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Something mysterious about Royal Hotel. CHARTERS TOWERS' RICH HISTORY TOLD THROUGH GHOSTLY TALES The gold rush brought out the best and the worst in people according to history buff Jack Sim. Jack runs ghost tours in Brisbane and has recently brought the business to Charters Towers. He was attracted to the north Queensland town because of its rich and prosperous history; he says the town is full of ghost stories. Hotel home to grizzly tales The Royal Hotel is one of the stops on the ghost tour - a grand old building with a dark past. "It was here in 1901 that there was a dramatic and terribly violent incident that took place," Jack said. An estranged couple, the Cordays, met at the hotel. That was despite the fact that Mrs. Corday, and her friend who accompanied her, knew that Mr. Corday had violent intentions toward his wife following their separation. "He was unhappy with her extra-marital relationships," Jack recounted. "After leaving them to come into the bar here to get some drinks for his partner... he re-entered the room [but] instead of having drinks in his hand he held a revolver. "He shot her at virtually point-blank range in the head, and then took his own life in the bar." As the years went on it became well known around town that the dead couple haunted the pub. They are joined by one of the hotel's former proprietors, Mrs. McDonald, who owned the pub for 50 years. "The current owner of the hotel, she tells me that when she comes up the staircase she feels Mrs. McDonald walking right beside [her] as she comes up the stairs each day," he said. "Not in a bad way, she just feels like the lady that was her predecessor is just there with her, helping her to manage the hotel." Source: www.abc.net.au/local/photos/2015/05/11/4233354.htm

The oldest rocking horse that still exists today is believed to have belonged to King Charles I of England and dates from around 1610. In 2006, it was bought by Victoria & Albert Museum. Rocking horses became increasingly popular during the 18th and 19th century, mostly among the children of wealthy European families. They were used to help and prepare children for riding real horses in the future. Early toy horses were heavy and unstable and could easily be overturned. By the 18th century, the crude, solid horses evolved into lighter, more elegant products. One of the most distinguished was the English Dapple Grey rocking horse. A beautiful rocking horse was made around 1750, probably for King Gustav III of Sweden. It is a high-quality piece. The white and gray painted horse is placed on a highly-decorated gilded stand. It includes headgear and a saddle made of natural leather. During the 1800s, rocking horses were in high demand and many craftsmen and salesmen profited from selling this popular toy. New designs appeared, more detailed, some with tails made of real horsehair, finely crafted leather saddles and eyes made of glass. Some of the most elegant wooden horses in England were manufactured by F.H. Ayres. Their horses were renowned for their beautifully modeled body shape and carved details. In 1880, an American invention called the ‘safety stand’ was patented in London. This alternative rocking mechanism was designed by Philip Marqua from Cincinnati. This new glider-type base was safer than the classic bow rockers and required less space for the toy’s movement. Classic rocking chairs moved forward when used, while the new horse stayed in one place. During the Industrial Revolution, rocking horses’ popularity and production skyrocketed. The main reasons were the cheaper costs of production and the growing and richer middle class. Manufacturing of rocking horses saw a decline during the World War I because of a shortage of materials and skilled craftsmen. By the middle of the 20th century, production of rocking horses was abandoned almost completely. Source: www.wallswithstories.com/uncategorized/rocking-horses-one...

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