The Annerley-Stephens History Group is presenting a ‘Memories of Stephens’ conference on Saturday 21 October 2023, 9.00am – 4.30pm, at Our Lady’s College, Annerley.

Papers will be presented on the history of the Stephens Shire, including Yeronga Aboriginal history, Aboriginal camp life in Moorooka, local railway and tram history, the Stephens Scout Group, the Chinese in Stephens, the South Brisbane Cemetery, the Congregational church, the Wilderness and Tarragindi House, the eminent Dr Winterbottom, and the WWII tram disaster.

Presenters include former Harry Gentle Resource Centre Visiting Fellows Dr Janis Hanley and Jan Richardson, who will talk about their research into the Chinese community, including market gardeners and shopkeepers, in areas including Ekibin and Moorooka.

Full program

Session One: (1.5 hrs) 9.10am-10.40am

Chair: Stephen Sheaffe AM

  1. Dr Ruth Kerr and Greg Hallam: Railways on the Southside: The South Brisbane Railway of the 1880s and early 20th century.
  2. Dr Michael Macklin: Indigenous Yeronga 1822.
  3. Don Marshall: Stephens Boy Scout Group 1917-2003.

Morning Tea: 10.40am-11.00am

Session Two:  (1.5 hrs)  11.00am-12.30pm

Chair: Councillor Nicole Johnston

  1. Georgina Dove: The Wilderness and Tarragindi House.
  2. Ronda Dove: The Congregational Church, Cracknell Road.
  3. Jeanette Wiley: Softstone to Tennyson.

Lunch: 12.30pm-1.00pm

Session Three: (1.5 hrs) 1.00pm-2.30pm

Chair: Bec Langdon

  1. Christine Hanson-Doherty: Aboriginal Camp Life in Moorooka
  2. Diana Hacker: The Forgotten, Brave Boys.
  3. Dr Janis Hanley and Jan Richardson: The Chinese in Stephens.

Afternoon Tea: 2.30pm-3.00pm

Session Four (1.5 hrs) 3.00pm-4.30

Chair: Councillor Krista Adams, Deputy Mayor

  1. Dr Bill Metcalf: Toohey Forest Park and Stephen Sheaffe, Bones in the Park.
  2. Tracey Oliveri and Chris Dawson: South Brisbane Cemetery.
  3. Glen and Gail Dyer: World War II Tram Disaster.
  4. Professor John Pearn: Dr Lindsay Page Winterbottom (1887-1960).

The venue for this year’s conference is the school library at Our Lady’s College, 15 Chester Road, Annerley. Registration is $40 per person and includes a professionally catered morning tea and lunch. Please go to the Annerley-Stephens History Group website for registration details.