The Tarshaw (left) and the Tadorna Rahjah (right) berthed at Pettigrew's Wharf at Maroochydore in 1882. SLQ image 44255.

Gneering, Tadorna Radjah and Tarshaw

To have a sawmill in Brisbane near Queen’s Wharf was one thing; to satisfy the needs of the growing colony for sawn timber was quite another. Sawmiller William Pettigrew needed access to the timber resources of the region and the capacity to transport logs and other goods and materials to and from his business premises. For forty years three ships forever associated with William Pettigrew served this purpose.

arthur-wilcox-manning-18191899-v2

A tragedy all round

Under Colonial Secretary Arthur Manning was not aware the effect his letters were having on the recently demoted Leyburn police magistrate, Frank Sydney Bowerman, until an angry and pleading Bowerman appeared in his office in William Street on the morning of 24 November 1868.

Aboriginal Arch spanning George Street in May 1901. NLA pic – an13115397-2-v.

1901 Royal visit and the Aboriginal Arch

England’s Prince George, Duke of Cornwall and York, and his wife Princess Mary, visited Brisbane in May 1901. To celebrate their tour in this year of Federation two large arches were constructed over George Street-the Grand Arch at the intersection of Queen and George Streets and that pictured above, the Aboriginal Arch. It was located […]

The former United Evangelical Church in 1870 when used as a Telegraph Office. Note the telegraph poles in the street and in the yard (left) of the building. 
QSA ID5831.

First Electric Telegraph

Communications technology found an early home in William Street above Queen’s Wharf. The first telegraph messages in Queensland involved an exchange of telegrams on 13 April 1861 from temporary offices on the upper storey of the Commissariat Stores.

Explore Queen’s Wharf

Explore The Stories

Submit Your Story

We Want To Hear Your Story

Do you have a story about the Queen’s Wharf Area? We want to hear from you.

Explore Queen’s Wharf Stories on Our Interactive Map