My Birthday Visit to the Historical Brisbane Home MIEGUNYAH

Last Sunday was my 60th birthday. Not being a huge party person, I decided it would be nice just to have a quiet day out with my family doing things that I enjoy. So a visit to "Miegunyah" and the "Windsor and Districts Historical Society" was planned. It had been about 38 years since Karen and I had been to "Miegunyah". Throw some yummy food, such as a Devonshire Tea and lunch at Subway, into the equation and you have what to me seems a great day out.

We left early so that we could arrive at "Miegunyah" just when it opened. Unfortunately, I didn't check the opening times before we left and we turned up half an hour early. At least we weren't late. Thank goodness for electronic devices such as laptops, iPads and mobile phones to while away the spare half hour.

"Miegunyah", an aboriginal word meaning 'my house', is a heritage home from the late Victorian period, now owned by the Queensland Women's Historical Association. It was built in the 1880s and is located at Jordan Terrace, Bowen Hills in Brisbane. It was purchased by the Queensland Women's Historical Association in March 1967 and opened as a house museum in June 1968. "Miegunyah" is on the Register of the National Estate, on the Queensland Heritage Register and classified 'A' by the National Trust. It is considered to be a particularly well preserved and fine example of a typical large Queenslander built in Brisbane in the last quarter of the 19th century. You can read more about "Miegunyah's" history here.

We were met at the door by our guide, a lovely lady named Marita, and invited into the entry hall. Marita's guided tour of the home bought everything to life. She knew the home's history well and many other interesting things about how the former residents would have lived. Although I have been interested in antiques and their history for most of my life, I still learnt many new things from Marita. For example, the numerous starched collars that a man would keep in a leather collar box on his dressing table were not just a fashion fad (as I thought) but were changed daily out of necesity because he would be wearing the same shirt possibly for the whole week. This fact, accompanied with only bathing once a week, would have resulted in a shirt with a very grimy collar, hence the solution of having a number of detachable collars instead. A guided tour is a must if you ever visit "Miegunyah".

Below are a few overall photos I took of some of the rooms in "Miegunyah".

The Drawing Room - most likely originally the main bedroom

Another view of the Drawing Room - showing the piano in one of the front bay windows

The Dining Room - very grand now but would have originally been two smaller rooms

Another view of the Dining Room - showing the other front bay window. Most of the joinery is red cedar while the floors are all of pine.

One room is set up as a Bedroom with a very nice brass & iron bed

The Kitchen - showing blue and white china on one of the kitchen dressers

The following photos show some of the other things you can expect to see on your visit.

This is the Dining Room fireplace. Under the two glass domes are two taxidermied miniature dogs. These dogs are believed to have been pets and specially bred to achieve their small size. Although these two dogs are reputed to be the genuine article, it must be understood that due to the Victorian's demand for the bizarre, the Victorian taxidermist became very skilful at faking tiny adult dogs. Are these two genuine? Let's believe so, however gross you may find them to be. You can read more here.

One of the miniature dogs - probably only about 10-12cm high

The other miniature dog - even much smaller than the first, probably smaller than a rat

Lactogen baby feeder in the Child's Nursery - had to take a photo of this as I collect baby feeders. This one is a little different to the Lactogen feeder that I have in my own collection

Salesman's samples of bentwood furniture. If I had to pick something, these three pieces would probably be my favourites. Would love to have them in my own collection.

Red Cedar display cabinet originally from the old Queensland Museum. I have seen a number of these cabinets from the Queensland Museum in recent years. Saw one at the Mary Kathleen Memorial Park and Museum at Cloncurry earlier this year as well as one similar in the Harrisville & District Museum last year.

This display cabinet housed a collection of Victorian gentleman's smoking caps

Very nice small size butter churn - often see the large size but seldom this half size version. Another item that would look good in my own collection

Nice assortment of vintage irons displayed in the Laundry. I believe the pressure spirit iron at the back right is a rather rare model. Very unusual with a wooden handle that would look more at home on a hand saw. 

Nice little gothic styled clock in the Gentleman's Dressing Room

We ended the morning with a yummy Devonshire Tea on the front verandah of "Miegunyah", overlooking what would have once been part of a large country estate but what is now inner city Brisbane suburbia.

TEA is now being SERVED - "Miegunyah" is still extremely fortunate to have it's original shutters on it's windows. This is one of the front bay windows

Rob and I ready to tuck into our Devonshire Tea. I believe the scones were freshly baked on site by Marilyn, the other  guide working with Marita and looking after visitors on the day.

Karen enjoying a cuppa and some scones with strawberry jam & cream

All served on a "Belle Vue Hotel" plate - could this be from the famous Brisbane Bellevue Hotel that was demolished amidst much controversy in 1979? If so, this could be a collectable in it's own right.

 A few more photos before we leave.

Another detail view of one of the bay windows - showing the space above the window. I imagine many a possum has spent a cosy night camped up there. I would have thought this space would have been sealed off.

The cast iron balustrade and columns were made by the Brisbane Makers of  SMITH FORRESTER & Co

Time to go after a very pleasant morning

A big thanks must go to Marita and Marilyn for their very warm hospitality and also to the 'Queensland Women's Historical Association' for the fine job they have done in preserving a beautiful piece of Brisbane's history.

Now off to the "Windsor and Districts Historical Society", but that's another story.  

My Pharmaceutical Collection

I've finally got my pharmaceutical collection into some form of order. At least the best stuff is all displayed together with the overflow stored in my stationary cupboard close by. I'm using the display stand that I made for my recent club show to house all my dispensing bottles (and a bit more). It's always nice to see a collection come together in a display.

Large Pink Drug Jar

I was very fortunate to be able to pick up three very nice items for my pharmaceutical collection at our Morayfield show three weeks ago. The first one I bought from my friends stall on the Friday night when we were setting everything up. It is a very large pink ceramic drug jar (about 27cm tall and 17cm in diameter).

The jar is in excellent condition with only some crazing to the glaze as can be expected on a ceramic item of its age (probably c.1900 or maybe earlier). Most of these jars have quite a few chips around the rims and have damaged handles to the lid. The only thing that would have made this jar more desirable would have been an appropriate pharmaceutical label. I was told that my friend used to keep cat food in this jar. Originally it would most likely have been used to store pharmaceutical ingredients used in the preparation of medicines. The large size and bright colour of this jar could also indicate that it was intended for display purposes in the pharmacy window. Pharmacists would often have a colourful display of large containers in their windows to attract customers and to make it obvious that it was a pharmacy.

The large pink drug jar shown beside the my largest dispensing bottle. 

The next item from the show was another drug jar bought from the same friend on the Saturday of the show. This one is a little more modest in colour, design and size. It is white and only about 15cm tall and 9cm in diameter but it does have a good paper label. The label reads "Oleum Anisi" which is Oil of Anise. You can read about Oil of Anise here. This jar is also in excellent condition.

White Drug Jar

Unknown manufacturers mark (possibly German) on the base of the white drug jar.
The number 2 probably refers to the size of the jar.

The third item that I bought from the show for my pharmaceutical collection was a Sloan's Liniment bottle with its original box.

This bottle is not particularly old (probably from the 1940s) but does have great graphics and lots of cool information on the box and label. It also has a strongly embossed star pattern on the rear of the bottle. These patterns were to warn the handler that they had picked up a bottle that contained poison. So when you got up late at night to get something for the headache you had, you would immediately know you had picked up the wrong bottle. It also has the AGM mark embossed on the base. The particular mark on this bottle was used by the company 'Australian Glass Manufacturers' from 1934 to 1948. You can read more about Dr. Earl Sawer Sloan here.

Another recent addition to my pharmaceutical collection is this cedar test tube stand pictured below. I found this in a local antique shop a few months ago. It is constructed entirely of Australian Red Cedar and I just love it. It has a few stains (actually some look like burn marks) but these just add character. This stand may or may not have been used in a pharmacy but looks right at home with my collection. If it didn't actually come from a pharmacy, it may have been used in a chemist's laboratory or even a school laboratory. I don't have any test tubes for it yet but they shouldn't be too hard to find. Anyone out there have a few they want to get rid of? The bottles didn't come with it either but it just so happened that I had a few that kind of look OK.

The stand is very well made. Who ever made it even took care to set the brass screws (align all the screw slots). This is always a sign of a good craftsman. The green felt is rather worn in places but looks original.

 I wonder what else is waiting out there for me to discover and add to my collection?

Handmade Wooden Jewellery Boxes

Small handmade boxes have a charm all of their own.  They were often made as a labour of love to be given as a special gift to a loved one.  This is most certainly the case for at least two of these boxes and in some way for one of the others as well.  I will share their stories as best I can as I know the history of three of these boxes but can only speculate as to the origin of the last one.

The first two boxes were made by my father well over 60 years ago.  I have already featured the first box in a previous post about Mum's Treasure as it was my mother's jewellery box.  Dad gave it to her before they were married.  The second box box was made for Dad's sister, my Auntie Joan, and was probably intended to be handkerchief box.  Both these boxes are fully veneered, inside and out, with different types of wood.

Mum's jewellery box

Mum's jewellery box showing hinged lid

Auntie Joan's handkerchief box with lift off lid

Not sure what different veneers Dad used on these boxes except for the silky oak in the centre of the handkerchief box.  The dark veneers are probably some type of walnut and I expect some of the other lighter ones to be maple (maybe even Queensland maple).



The next box is not quite as old.  It is actually one that I made in high school in woodwork class about 45 years ago.  My Mum used it as a jewellery box as well.

My high school woodwork project - a silky oak jewellery box

I made this jewellery box from silky oak (not that I had any choice of material - just used what the teacher gave me).  Silky oak is not really a favourite timber of mine though I have really come to appreciate it more and more over the years.  We probably have more pieces of furniture in our home made from this timber than any other, except for pine.   The desk I sit at each day for work is made from silky oak as is the set of pigeon holes that sit on it.  My favourite Australian native timber, however, is still red cedar.

I think this box was still unfinished when I gave it to my Mum all those years ago and I believe that it was my Dad who polished it up using Danish Oil or some other similar product.  It remained in an unadorned state for about half of its life when my Mum asked me to folk art it for her.  I had been taking folk art classes and so took it home to paint.  The box sat around home for quite a while before I finally got the courage up to have a go.  I chose a violet pattern to adorn this jewellery box as it was my Mums favourite flower.  In the end I was rather pleased with the result and so was Mum.

Violet folk art detail on top of silky oak jewellery box

The last of the four boxes is probably the most unusual in shape, construction and origin but certainly is an interesting piece of Australiana.  I acquired it from a friends stall at my Bottle and Collectables Club Christmas Breakup Show.  I was told that it was found at a flea market many years ago by his father-in-law.  It was now time to move it on and I was happy to oblige by taking it of his hands.

Silky oak and red cedar jewellery box

It is made from both silky oak and red cedar, quite an unusual combination of woods.  The lid is silky oak while the base and body of the box are made from red cedar.  Both the lid and the body are made of two pieces skilfully joined down the middle whereas the base is one single piece.  The base almost looks to me as though it has been put on upside down as the chamfered edge runs under the box.

Top of jewellery box showing faded decoration

The lid is also decorated with what looks like the initials "a w",  some small bunches of cherries (?) in each corner as well as some other decoration.  This looks as though it may have been drawn on in pen as there doesn't seem to be any evidence of engraving from pokerwork.

Jewellery box interior showing hinged lid and red velvet lining

The interior of the box also clearly shows the unusually thick cedar walls.  Each side would have been cut from a single solid block of wood.  This would have then been cut into two pieces that were mirror images of each other and then rejoined to create this fancy shape.  Rather quite a lot of work for a little box.


Who made this piece?  Why was it made?  How old is it?  Was this an apprentice piece or maybe a school exercise like my silky oak jewellery box?  Why did they use silky oak for the lid and not more red cedar?  Why put the base on as they did?  And who is "a. w."?  All questions that most likely will never be answered but are fun to ponder.