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INCIDENTS OF THE RECENT FIRE AT BLACKALL. Ruins of the Barcoo Hotel and six business premises were destroyed on April 30. During the fire, two carbonic acid gas cylinders exploded and were driven like shells over a great distance. A gas cylinder from the Barcoo Hotel which burst, and, opening lengthwise, rose to a great height, and flew over Tattersall's Hotel, dropped into the yard behind, 150 yards away. A cottage through whose roof the gas cylinder on the right passed after bursting. Afterward, it smashed through the timber of the front veranda, splintered the front gate post, and finally fell to earth on the footpath outside. Some of the timber from this cottage was knocked over 100 ft. away. This gas cylinder went through two iron fences, a motor shed, a tree, the roof of a house, and finally through a gate, traveling over 200 yards. Source: The Queenslander, 12 May 1927 trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/25296278

Wonderful to find this photo. I've been researching my Howard family history related to Maryborough and surrounding areas, but especially in the town of Howard named in honour of my great grandfather William Howard.

Chronology of education in Queensland Queensland's first school opened in 1826 with 16 pupils, the children of soliders and convicts from the first settlement in Moreton Bay. It was not until 1860, however, that the first Education Act was proclaimed and all primary education was placed under one general and comprehensive system controlled by the Board of General Education. This chronology of education in Queensland provides a factual outline of the major milestones and trends in the development of state education. 1888 - Primary schools and their administration were strongly criticised by a Royal Commission on the Civil Service. Financial support was provided to enable 13 children to attend the Deaf, Dumb and Blind Institute in Sydney. 1890 - The first Arbor Day was held. 1891 - An Instructress in Kindergarten was appointed to give teachers in infant grades in primary schools instruction in the new Froebellian methods. 1892 - An optional Class 6 was added to the class structure. 1893 - A Blind, Deaf and Dumb School was established in Queensland, controlled by a committee chaired by Sir Charles Lilley. The school opened at Cornwall St, Annerley with 20 students. 1895 - Drawing was introduced as a subject in primary schools. This subject was seen as a vital basis for technical education. 1897 - Queensland Agricultural College at Lawes was established. The Blind School and the Deaf School were established as separate schools on the above site. Deaf and blind children were educated separately but housed together. 1898 - State Education Amendment of 1897 was implemented, allowing the introduction of secondary-level subjects like Euclid, Algebra and Science in classes 5 and 6 of primary schools. 1900 - The compulsory clause of the Education Act of 1875 was fully implemented. Source: education.qld.gov.au/about-us/history/chronology-of-educa...