Brisbane, QLD


Monday, February 7, 2011

OLD BEENLEIGH TOWN

Recently we visited the historical village museum at Beenleigh. Beenleigh is a small town between Brisbane and the Gold Coast it is only a 15 minute drive from home. Old houses, school, church, fire station, dairy, post office, railway station and other buildings have been brought to the site and re-erected and returned to how they were in the early days of this town.

In Australia it is hard to use the term "OLD" when talking about European settlement. We are one of the youngest countries in the world when talking in terms of non indigenous settlement. The first settlement in Australia was in Sydney in 1788 in Brisbane in 1824. So as you can see it would be rare to find a building in Australia that is 200 years old, which compared to buildings in Europe is not old at all.

On the other hand, when talking about indigenous history and geological history, Australia is very old. The aboriginal history has been dated as far back as 40,000 to 100,000 years ago. The geological age of our land is one of the oldest on earth.

However it is interesting to see how early settlers lived in Old Beenleigh Town.
Carter's Boot Repair and dressmaking shop built in the 1800's and rebuilt in 1935.

The Old Beenleigh Council Chambers (can't find a date for this one)

The General Store belonged to Charles Wilke and operated between 1892 and 1972

Carroll House belonged to the Carroll family and was built in 1890's it is themed inside with 1920's artefacts and furniture.


The Post Office was built in 1897.

I have no dates for the old school house but when I came to Australia I went to a school just like this.

The gorgeous little church and bell tower, a hymn started playing as you walked in.

23 comments:

  1. What an amazing place! So lovely. xxxx

    ReplyDelete
  2. Such quaint little wooden buildings and I love the 'broekie-lace' work on the home built by the Carroll family. The style of the buildings reminds me of Pilgrim's Rest here in S. The whole little hamlet is a National Monument, commemorating the early gold mining community. A similar set-up to what you have at Beenleigh was erected at Gold Reef City just outside Johnannesburg. It's enormously popular as a tourist destination.

    I have thoroughly enjoyed your virtual tour, Diane and I'm sure you had a lovely outing (and trip down memory lane, seeing a school very similar to the one you'd attended!) I'd love one of those old telephones!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Things from our childhood are already "old". Times are changing so fast but I like to see it all. Even a typewriter is history, I learnt to type on it and have used it for years in the office.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi Di:) What a lovely place to visit. I had no idea this village existed. Hubby had a business in Beenleigh (before we met). Will keep this in mind for a trip out. Would love to give a link to your blog as I think it's absolutely marvellous and so informative, would this be OK with you? Linda xxx

    ReplyDelete
  5. Linda: Thats okay. I'm honoured and thank you for your nice comments.

    ReplyDelete
  6. That is my kind of place, Diane. I would LOVE seeing that little 'town'... It's all in such good shape. Who keeps it up these days? Is it part of the historical registry now? SO interesting...

    Loved your comment about your name on my Genealogy post today.
    Hugs,
    Betsy

    ReplyDelete
  7. Of course in my eyes these buildings look very modern considering that they dated from 18 hundred something !
    Concerning the school ! I had exactly the same banks only a little smaller at school and we had to sit at four on one bank because there was not enough furniture and we were 80 in one class ! that was in 1950, were 80 % of Bonn where I lived was in ruins and we had a kind of barrack as school ! But my bottom survived !

    ReplyDelete
  8. Your comment about the comparative newness of buildings in Australia reminds me of a visit I made to a temple in China. Our host apologized for not taking us to the old temple because of a lack of time. We had to settle for a new temple, which was 'only' 800 years old.
    I enjoy visiting outdoor museums such as Old Beenleigh Town. Thanks for taking us along.

    ReplyDelete
  9. It looks a fascinating place - I enjoyed my tour. Must confess to a little chuckle at the 6th photo... I read it wrong at first!

    ReplyDelete
  10. What an amazing place - and I remember well the Bex years when all & every problem was solved by taking a Bex and a lie down....

    "Adelaide and Beyond"

    ReplyDelete
  11. What a beautifully keep place....much like Heritage Park in Calgary, Albera. I love the old schoolroom.

    ReplyDelete
  12. When I visit these kind of exhibits I wish I could close my eyes and be transported back for just a few hours to see what it would really have been like. Then, I feel sure I'd be glad to be back in my own time.
    Love the Carroll house!

    ReplyDelete
  13. I love to see places like this so I definitely enjoyed the tour. It is always interesting to see how our ancestors lived or to see items from our younger days. I love that old telephone.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Dear Diane, thanks for your comment on the Jarvis House blog. I linked your blog to mine and am a new follower. My sister and brother and I are thinking about visiting Australia in a year or so, and really appreciate the “up close and personal” information about your wonderful country. This post especially, covering the old buildings of a restored town, is very close to my heart. My house was built in 1838 and I also love to garden. Cheers Lori

    ReplyDelete
  15. Yes I did enjoy the tour. I especially loke the Carroll House and the church.

    ReplyDelete
  16. This dear little town must have been lovingly restored. Everything seems in such pristine shape. I found the schoolhouse most interesting with the "row"desks and the graduated size of them. We had double desks but they had lift up tops where all our books and papers and pens were stored. Thanks for the fascinating tour!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Sure looks like a sweet little place.

    ReplyDelete
  18. A very interesting place and so well preserved and restored. I always enjoy a peek into the past.

    ReplyDelete
  19. We have been past Beenleigh so many times, Diane, but didn't know about this historical village.
    I remember desks like that from my primary school days too.
    Very interesting post, and great photos.
    Hugs,
    Jan

    ReplyDelete
  20. Thanks again for taking us along - what a neat place - love the home! And the school? You really attended one like that? Amazing!

    ReplyDelete
  21. I did enjoy the virtual tour very much Diane! Your comment on "old" settlements reminds me of the western part of the US (where we're originally from) as far as the dates and what's old -- as compared with our Eastern seaboard states. Never mind comparing them to Europe -- and India (where I have a couple of blogs I visit)!

    Your preserved old town also reminds me very much of towns from our "out-West" and we love visiting them too.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Yes, I too remember those desks!
    A great visit and wander through all the interesting buildings Diane, thank you :)

    ReplyDelete
  23. Amazing, Diane. You supply a lot of interesting information which was super. I could wander through towns like this often. We have a few in SA as Desiree mentioned above. But your little town is SO clean and neat! Great post.

    ReplyDelete