Cooper Plains Origins Project Dutch History Cafe Projects More Local Support
We skipped last month’s meeting and this newsletter comes 2 weeks late due to personal reasons the Chair has had to endure. Project business stalled. Nonetheless, there have been some minor developments regarding external support, the Dutch Houses and the Convict Camp.
Parliament House and Lucinda Bar Tour
The small contingent of members and fans who joined the tour of Parliament were impressed and pleased with it. We learnt a lot and were proud to find our very own former President Beryl Roberts’ book He Made His Mark – Joshua Jeays enshrined in the foyer display cabinet. Thus so because he designed the building.
Coopers Plains Origin Project
No progress to report on this but I was giving my neighbour a little history tour down Musgrave Road when we noticed a carefully maintained pile of rocks next to the WaterEquip factory on Stable Swamp Creek. This is uncannily close to the legendary Convict Camp ‘Hut’. It’s surrounded by fencing but open to the public. It could be just flood-mitigation. If anyone can put us out of our mistery, please do.
Dutch House History Cafe Project
A small group of my neighbours are interested in supporting the history cafe project, so I took them for a tour and viewing of 9 Macdevitt Street and 4 McKoy Street. Their skills include carpentry, glazing, building, pizza-oven chef, barista, manicurist, accounting and computing. Between us, we can do this.
We collectively agreed that 4 McKoy Street is the superior candidate because of its prime location front, centre and overlooking the Cornerstone Living McKoy Park where there is some street parking. It is also in better condition and very original.
Local MP Peter Russo responded to our inquiry into the current ownership of the properties saying they did not belong to the Department of Housing. This isn’t particularly helpful because we know 9 Macdevitt Street is being sold by the developer back to the housing department; it probably hasn’t finalized. I made inquiries about 4 McKoy Street and it appears to be privately owned and rented.
Real estate agent Jon Smith has kindly offered to provide us with some marketing materials. We will have a stall, banner and flyers ready to display at Neighbour Day in Beryl Roberts Park on Sunday 31st around midday.Do come along.
Events
Cooper Plains History Group Monthly Meeting
March 23rd Saturday at 4pm
Coopers Plains Library Meeting Room (at the back)
All welcome. Please RSVP by commenting below (if the field isn’t there, click on this post’s heading and try again). Thanks to the friendly and helpful staff of the Coopers Plains Library for printing out these newsletters and offering them to anyone who wants to keep in touch without going online. The Coopers Plains Library Meeting Room is booked every 3rd Saturday at 4pm for us to meet.
Heritage & Environment
Cooper Plains Origins, Dutch History Cafe Projects
Parliament & Lucinda Bar Tour
This month includes thoughts on our group’s focus, an event and progress on the Convict Camp andDutch House History Cafe projects.
Heritage and Environment
At last month’s meeting, I promised to provide an explanation to members of my proposal to broaden the group’s scope. I suggested our focus include not just the past, but the cultural dimensions of history and the ecosystems that affect how we live today. I think of the first part as heritage, or legacies. We are all a product of the actions of those that went before us. We are both blessed and burdened by them and we are responsible for how we manage these bequests and legacies and how we use them to inform our future actions.
In preserving our architecture and documenting the changes in our landscape, there is opportunity to leave a better environment for future generations. Future development should learn from and improve upon past experience, from indigenous knowledge to the mid-century Dutch Housing project. Development should incorporate existing robust and retrofittable buildings such as the Dutch Houses. What is not deemed salvageable can be replaced with higher density, better designed structures.
In July last year, I proposed – and the group agreed – to change the group’s name by dropping the word ‘Local’. There were various reasons for this, but one was brevity. To maintain this, I am now asking the group to agree to a subtitle to our branding – “Heritage and Environment”. More information is in a News post this month on our website entitled “Heritage and Environment”. Please send in your feedback by commenting on that news post or below (you may need to click this post’s heading to bring the comments field up).
Coopers Plains Origin Project and Dutch House History Cafe Project
Further progress towards the application for two grants is being made. CPHG will apply to the Lord Mayor’s Better Suburbs Community Facilities grant for funds so set up a Dutch House History Cafe. Another application is being prepared under the Community Support category to provide funds for the Coopers Plains Origin Project. This includes the work already done to locate Dr Cowpers’ Convict Camp which will be written up, published and presented in conjunction with the commemoration activities of Queensland’s Bicentenary this year. This, we hope, will also see more educational signage around our area and promote Coopers Plains as the “First Crossroad of the Moreton Bay Penal Colony”. Possible auspicing organizations include St David’s Neighbourhood Centre and the Dutch Australia Cultural Centre. CPHG has also taken a leading role in lobbying the state and local government to be more active in commemorating both Queensland’s origins and the Brisbane City Council’s amalgamation nearly 100 years ago.
Events
Parliament House and Lucinda Bar Tour
Date and Time: Friday February 9th at 4pm.
RSVPs for the event close on Monday 5th. Please see HERE for details.
Cooper Plains History Group Monthly Meeting
February 17th Saturday at 4pm
Coopers Plains Library Meeting Room (at the back)
All welcome. Please RSVP by commenting below. Thanks to the friendly and helpful staff of the Coopers Plains Library for printing out newsletters and offering them to anyone who wants to keep in touch without going online. The Coopers Plains Library Meeting Room is booked every 3rd Saturday at 4pm for us to meet.
At last month’s meeting, I promised to provide an explanation to members of my proposal to broaden the group’s scope. I suggested our focus include not just the past, but the cultural dimensions of history and the ecosystems that affect how we live today. I think of the first part as heritage, or legacies. We are all a product of the actions of those that went before us. We are both blessed and burdened by them and we are responsible for how we manage these bequests and legacies and how we use them to inform our future actions.
History groups do invaluable work by preserving knowledge of the past. From this body of knowledge, we are free to decide for ourselves what lessons there are to learn.
What evidence is there that lessons from the past have been learnt? For example, here in southern Brisbane, the worst localized conflicts have been the Frontier Wars, and WW2. Are we in danger of repeating these tragedies?
When the world’s first country to industrialize met one of the oldest continuing pre-metallurgic cultures, relations were initially quite good. Official British intentions to establish good relations with the Aborigines were quite different to the Spanish conquistadors and other earlier expanding empires. Aborigines freely shared their catch with the colonists and likewise blankets and tomahawks were given to them as part of official provisions. (In Sydney, the local tribes-people loved having their hair cut and annoying nits removed.) Relations started deteriorating when the first (maize) crops ripened and the rights to harvest them led to disputes. Very different notions of cultivation and property led to conflict. Also, whereas one culture was stable and in a sense timeless, the other was intensely engaged in its ability to alter the environment and grow its presence.
Do we look upon and react to the frontiers of today differently to how our ancestors did upon theirs?
NASA’s Keplar telescope has found habitable planets in our galaxy. Are we interested in what life is there, what it might be like and what it tells us about how we originated? Or are we assuming it’s an opportunity to expand our presence and civilization? Can both be done successfully?
Current geopolitical tensions indicate we’re heading for another major showdown between super powers.
It seems to me the powers-that-be (PTB) have not learnt as much as they could from history. Nor, for that matter have wanna-be PTB, or elite aspirants. If they had, they would appreciate that the only constant is change and that although some form of growth is only natural, there are limits. Aboriginal culture remained relatively unchanged for so long because it was not at a crossroad of cultures on a fertile river plain at the right latitude. It was relatively isolated; a world of its own. They were inevitably going to ‘be discovered’ as the rest of the world grew more quickly.
It’s still growing… on a finite planet. International competition for resources and influence continues unabated. Growth, we are told, is good. And yet it seems that unless we redefine growth in qualitative rather than quantitative terms, we will run into trouble again.
In preserving our architecture and documenting the changes in our landscape, there is opportunity to leave a better environment for future generations. Future development should learn from and improve upon past experience from indigenous knowledge to the mid-century Dutch Housing project, to the Cornerstone Living project.
To take an example, developments like Cornerstone Living should to some extent incorporate existing robust and retrofitable buildings such as the Dutch Houses. They ought not be blithely knocked down when they still have much life left in them. Even though aspects of the Dutch Houses’ design is lacking (for their locale), there are people who love them and want to live in them. They can be retro-fitted for modern living. What is not deemed salvageable can be replaced with higher density and better designed structures. The Moorooka War Workers Cottages are lighter structures, but much loved and their owner-residents can modify them to extend their lifespan under Council’s character overlay, but since it’s ill-advized [sic] heritage restrictions (the Temporary Local Planning Instrument), residents have been in a sense imprisoned in substandard homes. Fortunately, the TLPI looks like it will be lifted. Town Planning Rebellion is a group leading the way in rethinking urban development in the context of an overcrowded and degrading world.
In July last year, I proposed – and the group agreed – to change the group’s name by dropping the word ‘Local’. There were various reasons for this, but one was brevity. To maintain this, I am now asking the group to agree to a subtitle to our branding – “Heritage and Environment”.
Queensland Parliament House foundation stone was laid in 1865.
Lucinda Bar memorializes Premier Samuel Griffiths’ Lucinda paddle steamer, which has a unique place in the formation of our Commonwealth.
We will join the 4pm free public tour of Parliament and adjourn for cocktails at the Bar when it opens at 5:30pm, followed by dinner at Stranger’s Restaurant from 6pm. The tour ends at 4:30pm so I invited our local member Peter Russo to meet us while we wait for the bar to open, but he declined. However, we are hopeful another member – possibly even the opposition leader – will appear for us. Date and Time: Friday February 9th at 4pm.
All visitors for tours should enter the parliamentary precinct via the Parliamentary Annexe Building, located on Alice Street (opposite William Street). Tours commence from the visitor information area located on the ground floor, inside the Annexe Building.
All visitors to Parliament House require government-issued photo identification.
If you intend to dine at Stranger’s Restaurant, please call and book: 3553 6386. Let them know you are with the Coopers Plains History Group and they will probably arrange a group table for us. The menu for Lucinda and Strangers’ can be seen here. I’m told no bookings are needed for the bar. Please RSVP by Wednesday February 7thfor the tour by commenting below (you may need to click the heading above to bring the comments field into view) or by texting a message to Simon 0405587988. We need to know numbers because there is a limit of 15 people on tour groups and it cannot be booked, so no more than 10 of us can join it. You may join us after the tour for cocktails and/or dining.
Monthly Meeting Tomorrow
January 20th Saturday at 4pm
Coopers Plains Library Meeting Room (at the back)
All welcome. Please RSVP by commenting below. Agenda:
1. Heritage & Environment – proposed change of emphasis and name for CPHG up for discussion.
2. City & Qld centenary and bicentenary commemorations
3. Convict Camp
4. Dutch Houses
The Coopers Plains Library Meeting Room is booked every 3rd Saturday at 4pm for us to meet.
The January newsletter comes a little late but with some enticing news.
Dutch Houses Heritage Overlay
Good news. After years of raising the profile of the Dutch Houses in Coopers Plains; the City Council has confirmed that it will protect ‘a pocket’ of the houses. Cr Adam Allan stated in a letter to Dr Neville Buch on the 1st Dec, 2023, “I can advise that on 6 September 2022, Council decided to make a qualified state interest amendment to include over 230 proposed Local Heritage Places on the Heritage Overlay in Brisbane City Plan 2014 (City Plan). This proposed amendment included the addition of a number of ‘Dutch Houses’ in Sunnybank. It is expected that Council will be undertaking community consultation on the proposed amendment in 2024.” Where this pocket is, is a mystery. Whether it includes 9 Macdevitt Street, CPs – the prime example CPHG has ear-marked – is unknown. Members and interested people are encouraged to engage in the consultation process when it occurs. A notice will appear this newsletter.
Dutch Houses of Coopers Plains video on YouTube by WalkaboutWithRob
We are very fortunate to have as aspect of our area featured on YouTube by local history documentary maker, Robert Braiden. It’s called “Brisbane’s VANISHING Suburb!” As I write, it’s already had 32K views and 253 comments. My comment, in brief, stated: “Great job, Rob … there other were building projects like this contracted out to foreign companies – the French in Zillmere and Chermside, the Swedish in Acacia Ridge and Ipswich and the Italians in Carina and Toowoomba. There are about 40 of the Dutch Houses outside the Cornerstone Living development. Whilst there is much to be desired in both the old and new iterations of development, the best one can say is that foundation engineering has improved. For more information and a petition, go to …. https://equanimity.blog/dutch-house-community-gardens/.”
Cowper’s Convict Camp Investigation update
Further work by our mapping and geo-referencing expert, Adrian O’Connor suggests the convict station or “Hut” may have been a bit closer to the mythical Musgrave Road area as rumored by local folklore and handed down oral history. This map shows it at the 859 Beaudesert Rd “Fortuna” factory.Dr Buch has drafted a paper summarizing this work for presentation and publication in an appropriate journal. Watch this space for an event showcasing this research. In recognition of this work, A Coopers Plains History Group Research Fund will be set up and either a grant applied for or donations called for in a crowd-funding campaign.
Queensland Bicentenary and BCC Centenary Commemoration Planning
Last month I met with the full committee of the Brisbane History Group and presented my concerns about the apparent absence of any official plans to commemorate Brisbane City Council’s centenary. I presented a draft letter for them to submit to the Lord Mayor. The committee is of a like mind and will act at a time of their choosing.
Heritage and Environment
To me, history is not, as Peter Turchin (Cliodynamicist) says, ‘just one damn thing after another’. There are patterns and from them we can learn. Therefore, history is not just about preserving the past for the sake of it, it is about the present and the future. It is also entwined with culture and ethnicity which is better embraced by the term ‘heritage’. The important work of preserving the past overlaps, for me, into prudent resource use and sustainability. This matters on a continent and planet straining under the demands of 8 billion people. I propose that we rename this group the Coopers Plains Heritage and Environment Group. I ask you to consider this and send in your feedback. saimoncole@gmail.com
Events
Parliament House and Lucinda Cafe Tour
The Lucinda Care in Queensland’s parliament house is named for Premier Griffiths’ paddle boat that played an important role in the Federation of Australia’s colonies into the world’s first and still only ‘continent for a nation and a nation for a continent’. Come and enjoy a tour of Parliament and cocktails in the cafe where some relics of the boat are preserved. Details to be announced.
Cooper Plains History Group Monthly Meeting
January 20th Saturday at 4pm
Coopers Plains Library Meeting Room (at the back)
All welcome. Please RSVP by text to 0405587988. Thanks to the friendly and helpful staff of the Coopers Plains Library for printing out these newsletters and offering them to anyone who wants to keep in touch without going online. The Coopers Plains Library Meeting Room is booked every 3rd Saturday at 4pm for us to meet.
Changed Meeting Date, Time & Place for December St David’s Support for CPHG & Dutch House Cafe Cowper’s Convict Camp Investigation Update Camp Colombia WWII Dutch Historian Visit
This December newsletter contains updates on continuing stories and some developments that could prove to be a game-changer for our group. Can you spot the update in our map above? See below for the answer.
SDNC reached out to us and is offering us to work jointly to create more interest and involvement in our history group. The Neighbourhood Centre supports our older residents (among others), many of whom have deep roots in Coopers Plains. These connections can be a treasure trove as well as a great way for people to connect and reminisce. Our next committee meeting will be at the Centre on Friday 15th (see below) to discuss our plans. Everyone is welcome to join us and learn about how we’ll be working together next year.
The Stories Collection Initiative will launch sometime in February next year. Elizabeth Blombert is these stories. Archiving information gathered is core work of any history group and it is a quite a task. St David’s can auspice a grant to pay someone with the skills and interest to do this. The state government is buying back 9 Macdevitt Street, Coopers Plains and word has it that the house will be renovated and rented out. Although a heritage listing application has failed because the house is post-war, it is a very original example and has great potential as a place to showcase Dutch migrant and Brisbane public housing history. It would make a great neighbourhood hub, cafe and community orchard too. St David’s Neighbourhood Centre could help make this a reality. All that is needed is volunteers from the community.
The addition to the map on our homepage is the (approximate location of) the convict camp.
Cowper’s Convict Camp Investigation update
Stapylton M10765
Dixon_1840_trig_georef
November saw considerable effort to identify and locate the legendary convict camp Dr Cowper regularly visited on his way to Limestone Hill (Ipswich). Dr Neville Buch recruited the georeferencing and mapping skills of Adrian O’Connor and also spent 4 hours at the Mitchell Library in Sydney researching the early history of the Cowper’s Plains crossroad. A picture is emerging of a changing government presence over a large area intersected by the old convict-built trails between Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich (Limestone) and Cleveland. Attention has focussed on a “Hut” marked at the top right corner of this 1839 map “Acacia Ridge, Stapylton M10765”. The Hut is referred to in an 1846 report in The Moreton Bay Courier as a “hut on the Government station at Cowper’s Plains”. With Adrian’s skills the Hut has been overlayed onto modern maps and located – we think – at 98 Kerry Road, Archerfield. There are said to have been government stables in the area from which Stable Swamp Creek got its name. Dr Buch has drafted a paper summarizing this work for presentation and publication in an appropriate journal. Watch this space for an event showcasing this research. In recognition of this work, A Coopers Plains History Group Research Fund will be set up and either a grant applied for or donations called for in a crowd-funding campaign.
Queensland Bicentenary and BCC Centenary Commemoration Planning
CPHG and Brisbane Southside History Network convened a meeting with other history groups to draft a letter to the Premier, asking what commemoration plans were in the pipeline. We are awaiting Royal Historical Society of Queensland feedback on the letter before sending it in. CPHG will meet with Brisbane History Group this month to discuss the Brisbane City Council’s plans. My application to address Council in chambers was postponed until after the election.
Camp Columbia Heritage Association organised a successful event at the ANZAC Square & Memorial Galleries, Brisbane. Together with the Galleries CCHA hosted Dutch WWII historian Bas Kreuger. There was a full house with 60 delegates.
Two days after the Camp Colombia event, Wolston House was open to the public and we were treated to a guided tour. Dr Simpson’s 1850s homestead is marked on our homepage map.
Did you know the Redlands Library has a corner set aside for history? It has dedicated computers, table and chairs and hours set aside for researchers. I spent an hour there researching the Cowper’s Camp and came away with some interesting results.
Our city libraries are very supportive of local history work. Coopers Plains Library houses our history group’s archives, and the staff are very helpful. There are two shelves in the library dedicated to local history.
Did you know you can educate people about local history places by sharing information on Google Maps? I added Joan (nee Lewis) Manthey’s story of her family – the Lewis Family – to Arthur Lewis Place on the corner of Musgrave and Orange Grove Roads. Barbara Black Ravenswood of Moorooka History Group gave me a copy of the Queensland Family Historian journal when she visited our monthly meeting. Check the story online – it’s about Lewis Hill, or Orange Grove Estate, as it is more usually referred to historically.
Events
St David’s Community Christmas Party
Come along and meet fellow local history enthusiasts as CPHG tags onto St David’s annual Xmas party.
Let them know you’re with CPHG when you RSVP.
Friday 15 December, 11am to 1pm
Harmony Room, Cnr Rookwood Ave & Orange Grove Road
RSVP by 13th December 3274 3240 community@stdavidsnc.org.a
Look out for the Coopers Plains History Group visit to this brand new museum in Banyo.
Cooper Plains History Group Monthly Meeting
December Friday 15th 3pm
St David’s Neighbourhood Centre
The Green Room, Cnr Rookwood Ave & Orange Grove Road
Join by Zoom by clicking here just before the meeting!
Meeting ID: 766 9631 4047 Passcode: 5q1P0v
All welcome. Please RSVP by text to 0405587988 or by commenting below (you may have to click the post’s heading to bring the comment field up). Thanks to the friendly and helpful staff of the Coopers Plains Library for printing out these newsletters and offering them to anyone who wants to keep in touch without going online. The Coopers Plains Library Meeting Room is booked every 3rd Saturday at 4pm for us to meet – except this month it’ll be on Friday 15th at 3pm at St David’s.
This is short notice, but a rare opportunity because the venue isn’t usually open to the public.
You may have noticed “Dr Simpson” appears on our website homepage map. It is to the east of Coopers Plains, half way to Ipswich. The map is a small part of the 1846 “After Baker with additions” map of the Moreton Bay District:
This month, due to booking congestion, we will meet at 1pm instead of our usual 4pm.
Saturday November 18th
1-3pm
Coopers Plains Library Meeting Room (rear of the library)
All welcome. Please RSVP or comment below (you may need to click the heading of this post to bring the comment field up.) or by text to 0405587988. For more information about what’s on the agenda, please read the last newsletter HERE
Memories of Stephens Conference
Archiving Collected Information
Peak History Body Memberships Brisbane-Queensland Commemorations 2023-2025
Elizabeth Blomberg and the Dutch Houses Story Collection Initiative
You’ll notice this is the “November News”, not a “fortnightly” newsletter. It’s actually been three weeks since the last newsletter because there are more than four weeks in a month. The inconvenient irregularities of the Gregorian Calendar calendar has interested me for some time. I recently gave a presentation to Queensland Skeptics on the Fixed Calendar that solves these problems. I digress, I know, but this prompts me to simplify my job as informal Chair of the CPHG and make an executive decision. From now on, there will be only one Newsletter per month, issued two weeks before the monthly meeting (on the 3rd Saturday). The joys of being a committee of one! I jest, of course, and am patiently waiting for volunteers to come and lighten the load.
Conference
Our neighboring history group in Annerley held its biennial conference last month and many interesting presentations were given. Many valuable connections were made as well. For a wrap up, see the Annerley-Stephens History Group’s website. A printed copy of the presentations are usually published and sold at the Annerley Library some time after the events. (https://annerleystephenshistory.org/the-2023-memories-of-stephens-conference-wrap-up/) The ASHG will have a History Room at the Yeronga Community Centre, Villa St., Yeronga from early 2024.
Archiving
The work of history groups such as ours is to collect and archive historical information for research. The avenues for contributing information are (currently) our Facebook group, our website and our monthly meetings at the library. At our October meeting, Dr Neville Buch explained that digital records need to be kept on external hard drives for storage at the library. Also, Pandora (National Library of Australia) https://pandora.nla.gov.au/ created capacity for websites to be saved.
Peak History Groups and Bi/Centennial Commemoration Planning
Last month I joined the CPHG up to the Royal Queensland Historical Society, the Annerley-Stephens History Group and History Queensland Inc. History Queensland Inc.’s role is to support the many local history groups across the state by providing things like Public Liability Insurance. We will use the Zoom account that comes with membership to hold a meeting mid-November to bring together peak history bodies and consider the apparent lack of action on the bicentennial of British settlement in Queensland and the centennial of the formation of the Greater Brisbane City Council (see the previous newsletter or our website for more information about this campaign).
Dutch Houses Story Collection Initiative
Elizabeth Blomberg, a Dutch resident of Brisbane, has volunteered to oversee the collection of stories of people associated with the Dutch Houses of Coopers Plains. She is archiving conversations in the chat group we have set up on Facebook. There will be a launch of the Initiative to bring members of the community and dignitaries together and promote awareness of the Dutch presence and its history in Brisbane.
Cowpers Camp Convict Station Search
Thanks to contributions in the Facebook chat group, progress is being made to pinpoint the convict camp location. At the last meeting, Neville, Allan and Simon looked more closely at the photograph of the bunya pine said to have been planted by the convicts at the entrance of the camp in the Sunday Mail, 1929. It appears to have been taken from across the rail line facing south west. This would place the tree on the corner of Edith St and Musgrave Rd. This led us to surmize that the location of the camp covered the area west of Edith St, south of Musgrave Road and north of Stable Swamp Creek; an area of about 1 hectare.
Events
Brisbane Motor Museum
Look out for the Coopers Plains History Group visit to this brand new museum in Banyo.
is booked to meet every 3rd Saturday at 4pm (except this month it’ll be at 1pm) at the Coopers Plains Library Meeting Room until May 2024, after which the schedule may change.
Next Meeting:
Saturday November 18th 1-3pm
Coopers Plains Library Meeting Room (rear of the library)
All welcome. Please RSVP by text to 0405587988 or comment below (you may need to click the heading of this post to bring the comment field up.) Thanks to the friendly and helpful staff of the Coopers Plains Library for printing out these newsletters and offering them to anyone who wants to keep in touch without going online.
