Today we decided that it was about time that we explored our local neighbourhood, so we made the five-minute trip to Petrie Old Town, which nestles in the North Pine Country Park, about 2 kms northwest of modern-day Petrie (which is pronounced, rather confusingly, “Pea Tree” – please don’t ask us why).
It was Boadicea’s plan to explore the Museum, but we were disappointed to discover, on reaching the door, that it was only open Wednesday to Friday. We began to retrace our steps to walk around the reconstructed old town, but we were stopped by a cheery “Come in, come in … please do come in”. The curator explained that a school party had visited this morning and that since he was still here, he’d be glad for us to fossick.
Being run by our local Moreton Bay council, there was, of course, no entrance fee, and we had the place to ourselves. “Give me a cooee when you’re ready for the audio-visual in the theatre, and I’ll come and switch it on for you. Take as long as you like, I’m not going anywhere.” We rather liked this guy!
Aussie history doesn’t go back much further than 1850 or so, but it was quite large for a local museum, so it included a special exhibit room (on life in the 1940s), several other sections concentrating on different aspects of life in Pine Rivers and outside, Yebri House, a pre-fab kit house for farm workers, originally built in the late 1880s, but now restored and presented with 1920s furnishings. We didn’t know that they made kit houses in the 1880s!
So we learnt about coupons (ration books), and we read an original book entitled “Advice to servicemen in Australia” which was issued to every one of the million or so Americans who were stationed here during WWII. It was delightfully non-pc; we had forgotten how direct and uncomplicated communication used to be seventy years ago.
I discovered that our little local Pine Rivers district used to have its very own international motor racing circuit, called ‘Lakeside’, where legendary drivers from around the world used to compete. Jack Brabham apparently won the first major event. It didn’t close until 2001, but I am ashamed to say I’d never heard of it.
We examined all the different types of wood that have been exported from our region and laughed at the shower in Yebri House – yes, it really was a large metal container with holes in the bottom with a leather strap to pull to start the water flowing. They were many other items to goggle at and learn from, but eventually we were ready for the film and went searching for the curator. He popped up from somewhere, flicked a switch and invited us to sit in the 30-40 people auditorium, explaining that it was a voice-only introduction, but that the curtains would open when it had finished and the lights had gone down. “Well, it should – give me a shout if it doesn’t”.
A very professional video featured the actual, real life four-greats-granddaughter of the immigrant whose adventures we followed. About 12 years old, she was a skilled little actress as she told the story to her dolls. At times an elderly gentleman (also a rellie, I believe) read aloud from the biography written by the immigrant’s granddaughter, who was herself portrayed in costume by a non-related actress. It may sound corny, but it was well produced and edited so we were entertained as we were educated on the origins of our district.
The screen only occupied the centre of the stage, the remainder being shrouded in darkness. As the story progressed, spotlights came on to reveal physical animated exhibits synchronised with the video – a model ship tossing in the waves on its 72-day journey from England, a stage-coach tearing across the stage as we heard of the first passenger service into the gold town of Gympie, before the road was constructed – it sounded like a nightmare journey. A little dog wagged its tail at the first settlement, and a fly-swat splattered a giant mossie as the hardships of pioneer life were recounted. It was fun, all the more so for being totally unexpected.
It was surprising to learn that raspberries had once been a major export from our region, since we can hardly ever find our favourite fruit in the shops, so when the film had finished we asked the curator. “They went feral [sic],” he said. “They liked the environment so much that they became a weed – you can still find hundreds of wild canes on the mountains near Dayboro. The fruit are small, but they taste OK”.
We walked out, thanking him for everything, far more knowledgeable about our neck of the woods than we had been an hour or so previously. We wandered around the Old Town for a while (it was all shut) and then took the five minute drive home to a welcome cuppa. It had been a great afternoon.
Boadicea's Chariot 
Got any more pic’ Bearsy? I really enjoyed reading that, thank you. 🙂
There is (or used to be) a shipwreck museum somewhere near your area, you should look it up, quite a nice place 🙂
Sorry Toc, but no. However, try –
Link 1
Link 2
Link 3
The third link is written by a non-local and there are several mistakes, like Petrie isn’t a suburb of Brisbane, but there are quite a few piccies if you go searching. 😀
Donald, will do – I think it’s in or near Redcliffe.
I think so, it’s been many years for me but the name sounds familiar. 🙂
I will have to own up! We went to the museum first and then walked around the ‘town’. I had my camera in my pocket and completely forgot that it was there until we got back to the car…
It looks as though the place is only open at weekends – we usually try to avoid visiting these places at weekends – but we will definitely be going back!
I found the 1940s exhibition really fascinating – so much of it was reminiscent of the sort of stuff that was going on in Britain – with one huge difference! Tea was rationed here, whereas Winnie insisted that it should be freely available in the UK.
The notices for the exhibits were interesting – fancy having to explain what ‘dripping’ is!
Over in Freemantle, near Perth there is a Double-Decker bus museum, it only holds the one exhibit because it is so large there is no room for anything else. A great white pointer shark takes the entire length (and width) of the bus 🙂
Nice piece Bearsy – I look forwad to the tale of the wild raspberry hunt.
Donald: I was in Hong Kong until Sunday. They still have double-decker buses and double-decker trams.
Bearsy: such museums are often the most remarkable finds. Quiet, but fascinating.
Chris – I once spent a week in Hong Kong on R&R, loved the water front area, great place; I supposed it has changed a lot since the 70’s but there were not many places that compare with it then and I doubt if there are many today.
How very curious about the raspberries. They are a known cool area crop commercially. Hence their success in the Sidlaw Hills and Dundee in Scotland and here on the Canadian border in the NW. I’ve never heard of them being grown anywhere hot which probably accounts for their non existence in Australia! The only place I would have thought that would have been right for them climatically might be Tasmania or up in the hills above Melbourne!
How much rain do you get a year there?
Sounds a good day out.
I was stationed there from 71-73. Best posting I ever had.
Toc, where were you stationed? I was in HK 81 – 84, Osbourne Bks, 89 – 93, Gun Club and 96 – 04, Civvie St.
Where did you stay, Christopher?
Bravo,
Our unit was part of 48 Bde, Sek Kong Camp. Lived in Dills Corner. This was a favorite hang out then, The Better Ole aka BO opposite Fanling Railway Station.
P.S. Sorry for the hijack Bearsy.
This year we’ve had enough to flood the entire east coast of the continent!
Melbourne and Tasmania are usually fairly dry and cold places, rain is typical, not much, but the last few years there has been a change and now the place is very humid and hot in summer and wet and windy in Winter.
Toc, long gone now, I’m afraid – as is Fan Ling station. You’ll no doubt be pleased to know that Sek Kong lines haven’t changed a bit – even with the PLA in residence. All the quarters at Dills Corner have gone though – redeveloped. You can still drive over Route Twisk, as a change from the expressway, and pigs are still a major hazard up in the NT around Sek Kong 🙂
PS, Donald, by the ‘Waterfront,’ I presume you mean Wanchai – the ‘Wanch.’ Still going strong, but waterfront no more. Reclamation has moved it about half-a-click inland. 🙂
‘……..modern-day Petrie (which is pronounced, rather confusingly, “Pea Tree” – please don’t ask us why).’
Good evening Bearsy. A really enjoyable post. Thank you.
But, (hand frantically waving in the air), please sir, me sir, I know sir.
When I read the above sentence, my only thought was how else could you pronounce it? A fine Jock surname. Up here, we all say ‘Pea Tree’, or more accurately, ‘Peet Ree’ .
Then I remembered long ago and far away when I read about Petri dishes in ‘The Eagle’ or similar, possibly in relation to the alleged discovery of Penicillin by Sir Alexander Fleming. It was only when I got to First Year Biology in Secondary School that I heard the word in use and learnt that it was pronounced ‘Pehtree’.
Anyhow, having wandered down a magical google trail tonight, I believe that Petrie was named after Tom Petrie who was born Embran but did not hang around here. His dad, Andrew Petrie, whisked him off to OZ when he was less than 1 year old. Andrew got a lot of grief from convict and ex-convict’ tradesmen because he was part of a group of Jock freemen who went there to work in the building trades voluntarily and without any transportation being involved.
All the brainchild, and I think that you will like this, of John Dunmore Lang, allegedly ‘first prominent advocate of an independent Australian nation and of Australian Republicanism.’
Lang was a Weegie, of course.
Many thanks JW!
There was a great deal about Tom Petrie in the said museum – you are right he owned land at what is now Petrie. If you’ve googled him you will know that he was extremely influential in the settlement of this area.
It may have been mentioned that he came from Scotland, but, if so, I didn’t catch it! I’m afraid that for a lot of people here the early English / Scots / Welsh immigrants were all simply from ‘Britain’. Unless one lives in South Australia where the Museum of Immigration does define the various different groups from Britain and has a category especially for those from Cornwall!
Thank you, JM – hook, line and sinker! 😆
Au contraire, thank you, Bearsy,
Another collectable Jock-related item for one’s forthcoming fact finding visit to the Colonies.
Probably won’t make it to the museum myself because we’ve only got one day in Brisbane (named after a Jock and fellow graduate of the Uni of Embra, by the way).
I am hoping to spend that day at the Gabba watching the Lions playing Port Adelaide. Reckon there should be tickets available as they both appear to be rubbish and even worse than my team, St Kilda.
Mind you, I have not told Mrs M about this plan yet, so it might not happen.
There are still tickets, JM, at $53 each. 🙂
Access through TicketMaster at this url –
http://www.ticketmaster.com.au/search?tm_link=tm_homeA_header_search&q=gabba&search.x=77&search.y=10
Hiya Bearsy. Apart from your owm impeccable rendition of the story, it seems the curator of the museum is the hero of this post. He comes over as a dedicated and very decent chap.
JM – You are, by your own admission, a St. Kilda-supporting Jock. Not a good combination 🙂 GET HELP, SOON!
OZ
Bloody hell, Bearsy.
That’s over £34 in proper money then?
Thanks for the link. I might still do it anyway, regardless of the rubbishness of the two teams involved.
I really, really. really want to visit the Gabba.
Bravo: my hotel was on Morrison Hill Road. It was convenient, clean, and relatively inexpensive.
Donald and Tocino: I quite liked Hong Kong, it remains a beautiful city and fairly civilised. There is still a fair bit there that is Britishesque, especially on Hong Kong Island. St John’s Cathedral still has old colonial flags, including the defaced blue ensign, flying. Though most are, sadly, in rather poor shape. I also went to Macau. There remains a fair bit of nice architecture, but that is really all that it has in its favour. Sadly, Hong Kong seems a city past its prime. It is still glittering and exciting, but there is a sense that its best days are behind it. Right now I’m in Shanghai, but will go back to Che-chiang province tomorrow. Next week it’s off to Soochow.
One should always try and explore one’s own locality…..I must take that advice as there’s a wonderful world in West Northants and West Warwickshire! I’ve been to more places overseas than I have in the UK. I’ve never been to Liverpool, Manchester, Scotland…so many places!
Good fun post Bearsy!
Thank ‘ee, squire. 😀
Bearsy, did you know that corrugated iron put the roof on Australia, not to mention America and other far flung places. The area of Wales where I live was famous not only for coal but for tinplate works as well. It was a huge exporter of the stuff.
Yes, of course I did, Toc, I’m typing under one right now. Did you know that ceilings were often metal too, and that the many interesting verandas here made of iron scroll-work frequently started their lives as ballast on the ships?