The Making of the Story Bridge

The Story Bridge – built as part of the State Government’s response to the Great Depression – remains one of Queensland’s most iconic landmarks. Ground was broken for the project in 1935, and the cantilever bridge was officially opened on 6 July 1940 by Governor Sir Leslie Orme Wilson. Public meetings calling for a bridge […]

Escape from St Helena Island

Sitting isolated, surrounded by the dangers of Moreton Bay, St Helena Island Penal Establishment was a fortified prison. Despite this, numerous prisoners still attempted to escape.    One of the greatest escape attempts lasted 11 days and was carried out by two prisoners: Henry Craig and David McIntyre. The response to their escape was unprecedented, […]

Finding my family in the school registers

I started coming to the Queensland State Archives to look at the school admission registers and to find the dates my siblings and I started school. It was a great thrill to find the details of all four of us at our little one teacher sized school and to recall others who also attended at […]