started with a strap around the flywheel. - City of …...Gold Coast City Council Southport stories...

Another dangerous encounter was at a rocky reef off Lands End, where

I saw a small octopus in a pool at low tide. I was about to pick it up and

when it’s colour changed, I changed my mind. It was a deadly blue ringed

octopus.

Most boats were made of marine ply or wood and small hire boats were

equipped with inboard 2 stroke engines cooled with a water jacket and

started with a strap around the flywheel.

During the second World War all essentials were rationed. Ration tickets

were issued.

As petrol was heavily rationed, we used the steam train frequently from Brisbane to Southport. Many American soldiers on leave

would use the train.

Now there was an imaginary line drawn from Brisbane East to Southport and West of Brisbane. This line was heavily defended and

invaders would be stopped at this line. General McArthur’s headquarters were at Lennons Hotel. Brisbane and there were large

infantry camps West of Tamborine Mountain. Fortunately the invasion of the Philippines by McArthur and us end any threat. The

strategic headquarters in Southport closed and all American defences were disbanded.

Gold Coast City Council Southport stories 48 Community tales submitted for the Southport Heritage Walk 2009

End of Barney Street, Southport)Image courtesy of Jim and Colleen Yuke


I was employed as a Receptionist at Southport Hotel (run by the Fitzgibbons

family of Brisbane) in 1958, where Sundale was eventually built on the site

and opened, I think, in 1960. When the hotel was in “full swing” they had

Saturday night “Variety Shows” and we Receptionists collected the entry fee

and worked (without pay) to collect same! It was “the place” to go for a

great night of entertainment, with such artists as Barry Crocker (wonderful

voice), Johnny O’Keefe. Many “stand up comics” started their career there.

Southport Hotel, circa 1918Image courtesy of Gold Coast City Council Local Studies Library

Place : Southport HotelTheme : History and DevelopmentAuthor : Peg Hillier


The first post office for Benowa had Mr Robert Muir as Postmaster back in the

late 1800’s. The last post office was located in our old home with my mother,

Mrs Jessie James, a Postmaster from 1939 to 1972. All through the war

years the post office was a hive of activity as there were thousands of army,

artillery and airforce men camped in the surrounding bushland. Cups of tea,

crab sandwiches, and sponge cakes filled with whipped cream were freely

available as they frequently came to make phone calls home. As we lived near

Boobigan Creek, crabs were plentiful and cream from our dairy.

Sing songs around the piano at night were also very popular. When our home

finally came up for sale in the 1990’s, the Gold Coast Council wished to buy

it, remove it to the Heritage Centre next to our old one teacher school and

restore it for historical reasons.

The Council arranged a lovely celebration party inviting my family and many

of the old residents of Benowa, including Gene Rosser who is now Treasurer

of the Historical Society.

Gary Baildon, Nola Hollindale and John Elliott on the stairs of the last Post Office in BenowaImage courtesy of Nola Hollindale

Place : Benowa Post OfficeTheme : Pioneers, Identities and Family Stories – War yearsAuthor : Nola Hollindale


I am one of that vanishing breed they call “a native of the Gold Coast” or “an Old

Timer”. My story begins back in 1892 when my Grandparents – Eli and Mary Gill –

having sailed from the Old Country some years earlier, came to settle in Benowa.

They had one son and six daughters; one was named Jessie and she married

my father – Charles James – in the little Congregational Church in White Street,

Southport in 1920. Charles had recently returned from the 1914-1918 Great War

where he had been fighting in the trenches in France. He had lost an eye in a

skirmish with the enemy and was later awarded the Military Medal for bravery.

Jessie and Charles had four children – Darcy, Nola, Marjorie and Keith.

Benowa was only four miles (six kilometres) from Southport and in those days

most of the land was used for dairy farming and growing crops. There was a little

one teacher school next to our house and further up the street a large hall where

meetings, concerts and dances were held.

Tragedy struck our home in 1932 when my brother, Darcy, became one of

the victims of the polio epidemic. He was paralysed from the waist down and

hospitalised in Brisbane for many years. He became a patient of Sister Elizabeth

Kenny, who helped him quite a lot.

When finally he was allowed to come back home, and because he was limited in

what he could do on crutches, our favourite pastime was boating on the Nerang

Southport Congregational Church, circa 1910Image courtesy of Gold Coast City Council Local Studies Library

Place : Southport StoriesTheme : History and Development – Pioneers, Identities and Family StoriesAuthor : Nola Hollindale (nee James)

River. On weekends we would hire a row-boat from Barney’s Jetty which was

close to the old Jubilee Bridge, and we took turns at towing up the river to Nerang

where we would anchor and have our picnic lunch under a tree. Late afternoon

found us heading back – usually rowing against the tide – as another happy day

came to an end.

The Legacy Club was anxious to help my parents find suitable employment for

Darcy and when the position of telephonist became vacant at the old Southport

Town Council, they encouraged

him to apply. When he retired in his

sixties he was the longest serving

Council employee at the time.

I was employed as a Rates Clerk

for the Council in the days when

Mr. George Jackman was Acting

Town Clerk and Mr. Bill Serisier

was appointed as a new Town

Clerk. I resigned in 1942 to join the

A.A.M.S.W.S. and was stationed at

Redbank. Wounded soldiers were

sent home from active service to the

hospital there to be treated and rehabilitated.


continued

Place : Southport StoriesTheme : History and Development – Pioneers, Identities and Family StoriesAuthor : Nola Hollindale (nee James)

Opening of Southport Town Hall, 1935Image courtesy of Gold Coast City Council Local Studies Library

Boating on the Nerang RiverImage courtesy of Nola Hollindale


I arrived in Southport in April, 1952 as an English migrant to attend St. Hilda’s

school as a boarder. I remember going to see a film at the Pier baths, sitting

in the canvas chairs with the water lapping below. At 6am we (St. Hilda’s

girls) used to walk in a “crocodile” to Loder Creek to swim. On long

weekends we went to the Broadwater to fish, buying our lines and bait from

the shop there. Lots of fish were caught in those days, bream, whiting and

flathead.

Place : The Broadwater, SouthportTheme : Heritage Places - SwimmingAuthor : Joan Lethlean

Southport Pier Theatre, circa 1950Image courtesy of Gold Coast City Council Local Studies Library


My favourite recollection of Southport as it was: As a young girl in the early

60’s I remember the absolute treat, as a family, was going to the Pier Theatre

in Southport. You would walk out along the long jetty like entrance looking

at the billboards for upcoming movies on the way. Once inside you would sit

in long slung canvas seats to watch the movies.

In the hot summer months it was fabulous as they would open up all the

doors along the sides of the building and you could gaze out onto the water.

Because I was young, sometimes if the movie was not holding my attention, I

would look down through the slats in the floor boards and look at the water

below. This experience was particularly enthralling at night.

Place : Southport StoryTheme : History and Development – Pioneers, Identities and Family StoriesAuthor : Anne Littlejohn

Southport Pier Theatre, circa 1950Image courtesy of Gold Coast City Council Local Studies Library


Congregational Church, White St. Southport Church building is still

there. It has been converted into a Backpackers.

Pier Theatre (opposite Star of the Sea) In the 1950’s I loved

attending the Saturday matinees at the Pier Theatre. Fixed seats were in

the balcony, removable canvas chairs downstairs. Each year the chairs

were stacked to expose a beautiful polished wooden floor upon which all

Southport State School children danced and performed a grand march for

our Fancy Dress Ball. The lifesavers also used the Pier for midnight to dawn

dances.

Theodore’s Café Theodore’s was a very long building divided into 3 parts

– a milk bar at the Nerang St. entrance, behind this was a sit down café and

behind that was a function room. My sister had her wedding reception there.

Overhead were wall to wall material fans.

New Year’s Eve Concerts Each New Year’s Eve Scarborough St. was

blocked between Cecil Hotel and Carey’s Corner Store by a truck and tray,

upon which a stage was set up for a free concert. I think they were organised

by a Brisbane radio station, 4BH or 4BC? Stalls were set up in the east side

of Nerang Street selling cupie dolls, balloons, hats and whistles. Each year my

mother made us crepe paper hats to wear. Quite often it rained and we had

to dodge kids with water pistols. New Years Eve at Careys Corner, circa 1954mage courtesy of Gold Coast City Council Local Studies Library

Congregational Church, circa 1898mage courtesy of Gold Coast City Council Local Studies Library

Place : BusinessesTheme : History and Development - BusinessesAuthor : Bev Lloyd

Nerang, Scarborough, Hicks, Davenport St. block

2nd Post Office was on the corner of Nerang and Scarborough

Sts. Behind, on Scarborough and Hicks Sts. Were the Police and

Court House. On Hicks & Davenport corner was the Fire Station.

Davenport and Nerang St. corner was the Council Chambers.

Between the Council and Post Office in Nerang St. were the

ambulance and mothercraft clinic.

Methodist Church The Methodist Church was on the corner

of Scarborough and Short Sts. It was moved to Short St. where it

still is, to make way for the new Uniting Church.

Presbyterian Church The Presbyterian church was where

the Masonic Temple is. The hall belonging to the church is still

behind the temple.

Country Women’s’ Association The C.W.A. was on the corner of Young and Garden Sts.

Gold Coast City Band Shell Started as a small round wooden building in Recreation Reserve, then moved to the White St. side,

behind the R.S.L. Band shell then moved to Macintosh Park (now puppet theatre) and finally to their present position in Owen Park.

Salvation Army Temple Started in Scarborough Street on the north side of the milk factory. Shifted around the corner into

Young St beside the C.W.A. New temple was built in Nerang Street near Queen Street corner and from here they moved to their

present position on Wardoo and Nerang Sts. Corner.


Southport Ambulance Brigade, circa 1920smage courtesy of Gold Coast City Council Local Studies Library


Marabell’s Bakery (now Gold Coast Bakery) Bakery started in Scarborough Street (approximately 1965 – 67).

Kret’s Softdrinks This building still at the northern end of Davenport Street.

Drill Hall The Drill Hall was in Lawson Street, behind the School of Arts. Moved, when new R.S.L. hall was built, to Owen Park

(I think).

Carey’s Corner Shop Very popular grocery store on the corner of Scarborough and Nerang Sts. The owners also owned a store

and warehouse at the southern end of Scarborough Street (next to Westpac). From this store they did home deliveries and with each

order was a packet of boiled lollies.

Bunkers My brother, Neville Smith, said that during the War there were 2 Bunkers in Nerang Street. One near the Savoy Theatre

and one near the Regent Theatre. There were also a number of ditches dug in the school grounds.

Southport State School When I started at Southport State School in 1949, the primary school and high school were both

present there. There was a tennis court on the Scarborough and Lawson Sts. Corner. The Headmaster’s house was on the opposite

corner of Scarborough Street. All the buildings were from the tennis court ¾ the length of Lawson. Toilet blocks were behind

the Headmaster’s house and between the toilets and buildings were basketball courts. I was a member of the Fife Band started

by Mr. Roy Rose in the early 1950’s. We marched in Anzac and Spring Parades and performed at Gold Coast shows. We had a

Christmas break-up Picnic at Owen Park each year catered for by the Mothers Auxiliary.

Akes Plumbing – Nind Street

continued


Netafit Clothing Factory (Mr. Pickering) Started in small building in

Garden St. between Owen Lane and White Street. He built a new 2 storey

building in Young Street. This building has not long been demolished.

Savoy Theatre Southport’s 3rd movie theatre, half way between

Scarborough St. and Marine Parade on the north side of Nerang Street.

Meitchy Saddlery Garden St. east side near Nerang St. corner.

Blacksmith Owen Lane, opposite Congregational Church Mance. Dave Louie

was also Scout Leader (Woodroffe Park).

Krouth’s Bakery Waverley St. near Queen St. corner. Not long been

demolished. Supplied bread and pies to businesses.

Tyles Shoes Scarborough St. next to Cecil Hotel. Building is still there.

Regent Theatre (Thams family) Southern side of Nerang Street, west of

Davenport Street. Davenport Street south did not exist when the Regent Theatre

was there.

Usher’s Café Next to the Regent Theatre. Best milk shakes in Southport.

Made with day old milk, slightly iced.

Barney’s Jetty and Swim Hole Nerang River near the start of the Rock Wall.


Thams Picture Theatre, circa 1917Image courtesy of John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland

Gold Coast City Council Southport stories 59 Community tales submitted for the Southport Heritage Walk 2009 9

40’s, 50’s, 60’s, 70’s – old Southport Businesses

E.M.D. Symons Book Shop

Martin’s Corner Chemist

Yarads Clothing Shop

Pilgrims Shoe Shop and Repairs

Arnold Anders Furniture

Grocery store in Queen Street (original store still there)

Miss E.A. Gregg – Books & Stationery

Birkbeck’s Jewellery

Lloyds Cake Shop, 57 Nerang St. (TAB building)

Two Bathing Pavilions, Spring Parade, Clock (built with Public donations – is stored somewhere I’ve been told)

continued


started with a strap around the flywheel. - City of …...Gold Coast City Council Southport stories...

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