around

Officially opened in 1916, Ithaca Pool clocks up 104 years in Brisbane’s swimming history on the 21st of October this year, 2020. Nestled in Neal Macrossan Park at 14 Caroline St., Ithaca Pool is a far cry from the days of old when it was an excavated hole in the ground. Improved over the years and undergoing a multi-million dollar refurbishment in 2011, the locals are proud to have this inviting escape from Brisbane’s heat in their own backyard. In the early years of Brisbane, a dip in the river was primarily for hygiene purposes. Not without peril, the colonials faced the fear of drowning or shark attack. From 1857 shark-proofed floating baths were established by town councils along the river. The Paddington Cemetery Act was passed in 1911 by Queensland Parliament, which authorised the government to resume the burial grounds and relocate the remains to another site. Around this time the locals took advantage of a cleared space on the northern side of the cemetery and fashioned a pool of sorts. It was little more than a rudimentary pit filled with water pumped from the Brisbane River. It was a great boon for Paddington, although sometimes not the most desirable place to cool off. Behind the scenes, to keep the river water suitable for swimming, chlorine was poured into a holding tank and then pumped into the pool. Raising unpleasant memories for locals from the era, the water was often murky and odorous. In January 1928, a Letter to the Editor of the Brisbane Courier mentioned the pool was in such terrible condition that they suspected someone had thrown a dead cat or rat into the water. After recommendations in 1940 by a health committee, City Council installed a water filtration plant as an experiment at Ithaca Baths. The process removed the sediment and made the water fit for public bathing. Fresh town water soon replaced the suspect supply from the polluted Brisbane River. In 1942, the Chairman of the City Council Health Committee announced in the Courier-Mail Brisbane that…”Ithaca municipal swimming pool is to become the show baths of Brisbane.” (The Courier-Mail Brisbane Tue 27 October, 1942, page 2 ) Plans were approved to build new dressing rooms and toilets at an estimated cost of £1800. The article also stated that the galvanised iron fence surrounding the baths be replaced with a wire fence, so people passing could watch swimmers in the pool. Source: www.jonzunlee.com.au/2020/10/15/hidden-gem-in-paddington-...

Christ Church a beautiful feature more than 90 years on Ashley Schipper 18 April 2021 Standing tall on the corner of Woongarra and Maryborough Streets, Christ Church Anglican Church has been a prominent structure in the Bundaberg CBD ever since it was first constructed in 1927. Featuring a gothic style with characteristics including pointed arches with moldings in porches, windows, and arcades, the Anglican church is heavily influenced by English and European architecture. Photos depicting the church from its early construction stages show just how much effort the build required. Local man and church member Ken Parsons is the current owner of the historic photos, who said he was gifted them by a neighbor some years ago. Ken, who was married in Christ Church and who is also a member, said the photos served as a reminder to the community of the significance of the building. “These photos show just how hard it was originally to build the church,” he said. “It really is something special- just the age of it, the stained glass windows, the colour of the bricks, and the inside of the building is beautiful.” The Bundaberg Regional Libraries’ heritage research team published an article outlining the history of the site and the effort that went into the build. The construction of Christ Church was first established after the Bishop of Brisbane, W.T.T Webber, visited Bundaberg in 1886 and promised the people of the parish that a permanent church would be built. The structure was completed in 1927 after more than 40 years of planning and preparation, but fittings and interior were not completed until the mid-1930s. The design and plans for the church were drawn by the Diocesan Architect Mr. J Hingeston Buckeridge of Sydney and showed a simple but spacious and beautiful building that would accommodate up to 600 worshippers. The cost was estimated at 6000 pounds with extra funds for the construction raised by subscriptions, appeals, bazaars, and individual donations from Bundaberg residents.

Christ Church build a mammoth effort Due to various reasons, the building of the church was delayed until after World War I and saw Mr. F.H Faircloth appointed as architect. The original plans, first drawn by Mr. Buckeridge, were adapted to allow for the use of bricks and concrete as the primary building material. The foundation stone for the church was finally laid on August 9, 1920, by Bishop Le Fenu. Construction of the church was a rigorous day labor task, with workers using rope pulleys, blocks, and tackles as the main mechanisms for the build. The open roof was constructed in Oregon pine and was the only section built by contract labor.

The Christ Church grand reveal Christ Church was officially opened on Sunday, 20 February 1927 by the Archbishop of Brisbane, the Most Rev. G. Sharp. In 1928 the Rev A. H Osborn became the new Rector of Christ Church. It was during his incumbency that much of the interior of the building was designed and installed, with many of the interesting features a direct result of the Reverend's trips to England and Europe. The Lychgate and Wayside Cross were erected after 1930 and the creeper vine covering these structures was grown from a cutting brought back from Glastonbury Abbey. Rev. Osborn also collected the remains of several stained glass windows from overseas for Christ Church. Many of the other features of the building have been donated by pioneer families in Bundaberg. The fine wooden reredos in the sanctuary were donated by the Buss family, who were also responsible for the cost of building the church tower. One of the more spectacular features of Christ Church is a brass lectern with the figure of an eagle attached, which was donated by Miss Tanner in memory of her brother the Rev. E. Tanner, who was the first ordained Anglican priest in Bundaberg. The lectern was made in England and is acknowledged as one of the finest lecterns in Australia.

Restoration works a first for Christ Church In 2019, the church underwent multiple restoration projects for the first time since its construction. The steeple was given a fresh coat of paint and the window glass was removed and re-worked earlier in the year. Six Peace Bells were also introduced to the building and the original organ was transformed back to its former glory. The pipe organ, which is housed in an organ chamber built over the north side of the church, has been a feature of the church since 1927. It is one of only three in Australia and is unique in that it is mechanical rather than pneumatic.

Source: www.bundabergnow.com/2021/04/18/christ-church-a-beautiful...

In 1909, a reporter noted the “passing of English beers in the Australian Commonwealth”: "It is pleasing to note that Bulimba beer, Gold Top Ale and Bulimba QB Lager are essentially Australian beverages, being produced from Australian materials. The barley is grown on the Darling Downs and is malted at Toowoomba, the hops come from the hop gardens on the banks of the Huon River in Tasmania, and the sugar is of course, a Queensland product. Even the casks, a very substantial item in a brewery of this size, are made from Australian timber. There is therefore, a strong incentive for loyal Australians to patronise Bulimba beer." Gold Top, known for the short-lived but distinctive gold coloured foil around the top of the bottle and later for the gold crown cap, quickly became a hot commodity. The ingredients for the English pale ale, as of 1900, were sugar, English malt and hops from New Zealand, Kent and Bohemia. There are references to similar beers prior to the turn of the century, back when the sugar was a mix of local and Mauritian (the latter being allegedly the superior), suggesting that Gold Top was a new brand rather than a new beer for Bulimba Brewery. The relatively hoppy reduced strength beer was apparently a remedy for any digestive malady you care to name. Source: drunkenspeculation.wordpress.com/2014/08/30/a-brief-histo...