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.  

Collectomania - Showcasing A Collector's Passion

If you are a collector, or if you have ever known a collector, you will understand how passionate they can become over collecting what can sometimes be thought of as very obscure objects. I personally know this myself as a collector of Baby Feeders. Not every one shares my passion and in fact many would ask 'why on earth do you collect baby bottles?' To me it is the fascination of the social history and the development of these everyday items. I like to collect things that have been used by the average person in their everyday life and have become a piece of social history.

Karen and I, with our close friends Cliff and Judy, went along to see the Collectomania display at the Queensland Museum a few weeks ago. We are all passionate collectors and were curious to see what sort of collections would be featured in the display. It had been indicated that some of the collections might be considered quite weird by some people. We wanted to see what other people were actually collecting. The following photos probably show a bit of a biased view as they are mostly of the collections that appealed to me.

 

The first thing that you see at the exhibition, just before you enter, is a cool red tractor in front of a wall of number plates.

I was immediately drawn to the number plate collection as I have a small collection myself fixed to the front of my shed.  Some rather unusual ones here. Makes me want to look out for some more for my shed.

The first thing that hits you when you get inside is this huge Ceiling Medallion from the old Regent Theatre.  This theatre was built in QueenStreet, Brisbane in the 1920s. It has been the centre of an ongoing battle to save it. Most of this historic building has now been lost except for its heritage listed foyer.

Regent Theatre Ceiling Medallion information.

Other Regent Theatre items included a row of seats, some heavy curtains, a chandelier and spot light.

I just had to take a photo of this Fire Fighting Collection seeing that my eldest son Laurie is a firefighter. We gave him a fire hose nozzle like the one featured here when he graduated as a fire fighter. See my Fire Fighting Collectables post.

Fantastic collection of Padlocks and this is only about half of what was on display.

Someone even collected old Washing Machines. Nice to see some old washing powder boxes in original condition. How many of these would have been saved?

There was an incredible collection of Beaters. I was amazed to see how many different types and mechanisms there were. Again, this is only half of what was on display. Well worth seeing, especially if you collect Kitchenalia like I do.

Another amazing collection. This time it's a collection of Salesman's Samples of Sanitary Ware (bathroom fittings). I wonder who would collect things like these??? These samples are not easy to find.

This collection is an example of the entire possessions that an immigrant coming to Australia in the 1950s was allowed to bring with them. They were only allowed to bring one suitcase. In that suitcase would be the sum total of their earthly goods. So much must have been left behind. Great sacrifices were made to begin a new life in Australia. Fascinating insight into our immigration policies after World War 2.

Here we have an interesting collection of all sorts of things that were just found around a country property. I think these came from somewhere like Blackall. A collection that really wouldn't have cost anything to put together but is clearly preserving our countries farming history. I suppose that is why I like this collection so much as I really collect things for their history. Interesting to see they found a Chinese soy pot on the farm (top shelf). These are often found on the goldfields.

Not all collectables on display were old. This was a fantastic display of World War 2 German Soldiers. Apparently the owner chose to collect German soldiers because of their colourful uniforms. Other countries mustn't have been as flamboyant as the Germans.

Detailed diorama of a German garage during wartime.

There's also a very detailed model of Bilbo Baggin's Hobbit Hole from Lord of the Rings. This model was made by Maddie Chambers in England in 2010. You can read all about it and see lots more photos in her blog.

You can stand on a stool and look down into each of the rooms. The amount of detail is incredible. The longer you look, the more you find. Has to be seen to be believed.

Detail of the front door of Bilbo's Home.

There were many more collections on display but the ones above were what I consider to be some of the most interesting. Some of the other collections included snow globes, stickers, spoons and even finger nail clippings. Although I would never collect some of these things, the exhibition did show how varied people's collections could be. It also showed that you don't have to spend a fortune to compile an interesting collection. After all, I am sure the collection of fingernail clippings didn't cost much if anything at all!

Why not go along and check it out for yourself and make your own mind up about the different collections on display. It's on at the Queensland Museum, Brisbane until the end of the year and entry is free.