unionbank

Might be a Corbett truck

The Great Fire of Brisbane, 1864 By JOL Admin | 11 September 2008 All attempts at fighting the fire were impeded by the fact that Brisbane had virtually no water supply at this time. In addition, most of the buildings were constructed of timber, causing the fire to spread too rapidly to be contained. Considering the extent of the fire, casualties were very few and there was no loss of life. Only four people were taken to hospital, mostly suffering from bruises. Following the conflagration, the area was redeveloped, with more substantial buildings constructed of brick and stone, rather than timber. A detailed description of the fire appeared in the Brisbane Courier, 2/12/1864. A brief extract follows. "Last evening will be long remembered in the annals of Queensland as the date on which occurred one of the most disastrous and crushing conflagrations that ever brought ruin and desolation on a town. Indeed, it would be almost impossible to convey with the pen anything like an adequate idea of the exciting and appalling scene, which certainly beggared description. At all events, the whole of the business premises and private residences which occupied what may fairly be considered the most valuable site in Brisbane, was, in a couple of hours, reduced to a heap of ruins, in spite of all that could be done by hundreds of willing and courageous men to stay the fearful progress of the devastating element." Source: www.slq.qld.gov.au/blog/great-fire-brisbane-1864#:~:text=...