Tag: St Helena Warders

Colonial History, Noogoon / Indigenous, St Helena Warders, Today's Community

‘Book of Past Scenes and My own experience Among Blacks In the Wild Bush of Australia’

Eating possum and kangaroo would have been as far removed from Warder James Aird’s 22 years of life in Scotland as could possibly be imagined. On arrival in Brisbane in 1864 – as one of the men in ‘3 scottish men and a world of adventure,’ – James Aird found himself in a wild, strange frontier into which he unhesitatingly threw himself into.  James had … Continue reading ‘Book of Past Scenes and My own experience Among Blacks In the Wild Bush of Australia’

Belinda Daly2 Comments
Environmental History, St Helena Warders, Today's Community

Whittling away the hours

If I asked you to describe a wooden inlaid box, it might not be something that you can automatically envision. Nowadays, fashioning 2000 individual pieces of timber into an aesthetically beautiful and appealing pattern atop an ornament or furnishing is not how many of us commonly spend our leisure time. But on St Helena Island, the very earliest warders created their own unique pastime to … Continue reading Whittling away the hours

Belinda Daly2 Comments
Colonial History, Environmental History, St Helena Warders, Today's Community

3 Scottish men and a world of adventure

Only a few people knew Samuel Olson at the end of his life. They described him as a crotchety and suspicious man, stone deaf, surly and living the life of a hermit in his home in Highgate Hill, Brisbane. (1) This was a long way from his beginnings on St Helena Island. According to the 1864 census, 12,551 people lived in Brisbane, Queensland. (2) By now, Brisbane … Continue reading 3 Scottish men and a world of adventure

Belinda Daly6 Comments
Colonial History, Environmental History

Islands of Exile: Sarah and Helena Part 1

There are a lot of differences between Sarah and Helena, due to time and geographical distance. But they share a bad reputation, and those that get to know them well would prefer not to. I’m not talking about sisters here, but 2 islands whose primary purpose was imprisonment. I’ve just visited Sarah Island in Macquarie Harbour in Tasmania last week. Despite Sarah Island being a … Continue reading Islands of Exile: Sarah and Helena Part 1

Belinda Daly5 Comments
Built environment, Colonial History, St Helena Prisoners, St Helena Warders, Today's Community

Creating an island community

Place: St Helena Island. Time: 1866 Mission: Build a gaol  Who: Made by prisoners, for prisoners Why: Too many criminals, not enough space! Rowing across the waters of Moreton Bay, Queensland, in 1866, prisoners contained aboard the hulk ‘Prosperpine’ were given the task of building themselves a prison on the island of St Helena. Chosen due to the availability of good soil and fresh water, … Continue reading Creating an island community

Belinda DalyLeave a comment
Colonial History, Moreton Bay history, Noogoon / Indigenous

The St Helena Community – 2 islands, 1 community

There’s 2 islands in the world called St Helena. One is more famous than the other, but both are connected to a man named Napoleon.  It’s the St Helena Island in Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia that is one of the focuses of this blog.  The story says an indigenous man nick-named Napoleon was exiled to the island from Stradbroke Island as a punishment. He would … Continue reading The St Helena Community – 2 islands, 1 community

Belinda Daly4 Comments