the small communities of Salisbury, Coopers Plains and Rocklea.

Cr Steve Griffith’s Moorooka Ward eNewsletter (September) stated:

Thank you to everyone who supported the petition to rename Lillian Avenue Park in Salisbury. I’m pleased to share that Council supported renaming the park to Salisbury Quarry Park, recognising the site’s historical significance and its role in shaping our local suburbs.

This name reflects the quarry’s contribution to road construction in the 1930s, when dray men like Archie Hastie and Bob Cordingley carted gravel from the site to help connect Salisbury, Coopers Plains and Rocklea.

Thanks again to the Coopers Plains History Group for their research and support.

Photo Event

On Thursday 23rd of October at 9:30 in the morning there will be a short gathering with Cr Steve Griffiths, the History Group and petitioners to mark the new name with a photo-taking opportunity. All petitioners have been invited to attend by post card.

New Heritage Listings
Brisbane 100

New Heritage Listings in City Plan v34 Final confirmation that six Dutch Houses in Sunnybank have a heritage protection overlay on them came through with the latest update to the Brisbane City Council’s City Plan 2014 v34. Four of the houses are on Lawford Street behind St Thomas Moore College. See Sunnybank – Dutch Houses

Dutch house on the corner of Lawford St and Aldershot St, present and early 1950s.

Also, in Moorooka the Arcade in the shopping precinct at 201 Beaudesert Road has been listed. So has 17 Colebrook Ave (the former QATB Sub-Centre)

See Moorooka – 201 Beaudesert Road – Arcade  and  Moorooka – 17 Colebrook Avenue – QATB Sub-Centre (former)

Brisbane 100 The History Hub Community information day marking the centenary of the amalgamation of many Shires into the Greater Brisbane City Council was a volunteer-led event on Wednesday 1st of October. More than 50 volunteers attended and speeches were given, including one by the Lord Mayor. It’s a tribute to what the community can achieve if we feel strongly enough about an initiative.

Brisbane 100 History Conference The Royal Historical Society of Queensland (RHSQ) is partnering with the Greater Brisbane Centenary Committee to host a significant History Conference commemorating the centenary of the amalgamation of Greater Brisbane. This event will bring together leading historians, researchers, and writers specialising in Brisbane’s history to present papers exploring the social, political, economic, and cultural impact of the 1925 amalgamation and the subsequent development of the city. Topics will range from the motivations behind the unification, town planning, the history of amalgamated towns and shires, to the long-term consequences and the evolution of Brisbane’s identity. 

Events

Coopers Plains History Group Monthly Meeting

Saturday 18th of October 4 pm
Coopers Plains Library Meeting Room (at the back)
All welcome. Please RSVP by by commenting on this post below (if you can’t see the comment field, click the heading above) or by text to 0491 737 603. The Coopers Plains Library Meeting Room is booked every 3rd Saturday at 4pm for us to meet.

Moorooka History Group Monthly Meeting

Saturday 1st of November at 10am
St Brendan’s Church (entrance at the left hand side)
Hawtree Street, Moorooka
Please RSVP to confirm venue by text to Barbara on 0422 287 425. The Moorooka History Group meets 1st Saturday at 10am.

Brisbane 100 History Conference

Saturday, October 11th from 9am until 4.30pm at The Ithaca Room, Brisbane City Hall.
For tickets Book on Eventbrite of phone (07) 3221 4198.

Six Dutch Houses Officially Heritage Listed in Brisbane

Coopers Plains – First Crossroad of Brisbane

The Coopers Plains History Group and the Dutch Australian Cultural Centre (DACC) welcome the official heritage listing of six post-war Dutch Houses in Sunnybank by Brisbane City Council. This decision recognises the historical, architectural, and migrant heritage value of these homes, built as part of a unique collaboration between the Queensland Housing Commission and a Dutch construction company in the early 1950s.

The following properties have been formally added to the Brisbane Local Heritage Register:

• 19 Aldershot Street, Sunnybank

• 15 Lawford Street, Sunnybank

• 17 Lawford Street, Sunnybank

• 19 Lawford Street, Sunnybank

• 21 Lawford Street, Sunnybank

• 4 Pasteur Street, Sunnybank

Official listing reference: Brisbane City Council Heritage Register – Place 2816

These well-maintained homes – still in use as public housing – are examples of a bold post-war housing project that brought Dutch prefabrication techniques, materials, and skilled labour to Brisbane. They form part of a broader legacy of Dutch–Australian cooperation during the post-war reconstruction period and reflect the contribution of migrants to Brisbane’s suburban development.

In August 2025, this legacy was further acknowledged with the official naming of Dutch Houses Park in Coopers Plains. The park features interpretive signage and stands near where many of the original Dutch Houses once stood. The renaming followed years of advocacy by local historian Simon Cole, in partnership with the DACC and Brisbane City Council.

Heritage listing ensures these homes are now part of Brisbane’s recorded history. While their locations in quiet residential streets limit public access, their inclusion in the register makes their story visible and searchable online, offering an important educational resource.

However, heritage protection is not permanent. With only an estimated 60 Dutch Houses still surviving, the urgency remains to secure at least one original house – in accessible location – for preservation and interpretation. This would allow future generations to experience firsthand a unique example of post-war Dutch–Australian architectural and social history.

This listing represents a shared success for local history advocates, the Dutch-Australian community, and Brisbane’s heritage as a whole.

Media Contacts:
Paul Budde
Chair, Dutch Australian Cultural Centre
paul@paulbudde.com | 0418 438 183

Simon Cole
Chair, Coopers Plains History Group
0491 737 603

Dutch Houses Park Opening
Toohey Private Cemetery
Coopers Plains History Group – Inspect The Archives
Brisbane 100

Dutch Houses Park Opening The park on McKoy Street, Coopers Plains in the Cornerstone Living area was officially unveiled with local residents and dignitaries in attendance. Cr Kim Marx officiated while Mrs Majon Wind, Honorary Consul of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Mr Paul Budde, Chair of the Dutch Australia Cultural Centre and Mr Simon Cole, Chair of Coopers Plains History Group making speeches. This was followed by an unveiling of the new sign and a cake cutting.

Photos by WalkAboutWithRob – Rob Braiden

Do visit the park and read the brief history description and enjoy the amenities of the park itself. 7 McKoy Street, Coopers Plains.

Toohey Private Cemetery This cemetery in Toohey Forest that belonged to the Toohey family is being forgotten. Cr Steve Griffiths met with Dr Bill Metcalf, a social historian holding honorary positions at UQ and Griffith University who has written about the cemetery. Plans are being made to inspect the site and mark it in such a way that the public can be informed of its historical significance. For more information, see Toohey Private Cemetery is Being Lost Forever

Camp Colombia Heritage Association’s  Symposium marked the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII and the alliance between the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Australia, Britain and the United States. It covered a wide range of topics and included a display of artifacts, notably a ceremonial sword believed to belong to a Dutch Lieutenant Governor associated with the Netherlands East Indies government in exile – the only government in exile Australia has ever hosted.

Events

Coopers Plains History – Inspect the Archives

Open Archive Opportunity **Early Date** Early Time**
Saturday 13th of September at 2pm
Coopers Plains Library Meeting Room (at the back)
For two hours, the Coopers Plains Archives will be open, for your research questions, followed by a meeting for new members. Your research questions must be lodged with Dr Neville Buch (nbuch61@gmail.com) or Simon Cole (saimoncole@gmail.com / 0491737603) before 2:00 p.m. September 13th, 2025. The earlier you make your submission, the better we will be able to locate the best files to inspect. Our archives are held at the Coopers Plains Library. All welcome. Please RSVP by commenting below (if you can’t see the comment field, please click on the title of this post above). The Coopers Plains Library Meeting Room is normally booked for every 3rd Saturday at 4pm for us to meet.

Moorooka History Group Monthly Meeting

Saturday 6th of September at 10am
St Brendan’s Church (entrance at the left hand side)
Hawtree Street, Moorooka
Please RSVP to confirm venue by text to Barbara on 0422 287 425.
The Moorooka History Group meets 1st Saturday at 10am.

Brisbane 100

The Centenary commemoration of the formation of the Greater Brisbane City Council in 1925 is being marked by a History Hub to be held in the Sherwood Room, Town Hall on October 1st. The Hub will tell the story of the creation of Greater Brisbane and major milestones with installations for each of the shires that were amalgamated. It has been organized by a collection of Brisbane local history groups. Email address; 100YearsofGreaterBrisbane@gmail.com
For more information see https://linktr.ee/GreaterBrisbaneCentenary