The following article from 1894 describes a camping trip to Bribie Island by fifty-five members of Alfred Shaw and Co who cast off the "close atmosphere of Queen street" and reveled in the sandy seashore and beauty of Bribie Island.
1894 Easter Trip to Bribie
on the Tarshaw
Easter
Picnic. Alfred Shaw and Co.
Exactly
four years ago, shortly after the famous 1890 flood, the above firm generously
gave their employees a four days' picnic at Amity Point in recognition of their
services in coping with that terrible disaster. This year as Easter was
approaching another four days' picnic was arranged amongst the employees and
employers, this time in recognition of the mutual good feeling existing. At 8
p.m. on Thursday, the time arranged for starting, saw the Tarshaw lying at her
old accustomed place, lighted from stem to stern, as gaily as if she herself
had life and seemed to join in the greetings of those who came tripping aboard
all dressed in that costume that all who go to the island shores know so well.
Fifty-five all aboard fiddling, singing, and a hum of voices like that of many
hives, and the snug little steamer cast off her lines for Bribie.
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| To give you an idea of what the Tarshaw looked like, here is the ship Tarshaw anchored at Pettigrew's wharf, Maroochydore, 1882. Source: State Library of Queensland, negative 4357 |
The
trip down the river was enlivened with music and singing. The run across
the bay was appreciated after the close atmosphere of Queen street, and Bribie
was reached in the early morning. If stars and bars denote a country, we had a
big American company, as bars of burnt cork on the faces of those who slept was
the order of the night. Morning dawned, the sailing boats were cast off, the
boats lowered, and the company disembarked in double quick time.
Tents
were rigged and the village formed on a nice sandy shore. The
"Elephant," the caterer's large tent, took the lead in size; but the
"A1" tent was most envied. The experience gained by the previous trip
taught the party that grouping together in lots to suit tents was the most
satisfactory; and of course every group must have its name. The
"Toomdoongihanigan" stenciled on the side of one is still puzzling
some, and even now some are trying to say it in their sleep. The "Can't be
beat," the "Elephant," and the "Up to date" would well
become Lytton, the latter most of all. Experience also taught us that a
caterer was necessary, and Garget, with his ever pleasant smile, did more than
justice can do to him. Fancy, snowy cloths and glass and silver on Bribie to
suit the most fastidious. It was a notable fact that nobody was late at meal
times.
After boating, fishing, bathing, and all conceivable enjoyments had been
indulged in for the day, and when the tent lamps were burning, an impromptu
concert was held on the beach, stimulated by the ship's band, the latter being
sprung upon us as a surprise. How those woods resounded to the strains of music
in the still bright moonlight; it was indeed a novel scene.
The music must have
appealed to the reptiles as well as the picknickers, for a large snake was
killed amongst the performers to the intense agony of a Toowoomba guest, who offered
to pay the bandsmen handsomely if they would keep on all night to draw the
snakes away from his chateau. A bush naturalist was also with the party, whose long walks into scrubs made him celebrated ; and this time he will be for ever
remembered as Moses in the bullrushes — lost by himself in a morass in the
middle of the island from Friday till Saturday morning. All night in a swamp
with mosquitoes and leeches
and no food was not the thing to get him away from his tent, when he saw it
again, just in time to prevent a search party starting.
Monday morning. How the
time went by. All fishers up at daylight to get the last chance to angle the
top fish, but they were all disappointed, as the long line of fishers on the
beach tried all they knew for a good catch. A splash was heard and a cry arose,
"Man overboard," from the steamer at anchor. There was rushing to and
fro, life lines and belts were thrown down, boats lowered, and as the man was
hauled up the ship's side a cheer arose that resounded for miles, and it was
generally admitted that he was the biggest catch of the day.
At 12 o'clock all
aboard, and off to town. The day was all that could have been desired. In
conclusion, if ever there were a ship's company that deserved a word of praise
for their never ceasing attention it was this one, from the captain
downwards; and when we have our next trip it will not be our fault if he is not
there.
REFERENCES
Article: Easter Picnic. The Week (Brisbane) March 30, 1894, p. 14
Available online through NLA's Trove at http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article181826876
Photo: The ship Tarshaw anchored at Pettigrew's wharf, Maroochydore, 1882.
State Library of Queensland negative 4357, viewable online at
http://onesearch.slq.qld.gov.au/permalink/f/1upgmng/slq_alma21220015530002061
