John Oxley Library Blog

First flight in Brisbane

On Saturday the 6th July 1912, Brisbane had its first aeroplane flight. The pilot was Mr A. B. (Wizard) Stone the American daredevil who was barn storming around Australia. According to the report in the Brisbane Courier on July 8 of that year, the event was one “of scientific and ...

Artworks donated by Mr John Bingham

John Oxley Library staff member Dianne Byrne visited Pialba last Saturday to meet a very special donor. He is Mr John Bingham 95, author and artist who for many years has been a popular resident of the Fraser Coast. "Jack" Bingham served with the RAAF during World War Two and was captured by the Japanese in Batavia (Dutch East Indies). He was imprisoned ...

Manifesto displayed under the Tree of Knowledge in Barcaldine

In the midst of the John Oxley Library's White Gloves Tour to Longreach last weekend a special detour was made to Barcaldine to coincide with Sunday's Community Cabinet meeting. A feature item of this year's White Gloves Tours has been the Manifesto of the Labour Party to the People of Queensland, 1892. Recently added to ...

White Gloves Tour to Longreach

On Saturday 31 October the John Oxley Library White Gloves Tour continued to Longreach. As the sun went down on a beautiful outback afternoon the Oxley's treasures were displayed in the charming interior of the Stockman's Hall of Fame, R.M. Williams Cottage. Adjacent to the cottage 150 locals were gathered for the latest At Our Table banquet ...

History of the new court complex site

Did you know that the site of Brisbane's proposed new Supreme and District Court complex was the location of our city's first water supply? The site, bounded by George, Roma and Turbot streets, was the location of the Roma Street Reservoir which was constructed by convicts in 1838 to create a water source ...

Launch of the Meriba Gidhal Exhibition

Meriba Gidhal: Torres Strait Island Treasures of the Margaret Lawrie Collection Exhibition was officially opened by Her Excellency, Ms Penelope Wensley AO, Governor of Queensland, on the evening of 21st October, 2009 at the John Oxley Library. Lillian Noah (IKC staff), Elizabeth Fa'Aoso (curator), Her Excellency Ms Penelope Wensley AO ...

Installation of the Meriba Gidhal exhibition

We’ve just finished installing the latest Treasures Wall exhibition on Level 4 – Meriba Gidhal: Torres Strait Island Treasures of the Margaret Lawrie Collection. The install is the culmination of many months of preparation, and it is very satisfying to finally see all the collection and loan items up on ...

Donating materials to the State Library of Queensland

Throughout 2009, the John Oxley Library has been celebrating its 75 years of existence with a range of programs and events to mark this significant milestone. It has also been a time to reflect on the value of the collection and those who have contributed to its growth. It is thanks to the generosity of ...

Kurilpa Bridge

The new Kurilpa Bridge, linking Kurilpa Point in South Brisbane to Tank Street in the Brisbane CBD, was officially opened on Sunday 4th October by the Queensland Premier Anna Bligh. The name of the bridge comes from an Indigenous name for West End. The $63.3 million Kurilpa Bridge, designed and ...

Common Ground 2009

Last Friday evening, State Library was first to screen the Common Ground 2009 slideshow. The slideshow contained over 400 images from cultural organisations which have images in The Commons on Flickr and was curated (chosen) by Flickr members. Common Ground event, Queensland Terrace Greg Poppleton (Sydney ...