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While the Christian missions did help save many Aboriginal people from perishing at the hands of new settlers under the Act of 1897 they controlled curfews, employment, wages, marriages, alcohol, and movement outside the mission. Taken from their parents and housed in dormitories, the children attended school until Year 6 but plantation work took priority over education, and any wages were paid directly to their ‘Protectors’. Adults became laborers and domestics, with rations for wages. Between 1900 and 1905 the population at the Yarrabah Mission grew from 122 to 132 as many children were forcibly removed from their families in the camps along the Cairns Inlet. By 1908 the number had increased to almost 500 making it the largest mission in Queensland. There were 969 recorded removals to Yarrabah from the establishment of the mission until 1972. The people came from 57 districts and spoke 100 different dialects. There were also 243 recorded removals from Yarrabah to places such as Palm Island, Mona Mona, Woorabinda, Cherbourg, Fraser Island, and Hull River. When an Aboriginal person was removed to Yarrabah they were generally considered to be a permanent resident. Under the protection act, they could not leave a reserve, mission, or place of employment, without permission. Many did try to abscond. Source: www.yarrabah.qld.gov.au/our-history-and-future/

The Industrial School, at Yarrabah Mission Station, was operated by the Anglican Church. In 1900, the Yarrabah Mission was declared an industrial school, and it received 'neglected children' from around Queensland from this date. The closing date of the Industrial School is not known. The Queensland government assumed control of Yarrabah Mission in 1960. The Industrial School was licensed under the State Children Act 1911 on 2 April 1914. Source: www.findandconnect.gov.au/ref/qld/biogs/QE00096b.htm

While gold mining was first introduced to Australia in the early years of settlement, during the second half of the nineteenth century on an expedition to locate some missing horses, a young 12-year-old indigenous boy named Jupiter Mosman made history. Jupiter, a stockman, was traveling with the prospecting team of Hugh Mosman, George Clark and James Fraser. While Jupiter located the horses sheltering at the base of what has come to be known as Towers Hill, he accidentally stumbled across a bright glimmer of gold nestled in a nearby stream. It was 24 December 1871, a pivotal year that marked the beginning of a new era of gold discovery in the greater Charters Towers area. This finds not only quickly placed Charters Towers firmly on the map in terms of lucrative gold mining prospects but in the process established it as a world-class district and as Australia’s richest major goldfield. While Jupiter Mosman’s find marked the discovery of gold in Charters Towers and heralded in a major windfall for the people of Queensland, it was with this same jubilance a century later in 1983, due to his historical role in shaping the northern state, that Jupiters Limited was incorporated and resulted in the establishment of the Jupiter casinos in Brisbane, Gold Coast and Townsville, keeping the spirit and historical significance of Jupiter Mosman alive. This pinnacle in Queensland’s mining history, when Jupiter plucked that first gold nugget from the stream in Charters Towers, has also been captured on canvas by renowned Australian artist Marji Hill in her original oil painting ‘Jupiters Lucky Strike’ which is currently hanging in the foyer of Ville Resort Casino Hotel (previously Jupiters Townsville Hotel and Casino). Marji Hill has been involved in many aspects of Aboriginal affairs which have provided much of the inspiration and influence for her artworks. Source: www.citigold.com/charters-towers-story/

Each bottle tree reflects its own individual character, and can be used in many landscape designs. The unique swollen ‘bottle-shaped’ trunk develops in 5–7 years, giving it a comical look, like something you would expect to see in a Dr Seuss book! Valuable beyond its aesthetics, its seeds, root, stems and bark has all been traditionally used by both people and animals. Aboriginals have historically carved holes in the soft bark to access the water quite literally 'bottled' between the inner bark and the trunk, as well as used the fibrous inner bark to make twine and netting. The Bottle Tree can tolerate robust transplantation, surviving long periods before being replanted. Source: www.diggers.com.au/products/queensland-bottle-tree

Blenheim is a rural locality in the Lockyer Valley Region, Queensland, Australia. Originally the district was known as Sandy Creek, but later it was named Blenheim after Blenheim Park in Oxfordshire, England, which was in turn named after the Battle of Blenheim. Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blenheim,_Queensland