The Violent Origin of KANGAROO POINT - And Other Less Dramatic Events

[@chaseadams5037]

Who here would love to grab a beer with Rob? Love these vids 🤘

[@mikeyhau]

The Robert Miller was damaged slightly in the flood of 1974. Another vessel called the Cape Moreton was also washed away in the flood and it struck the Robert Miller causing minor damage to both vessels. I remember it well, because I worked at the depot where the Cape Moreton was based (at New Farm) and I had helped tie the Cape Moreton to the dock a couple of days before it was washed away. The Cape Moreton should not have been in port at the time, but it had returned to the river to shelter from the cyclone which generated the flood. A few crew members were on the Cape Moreton at the time and managed to drop the anchors and to run the engines to help hold the ship in place against the swift flood waters following the collision. I later drove some of a relief crew to the South Brisbane dock where a pilot vessel took them to the Cape Moreton to replace the crew members on board. The small number of men on board had not slept for more than 24 hours because they needed to monitor the anchors and engines. It was a very exciting long weekend!

[@mrmatthewjflanagan]

Very well done! My favourite place at Kangaroo point is the memorial to the refugees of Vietnam. It’s a sobering reminder of how desperately the world needs more compassion and understanding.

[@BradGryphonn]

16:05 As a kid, my favourite part of sitting in the back seat of mum and dad's car while crossing the Storey Bridge was looking out to see the Evans Deacon shipyards.

[@elizabethroberts6215]

……’Deakin’………

[@BradGryphonn]

@@elizabethroberts6215 Thanks for the correction, Elizabeth.

[@TheWandererAUS]

Another great clip mate! Lived in Kangaroo Point for about 6 years, and many times I went for a walk around there, I would tend to find another bit of history... A lot has happened in that little slice of Brisbane. There was a rumour I heard, that female convicts were sent to quarry the rocks from the cliffs in the 1800's... not sure if you have heard the same rumour or know if that is true or not? Well done capturing Kangaroo Point mate!

[@walkaboutwithrob]

@The Wanderer AUS thanks! Can't say I've heard of female convicts being ordered to quarry the stone. It would be unusual to employ female convicts for such work as they were busy doing so many other things, and there were far less of them there than male convicts. I'll look into it though.

[@TheWandererAUS]

@@walkaboutwithrob yeah, I found it to be a little hard to believe myself, and I don't have any concrete evidence of it. It was a professor giving a talk at Customs House years ago. That I first heard of it being women who worked it. Perhaps he was researching some sort of other role they may have played in it. Not sure. Either way, another great clip mate 👍

[@DonovanNagel]

Good on you for documenting all this local history on your channel. Outstanding job, mate. Keep going with it.

[@Thiskent]

I always enjoy watching these videos. History and dad jokes, what's not to love?! Keep up the good work mate!

[@a.t2427]

Is Rob a dad? I think he'd be a great one if so 😅

[@coasterblocks3420]

I lived at 52 Pearson Street for while up until 2010. My elderly neighbour Phyllis told us the house had been a brothel from very early times, having been one of the first houses built in the area, and there had been a number of murders. Now I don’t believe in ghosts but seeing a heavy couch move across the floor by itself and being grabbed by invisible hands amongst other seemingly unnatural and more disturbing phenomena leaves you scratching head to say the least. The elderly Russian neighbour (Phyllis didn’t like her and called her KGB) on the other side complained about “criminal gays” climbing down from the ceiling and opening all the kitchen cupboards when she was asleep. We thought she was crazy or was doing it herself and didn’t remember. Eventually she was put into a nursing home and the family let it out as a rental. When we told the new tenants about KGB’s crazy story, they went pale and said they wake up to that. Then there was the house two doors down with a series of tenants lasting mere weeks before breaking their leases and abruptly moving out. Eventually a gay couple and a lesbian couple took on the lease, we introduced ourselves, gave them a hand moving in and told them about the unusually high tenant turnover. They wondered why since it was a beautiful house and unusually cheap. When we spoke to them after their first night they told us harrowing stories one of the women being woken by a little girl bent over staring at her face, and the guys being woken by wiry angry old man looming over their bed. They all dragged their mattresses into the lounge to sleep together. Curtains would fly about with no wind, a figure would wander from the back yard up the steps and stand at the back door, furniture would move by itself, taps would turn on and off and of all things a phantom cat would walk down the hall and gradually just vanish, which we saw once. We asked, “oh, do you have a cat?” and one of the girls feeling vindicated, said to the others “see, I told you I was there!”

[@shellebelle53]

I'm so glad you showed Lamb House, I was fascinated by it as a child and as an adult when I used to drive past it. So glad it's being restored.

[@walkaboutwithrob]

@Shell and so am I. For quite a while I thought a 'mysterious' fire would break out and burn the whole thing down, clearing the way for some modern development.

[@shellebelle53]

@WalkaboutWithRob Yes, that has certainly happened in the past, so I'm glad that wasn't the case this time.

[@1trillionand1]

Believe it or not there was a pretty decent crew of homeless people living there who actually cleaned a few rooms and kept most of the youths that probably would of been more likely to start a fire away, they actually looked after the place as best they could. I spent a fair bit of time at the lamb house over the years visiting the guys there. I was sad to see the council repossess it for the unpaid rates and obviously turf out the small crew of people who had been squatting there for the past few years.

[@shellebelle53]

@jeremyprickett6443 really, well that's a shame, especially given the situation for homeless people these days.

[@robtuffield]

My wife & I love your shows Rob we have watched quite a few of your walks in fact we have Binge Watched a lot of them. Rob, you make it very interesting with your commentary, we are learning a lot about Brisbane, even thought we lived here all our life. Keep up the good work Rob

[@larrythewinger]

Growing up in Kangaroo Point during its violent past was tough. Carrying a penny knife everywhere was necessary for protection. It's amazing how much the area has changed now.

[@gordonmccreadie2008]

Wow mate,I did my tech in bread baking for 7 weeks in 76,77,at cooperoo school of food and stayed at the point at a boarding house run by Frank saulsbury.my time there was one of my finest as I was only 17.i never realised it was such a historical place.thank you it makes it even more special to me.❤

[@chrisflesser2171]

Where The Point Hotel stands, used to be an amazing old Queenslander. It had 12 foot wide verandahs wrapped around 3 sides and had a huge Bunya pine in the front yard.

[@ronsmith2241]

Thanks for another good video. A book called "The Mayne Inheritance" by Rosamond Siemon is a very interesting history of early Brisbane. It includes a murder at Kangaroo Point. The wrong man was convicted and hanged. Patrick Mayne witnessed the innocent man's death and later confessed to committing the murder on his death bed. It contains many other interesting details.

[@kyza_bee]

I second. Fascinsting.

[@walkaboutwithrob]

@Ron Smith it's a topic I'm looking to explore in the near future

[@t-rocks1960]

Another Great Vid mate, I have some research on the Mayne murder sites in KP, I was going to do a run through and pick them all out. There are some cool Drains under KP the cavers go into at low tides as well.

[@walkaboutwithrob]

@T-ROCKS the drains under the suburb sound very interesting. I hope you'll do a video on them! Would love to see what's down there.

[@alansivkoff282]

My father completed his apprenticeship at evans Anderson during the 1920’s and worked at evans deakin post war. he mentioned that the completed train engines would be driven down Main st to Woolloongabba on temporary rail lines.

[@wendybrealey8368]

As fascinating as always. Last year we stayed at The Point and had an excellent dinner at their Lambert’s Restaurant to celebrate a milestone wedding anniversary. Over the two days we thoroughly explored a lot of the area you did but it was great to see the historical flashbacks to add context to what I’d read or was looking at. I’ll have to go back to check out the amusing artwork inside the Pineapple Hotel though. Thanks for your time and effort in crafting these productions for us to enjoy.

[@keithbond9174]

Rob I do enjoy your Wlakabouts in Brisbane. I have a similar love of the historic nature of Brisbane. Keep up the great videos. As a small child my family and I had our first night in Australia at the Yungabar migrant hostel following the long voyage from Southampton.

[@BARNESSHANE713]

That church is beautiful

[@atomicvinylreviews3420]

A cool bit of historical info I learnt from the guide when I did the Story Bridge climb tour a few years ago is that originally when constructing the Story Bridge they intended to have the bridge in line perfectly with Main Street, however people didn't want them to destroy what is now the Story Bridge hotel, being the only/main pub in the aria at the time... so they had to angle the road leading up to the bridge around that building and that's why the Story Bridge sits slightly to the east of where a direct extension of Main St would have been.

[@elizabethroberts6215]

……thank you for that fascinating bit of history………

[@damonroberts7372]

@12:00 - I remember witnessing the fire that engulfed Naval Store No. 1 in 1987. I was on the other side of the river at the City Botanic Gardens, having lunch with my family. I stand to be corrected, but as I recall, we were at the Gardens for Warana Festival activities (I would've been about nine years old). Store No. 1 suddenly erupted before our eyes, it all happened very quickly. There was a wedding on at St Mary's, and the smoke got their attention... the officiating priest came out in regalia to see what it was all about! Unforgettable.

[@michaelflanagan8265]

I remember the ship Robert Millar very well. I was a teenager in 1974, when the Brisbane flood occurred. I lived At Hawthorne and Hardcastle Park was a regular fishing spot for me. When the Robert Millar broke loose and was threatening to turn broadside and dam the river at the bend in the river just down river from New Farm Park. I sat and watched the tugboat “ The Couperthawte” go up steam to turn the Robert Millar towards the current so it didn’t have to be sunk and prevented the flood from getting muck worst.

[@geoffdean3532]

I remember that, very dramatic.

[@lesley2493]

Again Thanks Rob for the scenic walk and loads of information. You are an amazing guide, full of knowledge. Thank you

[@bronze2956]

I love your videos. But they make me homesick. Wonderful work. Yours are the only ones I watch full screen.👍👍

[@localgypsy4078]

I'm surprised I haven't passed your on your walks yet. I love Brisbane history and a nice walk too. Though usually on my electric skateboard covering a lot more distance lately. 🤙

[@SteveMack]

@WalkaboutWithRob I enjoyed this - I visit the area every few weeks, as USUAL; you informed us of history we didn't know! Cheers, Steve

[@sandramackin9817]

How pretty is Kangaroo point and some great old photos especially of the quarry. Who would have thought there was an actual quarry there. Great scenery and history. The weather looked great as everything looks so clear and bright. Glad they put the verandah's back on the pub. Great insight into this lovely area. Thank you.

[@walkaboutwithrob]

@Sandra Mackin yes it was a beautiful day! Very lucky indeed. I parked the car and walked everywhere. Now on the lookout for a new place to visit.

[@julieschipplock9439]

Another awesome walkabout, and so interesting!

[@desireevogelsang1885]

Wow you definitely know your history in even the smallest details! And then you remember it to tell us all. Thanks for being super interesting. Brissy needs you! Actually lived in the Yungaba Migrant Centre in 1982 when my parents and brothers moved here from The Netherlands...it was horrible!

[@walkaboutwithrob]

Thanks for the cool feedback. Most of the details get lodged in my mind because I do so much research, but I still rely on my notes which I carry in pocket in case I forget some specific detail .

[@glengreen362]

Just a couple of interesting points, bordering on urban legends. I was once told that the Bradfield Highway ran from the end of Main St. to the beginning of the actual bridge structure, making it the shortest highway in Australia, if not the world. Like all urban legends, whether it stops where the bridge starts, or whether it runs across the river to where it leaves the bridge, it's still got to be one of the shortest highways in the world. Interestingly, where the highway begins was where the original toll collection booths were for the payments of toll. Another urban legend: - When Australia entered the war, a large stock of Australian built .303 SMLE's were sent to Great Britain to help replace those lost on Dunkirk. That left Australia short when Japan entered the war, so a great number of civilian owned rifles were impressed into service. However, as Australian production stepped up, the impressed rifles were no longer needed, so as a convenient way of disposing of them was undertaken to dump them into the wet concrete for the Story Bridge to reinforce the concrete. Whether that is true or just urban legend is hard to say

[@snowtom3]

So interesting and cool, makes 3D into 4D, and what an amazing place to bring alive. Thanks so much.

[@Intel-6969K]

I lived on Baildon St KP for 7 years. Never knew this history. Thankyou for the Video.

[@FronbondiSkegs]

Wow - I had no idea how nice it is there - It's time for a walk down to Kangaroo Point this weekend I think

[@Shiz1973]

I love it. Thanks Rob. “Whatever that means” Classic!

[@leeny1871]

Great video Rob. I really enjoyed this one! 🙌😁

[@melodydiffractionem6123]

Awesome video as always Rob ☺️ Am increasingly becoming addicted to your videos. Thank you for all the effort and work you put into to this stuff ❤

[@petereedy6092]

Another great tour, thanks Rob! To add to Kangaroo Point story, the playing field immediately behind the Pineapple Hotel was the site of Brisbane's first soccer football fixtures in 1884 (at 17:21 in the video)

[@uzetaab]

I enjoyed the video, thanks. Just commenting to boost the algorithm.

[@fandangofandango2022]

Dear SIR, I Enjoyed that and a Nice bit of History. Thank You.

[@catherinerull3739]

As a Brisbane author, it's so lovely to see a thorough exploration that really showcases our city, and so great to learn so much history at the same time!

[@walkaboutwithrob]

@catherinerull3739 thanks! I love doing research and sharing what I learn with everyone. I hope you'll take a look at some of my other videos. Really appreciate your kind comment.

[@cablestick]

Love your work Rob!

[@jackofalltrades9492]

Ive just stumbled across this and found it interesting I'll have a look at your others also. But just figured id say that i spent a good bit of time helping on the demolition and excavation of the old dockside. We found dome amazing finds there even a human skeleton but i dont recall who came for it or where it went. Great job on this one. Cheers

[@robthejones]

Feeling very melancholic watching my old suburb. Thanks

[@lachlansmart2373]

I'm keen for your inevitable episode on Mt Gravatt. Please?

[@jelbuilderfilms]

Man you packed a lot of info into this video, Rob. Great job again!

[@walkaboutwithrob]

@Jel Builder thanks! For a relatively small area it contains a lot of history, so I tried to touch upon as much of it as possible.

[@sidmar200]

Very informative , Many Thanks.

[@raindog428]

Wow this is very interesting would love to know exactly where that volcano was .Thanx Rob!!

[@elizabethroberts6215]

……more than likely from the inner north coast ie Glasshouse Mtns, There’s many extinct volcanoes’ in that area………

[@battlefieldsbjj]

"but that's another Storey" had me laugh out loud against all my better judgement

[@elizabethroberts6215]

……two different spellings’, too………

[@debbytrigenis9905]

Thankyou so much, I love watching your videos and learning about our history.

[@kigna1234]

Great video Rob, I forgot that tafe building was there till you pointed it out. My sister did her hairdressing training there and subjected me to multiple bad haircuts and bleach jobs in pursuit of her degree there lol. Good times

[@peterlostroh8709]

Nice point about the technical collage. Before that the Kangaroo Point State School stood. I was one of the last students to attend. Memory's of the blasting in the quarry.

[@Bdogbdog365]

And before that the first Church of England school, adjacent to (but before) St Mary’s in 1861. Girls only before becoming a state school in 1867.

[@ZaneTaylorMusic]

"But that's another story." Cheeky

[@fortunateson7852]

The old printing (lithographic) college was located at Kangaroo Point before moving to Morningside which has now closed.

[@Chong36]

Thanks for the history lessons of Brisbane.

[@mzgrey]

I love these videos and learning more about the town. Keep up the good work!

[@56music64]

Have lived here all my life, have found your walking tours very educational, interesting and enjoy your sense of humour. Newstead and Newstead Park may be an interesting location for you and your viewers, lots of early Brisbane history and war history there

[@Diggles67]

The ‘one of those’ at 19:22 is an espalier.

[@kevcrowther4435]

Thank you Rob. That was fascinating to see . Makes me want to go out exploring the neighbourhood.

[@walkaboutwithrob]

@kevcrowther4435 Do it! Who knows what little tidbits and clues you'll find.

[@kerriebarron]

My fave video Rob. I remember this must have been the first of yours I came across because I remember the two lock up doors of the little prison. I have a tape I am yet to watch of me doing a reading at St Mary's for my brother's wedding but it's the big old format so not sure it'll ever come to light. I always have to laugh when you make references to being religious , or rather if you were religious. So funny as usual. Great video and great old photos included. Huge thumbs up.

[@walkaboutwithrob]

@kerriebarron thanks Kerrie! I haven't watched this one in ages. It's ironic that I am fascinated by churches, despite being an atheist. The old tape you have, is it VHS?

[@kerriebarron]

It would be VHS. I'm nuts about churches as well but probably more so cemetaries and old infrastructure too. I loved the old boat slip there in the park. And how good is the wall sculpture of the old fish made from found objects?!! I am usually an athiest except when a parent dies and I relapse to get through it. @@walkaboutwithrob

[@Sem5626]

awesome video, i have been doing walks through KP a fair bit lately so great timing

[@chilli-wipe]

i would explore lamb house all the time growing up and there was a metre of filth and rubbish on each level, left over homeless belongings and beds and lots of damage all over the place. beautiful it would have been on the inside, i even looked through one of the cookbooks left untouched on a shelf and there was a spaghetti recipe.

[@jamescolindaley]

wow , that was fun and thanks for showing me one of my old water holes or drinking spots ..

[@darynandersonproductions]

Great documentary again mate.

[@nickstevens3139]

Great video. I stayed at Yungaba for six weeks in 1969. It was next door to the Evans and Deakin shipyard. At the time timber and tin housing was predominant. I started rock climbing at the old quarry in the 1970s. It had none of the amenities including floodlighting available now.

[@NoNameneeded1984]

One of your best!

[@walkaboutwithrob]

@Carl Gustav1875 thanks indeed! Had a great time making this one.

[@NoNameneeded1984]

@@walkaboutwithrob Excellent research and editing

[@Pyjamarama11]

I too recently experienced a pyroclastic flow due to a violent eruption

[@southboundaustral]

You had dinner at the Story Bridge hotel?

[@Pyjamarama11]

@southboundaustral 😂😂😂

[@paulfri1569]

The beer from up here 🍻

[@HemiMogg]

one of your best yet love your stuff

[@cshorrock69]

I loved this video, having grown up in Brisbane. I started my Australian life in 1972 at the Yungaba Hostel you showed. I have a vague memory of it being red brick, not white plaster, but memories are unreliable. Happy university memories from both The Story Bridge Hotel and the Pineapple Hotel.

[@nikkneipp3534]

Hi Rob ,i enjoy your videos very much.i wonder if you would be interested in some of the history of the gabba ,east brisbane and cannon hill ?

[@walkaboutwithrob]

The Gabba area is on my to-do-list

[@mradford10]

Another excellent video Rob. The Mayne Inheritance comes to mind thinking of Kangaroo point, but of course there’s so much more history to consider. Thanks for the tour!

[@Mark-gy9xx]

Great job as always. 👍

[@aoifa9186]

love this video! amazing content :)

[@Elvis20101]

Thank you, this local history is great.

[@NathanMorris22]

another great video thanks Rob! cant wait for the next one!

[@martingoodef811]

Thank you Rob

[@sarcasmo57]

Great video man. Really interesting.

[@kerriedavis5131]

Very informative and well presented 😊

[@jeremybridges5220]

Captain Whickam was on his way back home to Scotland and had stopped in the south of France when he kicked the bucket. That’s the account that we have got through Newstead House.

[@glengrant3884]

EXCELLENT VIDEO ROB!💥👍💪

[@walkaboutwithrob]

Thanks 👍

[@hakket_nz3442]

awesome Rob

[@aussie5183]

Found that very interesting thank you

[@ngairemartin9753]

Love your walking yarns. Thanks heaps. Very interesting to visit. Cheers to Dr Lillie! Thanks from 4340.

[@life_in_gen]

Wow thank you for this show around. I have subscribed :)

[@life_in_gen]

Stumbled upon your vids cause I been looking around places that are good backdrop for photography :) Around the Brisbane area.

[@NikElectric24]

Love your vids, Rob. Very interesting facts and history about old Brissie with a bit of humour added in!

[@classicandclunker]

Great look around the Point! I'm sure that on top of one of the high-rises around Dockside is the timber Queenslander house, owned by the fellow who refused to move when the buildings went up in the 80s

[@maggiesheehan3532]

Thank you Rob for your videos. Looking forward to your next one. No pressure 😊

[@barter56]

Love these videos

[@paulfri1569]

Brisbane Tuff 💪

[@terrywilliamson3356]

It’s a shame you missed the old historical Shafton House in Thorn st. It was used as a hospital during World War Two, later the RAAF had it, I spent 4 years in the Airforce 1978-1982, a beautiful house on average rolling down to the river.

[@davidhoward4715]

What an informative video! I will be in Kangaroo Point today having a few beers at the Pineapple Hotel. I will think of that volcano.

[@craighepburn9332]

Hi, I've just started watching your videos of Brisbane and it's got me wonting to go back and look around some more again. I was last there when the world expo was on. I just need to find a low cost hotel to stay at. cheers from NZ

[@walkaboutwithrob]

I'm sure there's a number of budget motels scattered about you could book into.

[@darrenxw3495]

Already liked and subscribed, really enjoying the content

[@neptunze71]

Great watching your videos. I thought you might have touched on the Patrick mayne story,it’s a very interesting tale. Keep up the videos👍🏼

[@walkaboutwithrob]

If I ever do cover Patrick Mayne, it will be in a dedicated documentary

[@Bobby11]

Wow. That ship yard.. when i was younger my mates and me would explore that dock before they redeveloped it. I remember it had the biggest eels in it 🤣

[@chrisflesser2171]

I used to live in Lambert Street, in the 1980s, before the wholesale destruction of beautiful old Queenslanders began 😥 It was hard to watch some of these grand old homes being destroyed.

[@ThePowerbloke]

Wow! I was a member of the Queensland Star Trek Fan Club in the 1990s too and I remember going to Yungaba House I think we met one Sunday a month, can't remember exactly which one though. Who knows, we may have crossed paths. I was there at the time when they moved their meeting place from Yungaba House over to a lecture hall at QUT.

[@petrichor75]

I'm really we enjoying watching your videos. Um.... I don't suppose you could do a video on the locations mentioned in Trent Dalton's Lola in the Mirror?

[@walkaboutwithrob]

Hi. Can't say I've ever read it...

[@GdayitsPete]

I enjoyed this one Rob, I may be wrong but it feels like you’ve changed something in your process. Keep up the good work.

[@walkaboutwithrob]

Thanks Pete. I haven’t knowingly changed my approach as far as I know; it’s probably more a case of refining what I’ve been doing and trying to make it a bit smoother and a bit better. At least I hope!

[@GdayitsPete]

@@walkaboutwithrob, I think it was more the “mechanics’ of the episode. It seemed a lot smoother, again, great job.

[@walkaboutwithrob]

@@GdayitsPete for awhile now I’ve been scripting all of my documentaries. I plan out in fairly strict detail what I’ll say and where. That way I can shoot a lot more and make it seem a lot more integrated. At least that’s been the plan for awhile now. Maybe that’s what you’ve picked up on.

[@v6hilux]

@@walkaboutwithrob There is not enough Dry Humor and Sarcasm - please add more.

[@atomicvinylreviews3420]

Wait, at 17:40 that's actually an air raid shelter ? I see them all over Brisbane, I was told that they were old tram stops

[@walkaboutwithrob]

@atomicvinylreviews3420 You are correct, as some of the former air raid shelters were later repurposed as tram stops.

[@atomicvinylreviews3420]

​@@walkaboutwithrob ah that's so cool! thanks for the info. I see them all the time and point them out to people as tram stops, so I was worried for a sec there that I was spreading misinformation! So good to know that some were both. I just discovered your channel and am really enjoying learning new things about the city I've lived in all my life ! have you done or do you plan on doing any videos about arias like Morningside (where I grew up) and/or Yeronga (where I'm living in currently) ?

[@elizabethroberts6215]

@@atomicvinylreviews3420……there used to be a couple in the park opposite Valley Pool. Think there’s still one at Dutton Park Tram Terminus, now Bus Terminus, near the Dutton Park Rly Stn………there were actual shelters outside South Brisbane Rly Stn, but were knocked down for Expo88…………