automobile

The Committee’s first representative on the State Executive Committee was Mr J. Crawford MLA. On 29 January, at an interview with Mr Magnus, General Manager of the Mining Company, it was agreed to take over the control of the Ambulance Corps and an Honorary Centre was established at the mine works. Mr Magnus appointed three members of the company’s staff to assist the Committee in dealing with matters relating to the Honorary Centre. A piece of land facing Central Street, was leased to the Brigade at a nominal rental. In March 1913, a wagon of ‘the most up-to-date principle for ease and comfort’ was ordered from an Ipswich coach builder at a cost of £92. In April, the tender of Mr T.T. Cornes was accepted for the erection of a new ambulance building at the corner of Bedsor and Central Streets at a cost of £429 exclusive of hardwood; the hardwood was being purchased from the Company at cost price. The plant in 1913 consisted of one horse (Bryce), a wagon fitted with rubber tires, poles and shafts, a convertible stretcher, one set of single harnesses, one complete Ashford litter, and a collapsible stretcher. The plant at the mine Honorary Centre consisted of one litter complete, one special litter truck, one mining stretcher, and eight collapsible stretchers. The Mount Morgan Centre was responsible for opening Centres at Banana, Springsure, Wowan, Baralaba and Theodore. The financial year 1927-1928 was a catastrophic one for the Centre principally due to the Mount Morgan Gold Mining Company going into liquidation. As well as the consequent loss of employment to hundreds of wage earners and a reduction in business activity generally throughout the town and district, a fire on 27 January 1928 destroyed practically the whole of the Centre building stock with the exception of the ambulance vehicles. The Committee later purchased the buildings and land for a figure which was highly satisfactory. These premises were occupied until the shift into the present premises. Source: www.ambulance.qld.gov.au/docs/history/Mount-Morgan.pdf

My Dad

Ambulance operations were conducted from a small shop in Flinders Street opposite the Palace Hotel. These premises were leased for a term of six months. Superintendent King moved into the building on 4 January 1901. One of the honorary members was put on paid duty for a period of eleven days at six shillings per day to assist. Being unable to procure locally an assistant holding a first aid certificate, it was decided that the Brisbane Centre be requested to send up a qualified officer for appointment to the permanent staff. Honorary Bearer T.W. McIntyre proceeded to Townsville on the ‘S.S. Peregrine’ on 5 January 1901. He was to meet his own expenses and commence duty in Townsville at a salary of eight shillings per day. In July 1901, the Committee purchased a property suitable for Brigade requirements at the corner of Sturt and Stanley Streets for the sum of £1,250 and a further £100 was expended in building a plant room and stable. By 1904, the work had increased to such an extent as to make more room absolutely necessary to enable the Brigade to function efficiently. On 12 July of that year, the Committee resolved to build a Centre that would meet the requirements of the town for Ambulance work for many years. Tenders were invited for the erection of a new brick Centre building on the site of the existing quarters. The successful tenderer was Mr S.A. Anderson, the contract price being £2,059. The foundation stone was laid on 28 September by Mr J. Johnson, the first life member of the Brigade in Townsville, in the presence of 100 people. Source: www.ambulance.qld.gov.au/docs/history/Townsville.pdf