History

We have power!

Few things made as much of an impact as the supply of power to the growing township of Beaudesert.  The Beaudesert Electric Light Authority was established in July 1928 and began supplying power to approximately 200 customers in the town area from crude oil engines which consisted of 2 x […]

History

Dr Beet’s Fountain

Dr. Ashley Beet was appointed medical officer to the Beaudesert Hospital in 1903, where he served almost continuously for 44 years. At that time the hospital had 8 patients with a table from matron’s room serving as an operating table. Many babies, both Aboriginal and white, were named Ashley after […]

This suitcase, made from Weet-Bix cartons by an Italian POW is on display at Beaudesert Museum.
History

Angelo’s Suitcase

A small suitcase made from Weet-Bix cartons is on display at the Beaudesert Museum.  It is the work of Italian prisoner-of-war Angelo, who worked as a farmhand on the Bilarabyn property of R L (Les) and Sheila Harrison of Gleneagle during the Second World War.  The Italians were a war-weary […]

History

Dynamite

“Bet’ya didn’t sell dynamite”. “Yes we did, sonny.” Ric Enright was telling a group of youngsters that Enright’s Store sold everything! When Irish migrant, Michael Enright opened his small general store in Beaudesert in 1884 he never dreamed it would become one of the largest country stores in Australia with […]

fire truck
History

Fire and Water

There was a time when Beaudesert folk fought fires with buckets of water. Back yard tanks were used from which to throw water on the flames. It was such a bucket brigade that saved Dr. Beet’s cottage in Albert Street from destruction in 1912.  By the time a little tea […]

Charles C Burgess
History

History – Stories from the Burgess Family

Henry C Burgess was one of the first contacts made with the outside world by Bernard O’Reilly coming down Christmas Creek during the Stinson Rescue.   Henry took Bernard and the two Buchanan boys, Ray and Charlie, to the Buchanan home by car.  Henry was also responsible for the donation […]

Burgess family home.
History

History: Stories from the Burgess Family

Part 1 of 2 Thomas Chesworth Burgess was born in 1835 at Lymm, Cheshire, England; he married Jane Gilbert on 14 January 1865 in the Parish of West Derby, Lancaster.   In an 1861 census the family is recorded as Inn Keepers.   Thomas and his brother Henry received an […]

Stinson Crash survivor, John Proud. Photo: Supplied.
History

Search and Rescue

Now they were underway, and the introduction was a strong one for the party, a creek crossing as wide as a cricket pitch is long, and thigh deep and floored with slippery boulders like pumpkins.   There were miles of that ahead.   They came out of the creek into […]

Chief Pilot Rex Boyden and his aircraft
History

Search and Rescue

BANG! A rifle shot. “Hoy!” from Bernard. “Where the hell did you come from?” was the reply. Bernard told him he had found the missing aircraft and two men were alive. Swiftly Bernard’s questions were answered: He was a Buchanan, this is Christmas Creek, and Lamington was nine miles away, […]

Unveiling of Bronze Memorial 60th Anniversary. Photo: Supplied.
History

Search and Rescue 1937

The voices came again from below – two voices – men alive, but in what condition?   Bernard stood for a minute, afraid to go on to them, afraid of what he would see.   Bernard saw John Proud first, lying as he had for ten days on that wet […]