Read about the great interview Belinda Daly has with ABC Radio in Bundaberg to celebrate the 160th anniversary of James McPherson’s capture in 1866. Continue reading An ABC interview and an incredible new discovery in the story of James McPherson
The St Helena Island Community is excited to announce that we have received from Griffith University, the Harry Gentle Research Centre’s Visiting Fellowship. We look forward to conducting in depth research into the wives and children of St Helena Island. Continue reading We’ve received a Harry Gentle Resource Centre Visiting Fellowship at Griffith University!
A significant event occurred on the 31st January 2025 that marks the end of an era for St Helena Island. That’s the retirement of Ranger-In-Charge Roland Dowling – mentor, guru, expansive thinker, protector of rangers and the environment in equal measure, lover of heritage, friend and all-round great person. When Roland first stepped into the role of managing Fort Lytton National Park in 1991 (and … Continue reading Roland Dowling – custodian of St Helena Island
SHIP: ‘Chatsworth.’ 1037 tons, departed Liverpool 5th April 1862, Arrived on the 6th August 1862 in Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia. Deaths at Sea: 12. Deaths on St Helena Island: 7 Our last story ‘New arrivals, new stories and old mysteries – 1862’ gave us new insights into the burials on St Helena Island, Moreton Bay, Queensland when the ship ‘Erin-Go-Bragh was quarantined there in 1862. … Continue reading New arrivals, new stories and old mysteries – 1862 was a busy year.
10 years passed between the burial of Johanna Goodwin and her infant on St Helena Island and the next woman to die and be buried there also. My last blog post in this series ‘New arrivals, new stories and old mysteries in 1852’ detailed the arrival of the immigrant ship ‘Maria Soames’ and the first immigrant burials recorded on St Helena Island, Moreton Bay. Fast … Continue reading New arrivals, new stories and old mysteries – 1862
While our focus is often on the prison era of the St Helena Penal Establishment from 1867, the previous 15 years saw St Helena Island used as a quarantine site. Moreton Bay settlement was opened up to free immigrants in 1842 and in doing so it became exposed to outbreaks of disease the immigrants brought with them on the ships. The story of these immigrant … Continue reading New arrivals, new stories and old mysteries in 1852
Brand new research has come to light for St Helena Island! Our discovery has realised that there was a prisoner in St Helena Penal Establishment who was also a convict transported in 1840. Continue reading St Helena Island is NOT a place for convicts… until now.
In prison 1st January 1921- 158 prisoners.Received through the year 117. Discharged through the year 186 In prison 31st December 1921 – 89 prisoners. Prisons Department Report – Year ended 31st December 1921 In 1921, The Home secretary, Mr McCormack controlled prisons. Major discussions had been ongoing for years regarding the best way to administer and manage prisoners in Queensland. The final decisions, outlined in … Continue reading ONE DAY IN SEPTEMBER ON ST HELENA ISLAND
What did Christmas and New Year Celebrations look like on a prison island? Roast beef and Plum Pudding were a feature of even St Helena Penal Establishment’s Christmas celebrations . Continue reading ‘All I want for Christmas’ at St Helena Penal Establishment.
Bob Jnr and Fred Murrie’smother Charlotte (nee McMunn) was one of the few women on St Helena Island in the 1910’s. Becoming Senior Warder in 1913 meant Bob Murrie Senior was allocated a small cottage, and was one of the few warders given permission to have his wife and children living with him on St Helena Island. This Mother’s Day, let’s celebrate the contribution of … Continue reading 100 years ago – celebrating the St Helena Island mothers
