Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933), Saturday 10 January 1931, page 19


Annerley District.

Growth of Valuable Suburb.

ONE of the most thickly-populated

districts of Brisbane is Anner-ley, which sprang into existence along the bustling highway be-tween Brisbane and Ipswich. These were the two rival capital cities of Queensland, and bullock drivers from the latter town brought their wool-laden teams along the Ipswich-road to the South Brisbane wharves from where the product was shipped to Sydney in small sailing vessels of from 60 to 150 tons. A well-known name connected with the early history of Annerley was that of the late Mr.

Joseph Thompson, who owned about 200 acres of land on the left side of the Ipswich-road extending back to the Burnett Swamp and his paddock was one of the first to be cut up for closed settlement, the district still bearing the name of Thompson Estate.

One of the first residents on the Riverview Estate was the late Mr.

Henzell who built Coonoona, later occupied by Mr. A. F. Luya The Hon. Digby Denham followed shortly after-wards, and built his home on the top of the hill. Mr Denham succeeded his friend, Mr. Samuel Grimes, M.L.A, as member of the district, and eventually became Premier of Queensland. It was due to him that the old Boggo-road had its name changed to Annerley, the district taking the name after it. One of the earliest industries in the dis-trict was the wool scour and tannery the late Mr. T. B. Stephens erected on the Ekibin Creek, while the Stephen mountain near by was the site for the rifle range during the period of the Boer War. Lower down the Ipswich road, near Yeronga, Mr. Sandison com-menced a pottery, which is still flourishing.

Soden's Buses.

IT was due to the late Mr. John

Soden, however, that the district bounded ahead. Mr. Soden settled on the Ipswich-road, Yeronga, in Septem-ber, 1879, and about two years later commenced his line of buses to the city. An efficient service was estab-lished, and Soden's buses continually brought out new settlers in the dis-trict. The buses were run for many years with the aid of Mr. Soden's six sons and a daughter, and to-day five of the children still reside within a stone's throw of the original home site. Eventually modern trams re-placed the buses, which were with-drawn, and the stables were converted to a coachworks. Alderman J. Soden, one of the late Mr. John Soden's sons, who is a member of the Brisbane City Council, has been actively concerned in municipal work for many years.

St. Kilda Estate.

THE inducements to settle in the

Annerley district are set out in the advertisement in "The Brisbane Courier" of June 11, 1864, when the St. Kilda estate, practically all that land between the old and the new Ipswich-road, was submitted for sale at public auction by Trundle and Cameron, auctioneers and land estate agents. The advertisement says: "Three hundred magnificent business allotments and cottage residence sites, situated on the main telegraphic line of road to Ipswich, within one mile of Stanley-street, South Brisbane, and a few chains from Mr. Toohey's land, nearly opposite the Newtown estate, and about ten minutes' walk from the new ferry at Harris's Wharf. The auctioneers in presenting these lands point out that the property bears the same relative position to Brisbane, regarding proximity, that Collingwood or Richmond does to Mel-bourne; Woolloomooloo or Newtown to Sydney; and with the now speedy prospect of the erection of the bridge it is obvious that business stands and residence sites will immediately reach an equal value with Fortitude Valley lands. Parties inspecting St. Kilda will corroborate the assertion now made that the grounds, having a gradual ascent from the Telegraph Road to the Old Ipswich Road, are so perfectly free of broken ridge or gully that an objectionable allotment does not exist on the whole estate. It is worthy of remark that the very large population settled on the adjacent properties of Waterford, Merton, Fleurs, Fox's, and other estates, with-in the past 12 months, clearly indi-cates the direction in which the city is growing. To these palpable facts may be added what cannot but arrest the attention of all observers of the rapid advance of this locality, that in a few months hence allotments of land fronting the main outlet of the met-ropolis of the most successful colony under the British Crown, situated within two miles Of the Post Office, will only be purchasable at enormous increases on their present worth." In spite of the advantages set out in this advertisement it was not until the 'eighties, when the late Mr. John Soden established regular transport, that the district really commenced to

be settled.

Junction Park State School.

FROM a tiny cottage school of 1888

the Junction Park State School has grown to be one of the leading State schools of Queensland, due en-tirely to the unselfish devotion of Mr. J. J. Dempsey, the retired head teacher. When the first section of the Thompson Estate of 200 acres was sold, a number of thrifty workers bought allotments and set out to es-tablish homes. The need of a school was soon felt—the nearest being those at Yeronga, Coorparoo, and Dutton Park (then called the "Jail School"). When the second section of the estate began to be built on a school on or near the estate became a necessity. So, in April, 1888, a "provisional" school for very young pupils was set up in a rented four-roomed cottage in Ox-ford-street. The committee soon found themselves unable to pay the 10/ a week rent, and the Department of Education took over the tenancy. In January, 1889, Mr. Dempsey was placed in charge of the school, and with him was Miss Jessie Brown, as a young assistant. Miss Brown has served the school continuously ever since. The school grew rapidly, doub-ling its roll in the first three months. The cottage provided room for 80 pupils, and when its walls were bulg-ing out to hold 200 a move was made to the Regent-street Hall in August, 1889. Here the school remained until March, 1891, during which time tem-porary sheds were twice added to hold the increasing attendance. Through the services of the late Mr. W. Stephens, M.L.A., who was chair-man of the school committee, a site for the new school, containing five acres opposite the Junction Hotel, was secured. Plans were prepared for a school for 150 chil-dren, but owing to Ministerial and other delays and opposition the build-ing was not started. When matters seemed to have been settled fresh plans were drawn—this time for 250 pupils. But in the interval the "provisional" school topped 300. So a third school was planned for 450 pupils, and esti-mated to cost £3500, of which one fifth, or £700, was to be provided by the residents. But the committee had only £200 in hand, so it was agreed to build, at first, only the central por-tion, and to add the two wings of the quadrangle as funds permitted.

The New School.

ON March 31, 1891, the school chil-

dren made a triumphant march from the Regent-street school to the new school, where they were joined by another 100 new children. The new school provided seating accommodation for 280 children, but 425 attended on the first day, and after a few weeks there was a daily average attendance of 480. The new school ground was un-fenced, and when classes were in pro-gress under the school it was necessary to have an extra monitor to chase fowls and ducks out of the class. Cattle, horses, dogs, and goats roamed at will over the ground, and at last, after sev-eral years, Mr. Dempsey bought fenc-ing material, and with the help of a man together put up a fence on one side of the grounds. With commend-able foresight, Mr. Dempsey realised that it would be necessary to maintain a road from King-street to the school, and as he could not get the respon-sible bodies to act, he himself, in 1894, purchased six allotments for that pur-pose. Years later, when the road was formed, the allotments were resumed at original cost, but there was never any mention of all the rates Mr. Demp-sey had paid on them. A similar road giving direct access on the southern road was provided in the early '20's at the instance of Councillor H. A. Manahan. Another scheme that

had been carefully nurtured by Mr. Dempsey was the enlargement of the school reserve, and as he had little hope of obtaining departmental assistance he set about the task of quietly buying 19 allotments that bordered the school grounds. Secretly he was helped by Mr. John Hill (Shire Clerk) and Mr. Digby Denham, M.L.A. , and at the time of Mr.Dempsey's re-tirement in 1923 when he was succeed-ed by the present head master (Mr. T. G. Fisher) all but three allotments had been resumed for school purposes. Mr. Dempsey suffered a net loss of several hundred pounds during the 14 years that it took him to achieve his object but he was satisfied he had done the best for the children. Mr. Dempsey was also responsible for in-troducing the first swimming pool into the State schools. At first a waterhole in Toohey's paddock was used and later part of the Ekibin Creek was dammed back. Eventually, in 1911, the first swimming pool in the school grounds was opened and in 1928 the present spacious pool was built .The school which commenced in 1888 with 60 pupils now has an enrollment of over 1200. In connection with the en-largement of the school it is interest-

ing to note that Mr. Dempsey was responsible for the design of a new type of schoolroom which has since become the standard type for State school class rooms. It would be diffi-cult to find a head masteirwho has shown such generous devotion to his school and has spent so much of his own time and money in the interests of generations of children. Over 10,000 scholars have passed through the school and every one of them owe Mr.

Dempsey their thanks for a sound education and happy childhood days.

Baptist Church

THE Baptist Church in Annerley

district is represented by two churches, one at Fairfield and the other in O'Keefe-street in the Thomp-son Estate. The Fairfield Baptist Church grew out of a small mission established in 1865 as the result of the efforts of the well-known brothers, George and Samuel Grimes and the Rev. B. G. Wilson the first minister of the Wharf-street church who con-ducted services in the district prior to that date. The site for the mission hall, little more than a hut, was supplied bv Mr. Samuel Grimes in 1862, but it was not until 1865 that regular services were conducted in the hut. For some years the mission was associated with the Vulture-street Baptist Church, but during the past 24 years it was given separation and supported its own local minister. A substantial church was built in 1880 and was enlarged in 1916. The Rev. Ralph Sayce, secretary of the Baptist Union has been in charge of the Fair-field Church since 1920. The Baptist church in O'Keefe-street, Thompson Estate was established as early as 1883

and, like the Fairfield church, was

originally conducted as a mission by the Vulture-street Baptist Church. At the present time it is associated with the Petrie-terrace Baptist church and both churches are conducted by Pastor P. J. Evans under the administration of the Home Missions.

Congregational Church

THE Cracknell-road Congregational

church had its origin over 30 years ago as the result of the enthus-iasm of the late Mrs. Grimes and the late Mrs. Wilson each of whom con-ducted Sunday schools at their own homes. Their efforts were then co-ordinated and a small Sunday School hall was built in the wilderness of Tarragindi. Subsequently a more suit-able place was found in Cracknell-

road and the hall was enlarged and removed to its new site. The first fellowship was formed by the late Rev. Joseph Walker about 30 years ago and when the hall was removed to Crack-nell-road regular church services were conducted by laymen in the Congrega-tional body. A new church was built on its present site five years ago, the first minister being the late Rev. F. North, M.A ., while the Rev. C. Beharell is the present minister.

Methodist Church

THE Annerley Methodist Church in

Ipswich-road was first started as a Sunday School on the Ferndale Estate by Mr. Kirkman at his own home in 1889, with the late Rev. William Powell as visiting minister. It was largely due to the labours of the Rev. William Powell that the church site was secured on the Ips-wich-road and the first church was built in 1890. In later years it was en-larged, and in 1917 during the ministry of the Rev. A. Lewis was re-placed by the present church. The Rev. G. W. Pittendrigh is now in charge. The church has a fine reputation for its musical activities due to the well-known conductor, Mr. F. Yorston, and the choir is one of the best in Bris-bane.

Roman Catholic Church.

THE Roman Catholic Church in

Ipswich-road was first part of the parish of Coorparoo under the control of Father O'Leary, but in 1914, when the district had grown to such an ex-tent, Annerley became a separate par-ish of its own, the late Father James Gallagher being the first parish priest. Since then Moorooka, Graceville, and Yeronga, once under the control of the Ipswich-road church, have been established as separate parishes. The convent of the Immaculate Conception was established in 1915, and the con-vent school was commenced about the same time. The parish is now under the charge of Father J. D. Kelly.

In addition, the district is graced by St. Philip's Church of England, under

the ministry of the Rev. E. H. Smith, while the Bethany Hall, Church of Christ, in Annerley-road, has also been

long established.