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Nundah & Districts Historical Society Inc.

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Nundah & Districts Historical Society Inc.

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The Society was founded in 1984 and aims to maintain records, photographs, maps and documents of the All are welcome to access the records.

The Society was founded in 1984 and aims to maintain records, photographs, maps and documents of the Nundah districts, and of the pioneers of the district. These records include a wide range of photographs, maps and documents pertaining to the area covered by the 1883 Toombul Divisional Board. The suburbs included in the area are Airport, Albion, Ascot, Banyo, Breakfast Creek, Clayfield, Doomben, Eagle Farm, Eagle Junction, Hamilton, Hendra, Kalinga, Meeandah, Myrtletown, Northgate, Nudgee, Nudgee Beach, Nundah, Pinkenba, Toombul, Viriginia, Wavell Heights, Whinstanes, and the former suburbs of Albion Park, Cribb Island, Lower Nudgee and Serpentine. The resources are extensive and continue to grow due to the generosity of members of the public who donate photographs, documents or maps or allow the society to copy articles. The Archives is available for those researching local history, whether for a school or university assignment or for general interest.

29/10/2026

Sir James Robert Dickson (1832–1901) was a prominent merchant, the 13th Premier of Queensland, and a passionate champion of Australian Federation.

Born in England and trained in banking, Dickson immigrated to Australia in 1854. By 1862, he had settled in Brisbane, establishing a highly successful auctioneer and land agency.

His wealth allowed him to build a grand home in Hamilton which he named “Toorak” and enter politics in 1873 as the Member for Enoggera. Despite personal tragedy, including the early death of his first wife, Annie, with whom he had 13 children, Dickson maintained a distinguished political career.

As a staunch "Queen’s man" devoted to the British Empire, Dickson became the driving force behind Queensland’s "yes" vote in the 1900 Federation referendum.

For his efforts, Prime Minister Edmund Barton appointed him Minister for Defence in Australia's very first federal cabinet on 1 January 1901. However, his triumph was tragic and brief. Just days into the Federation celebrations, Dickson fell ill with pneumonia and died on 10 January 1901, becoming the first federal minister to die in office.

He was honoured with a state funeral and buried under a grand, crown-topped monument at Nundah Cemetery.

Info: pulled together from info held at Nundah Historical archives
Photos: courtesy of State Library of Queensland

28/10/2026

Miss Bull driving her magnificent vehicle in her Ascot driveway.

Photo: courtesy of State Library of Queensland

27/10/2026

A drive to Bartley's Hill, Ascot, year unknown.

Photo: courtesy of State Library of Queensland

26/10/2026

“Mayfield” was once a grand Windermere Road, Hamilton, residence. Originally a single story house with verandahs, it was built for Henry Bramston, Registrar of the District Court. Before completion, it was sold to Robert Smellie in 1879.

The property then changed hands numerous times, and in the early 1900s “Mayfield” was occupied by Dr Ernest Sandford Jackson who was head of the Brisbane General Hospital. Next owner was Percy Rylance of Rylance Colliery at Dinmore, and it appears during his ownership an upper floor was added and the entire structure extensively renovated.

In 1913, “Mayfield” was transferred to pastoralist and Member of the Legislative Council, Arthur Whittingham who married Cecile Viva Taylor that same year.

In July 1920 “Mayfield” was the setting for a ball given by the Whittinghams for the then Prince of Wales who later became Edward VIII.

Arthur died in 1927 and Viva appears to have remained at “Mayfield” until her death in 1972 after which the property was subdivided.

Sadly, on 10 February 1993, “Mayfield” was destroyed by fire.

Info: sourced from information held at Nundah Historical archives
Photo: courtesy of State Library of Queensland

22/10/2026

“Mardan” as it looked in 1921

A fine Federation-era home located on Adelaide Street East, Clayfield. It was built for John Spence Irvine, a manager with the Fortitude Valley drapery firm of Foy and Gibson, around 1908.

In 1912, Irvine transferred the property to his wife’s name and the following year it was sold to Longreach grazier, James Peter Peterson. After arriving in Brisbane, Peterson became a member of the Toombul Shire Council for seven years including a time as Chairman. When James Peterson died at his home in May 1936, his widow remained in ownership of the house with her son Roy. In 1953, Sarah Peterson sold “Mardan” to Carl Wallace Bishop.

Source: BCC and SLQ

21/10/2026

This once grand home stood proud and impressive at 58 Riverton Street, Clayfield. In the 1940s it became the Clayfield Child Welfare Centre, a Mothercraft home and training facility for Mothercraft nurses.

Mothercraft homes were residential homes which provided accommodation for mothers and babies born premature. Babies were admitted for special care and feeding management.

This gem of a photograph was taken in 1948.

Info: sourced from Nundah Historical archives
Photo: courtesy of Queensland State Archives.

20/10/2026

Swimming holes that once were

“In Kedron Brook were two well-known swimming holes – “The Isleton” and “The Muscle”, the former was at now Kalinga Park and the latter close to the bridge at Toombul Shopping Town.

“The Isleton” was about 25 yards across with deep water right up to the bank – most of the boys in the area learned to swim there, and during the lunch break at Eagle Junction State School, it would be a common sight to see the boys hurrying off for a swim, although it was the best part of a mile distance.

“The Muscle” was for some reason considered a danger area and very few ever swam there. I don’t know, I was never in it.

There were two other “accepted” swimming holes in the area “Tuckers” and “The Pit”

“Tuckers” was at the rear of Tuckers Stables in Bowley Street, Hendra, and in the middle of which was a tiny island – the habitat of all vermin. It was filled in and became part of Hendra Bowling Club.

“The Pit” was that area between Oriel Road and Reeve Street from about Montpelier Street to Bartley Street, and was not fenced in until about 1911 when a small boy was drowned. This area was originally a clay pit and was said to be 30 feet deep, and water filled in during the 1893 flood, leaving the old gear machinery, etc, still at the bottom.

On the Reeve Street side was a big gum tree from which some enterprising boy had suspended a long rope attached to a single bar from which the swimmers could swing out over the water and fall in.”

Info: Extract from “Clayfield as I have seen it” document written by Frank Charlton (1898-1982) who lived just about his entire life in Clayfield. Copy given to NDHS
Photo Source: SLQ “Tree-lined banks of Kedron Brook, Toombul c1910

Frank Charlton (1898-1982) lived just about his entire life in Clayfield and recorded his memories of growing up in the area in “Clayfield as I have seen it”.

19/10/2026

John Crase - a former resident of Clayfield, Mayor of Brisbane and Alderman for Brisbane North Ward - was born at St Ives, Cornwall, England, where he was educated and apprenticed to his trade as an ironworker.

A year after completing his apprenticeship he left England in the ship "Red Jacket" arriving in Victoria in 1858. He spent some time mining in the Victorian goldfields where he married his first wife and, in 1872, resumed his trade at an iron foundry. At this early date, the policy of Protection had become the question of the day in Victoria, a policy he advocated wholeheartedly, his motto being “Australian Goods Made by Australian Men”.

After the death of his wife, he remarried in 1885 and moved to Brisbane commencing business in Warren Street, Fortitude Valley as John Crase & Co., Architectural and General Ironfounders.

He built his home at 858 Sandgate Road, Clayfield which incorporated iron lace from his own firm. There are other examples of the foundry’s output gracing many residences in Brisbane in the form of friezes for verandahs, cast iron spandrels, cast iron columns etc. He named his home “Tregenna”.

In 1904, John Crase was elected an Alderman for the North Ward of the City of Brisbane and in 1906 was elected Mayor of the city serving one term. He died on 25 May 1919 and is buried in the Nundah cemetery.

Info: Nundah Historical archives
Photos: John Crase courtesy SLQ; Tregenna courtesy Nundah Historical archives

15/10/2026

“Wildfell” in its hey-day was magnificient

George Marshall Kirk, in his 57th year, died at “Wildfell”, his Brisbane home on 13 October 1902. He lies in eternal rest at Nundah Historic Cemetery, in the same grave as his son, Walter, who predeceased him in 1898 the result of a drowning accident. His wife, Charlotte, joined them in 1930.

“Wildfell” appears to be where his wife, Charlotte, spent most of her time, as George appears to have spent most of his time elsewhere – Gulnaber (or possibly spelt Gulnabar) Station at St George being one such location as he had been a pastoralist for many years. At the time of his death, George was listed as a stock salesman.

In its day, “Wildfell” was one of the highest and most desirable homes on Clayfield Heights. The residence contained about 12 rooms, with every convenience – gas and water, wide verandahs, a hall, basement laundry, charming gardens, a tennis court and large poultry runs.

It occupied Resubs 9/12, 24/27 and 40/49 of Subs 2/3 of Portion 82 Toombul, being 1 acre 3 roods and 36 perches fronting Old Sandgate Road, John Street and Bellevue Terrace, Clayfield (also having been known as Albion).

In 1918, 12 “Wildfell” allotments at the corner of Old Sandgate Road, John Street and Bellevue Terrace on the Crown of Maida Hill adjoining the “Wildfell” residence had been put up for auction.

In 1921, “Wildfell” was still owned by George’s widow, Charlotte.

Info source: Trove newspapers
Photo source: courtesy SLQ, digitised from a 1921 image contained in “The Queenslander”

14/10/2026

Clayfield Tram Terminus 1968 courtesy of Brisbane City Council archives

Address

1A Bage Street
Nundah, QLD
4012

Opening Hours

Tuesday	9am - 3pm
Thursday	12pm - 4pm
Saturday	9:30am - 11:30am

Telephone

+61472733630

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