The following Letter to the Editor describes a trip from Brisbane through Pumicestone Passage to Caloundra, during Easter 1886, by thirty "friends and acquaintances" aboard the steamer Mavis.
1886 Easter Trip through Bribie Passage
on the Mavis
Our Easter Trip.
To the Editor. – Sir, - Do you know
where and what Caloundra is? I had a vague idea as to its whereabouts from
seeing the place on the map, but I must confess that, having largely discounted
the various reports I had previously heard of the place, I had no idea as to
what it was like till this last Easter, when an opportunity presented itself
and was promptly seized for visiting the place.
The steamer Mavis was secured by
Mr. Isaac Markwell, and in possession of a neatly got-up ticket and the
necessary blanket, toothbrush, &c., I joined the boat at Messrs. Campbell’s
wharf a few minutes before 6 p.m. on Thursday, the 22nd instant, and
found myself one of a party of about 30, mostly friends and acquaintances, all
bound on the same errand.
Starting soon
after, the run down the river commenced, and in due course we crossed the bay
and took the passage between Bribie and the mainland. This passage should be gone through to be
able to realise what it is. We did not
get through that night, as in the small hours of the morning, when negotiating
a particularly intricate spot called familiarly “the double u’s”, in the
darkness our genial skipper took the wrong side of a beacon, and, with a
falling tide, it was soon evident that we were securely beached for at least 24
hours. About 5 a.m. a boat party left
for Caloundra on relief bent, and returned shortly before dinner-time with the
intelligence that two boats were on the way to our rescue. One of
the boats which arrived soon after was a splendid cutter, owned and sailed by
the old identity and fisherman, Sam Leach.
He did good service, as he took away a considerable portion of our
skipper’s cargo, as well as about a dozen of our passengers with their
dunnage. Other two boats took a smaller
share of both.
Life on the Mavis on Good Friday was
enjoyable, although she was hard aground.
Much bathing and fishing were indulged in, and were provocative of
amusement, especially to the onlookers.
One gentleman, in particular, after bathing, started down the channel
minus his small clothes, on fishing bent, and his sudden and unexpected
flounderings, when he struck a soft patch, were hugely enjoyed by the onlookers;
and his frantic efforts to extricate himself were no doubt greatly assisted by
the enthusiastic cheers from the boat.
 |
Excursion to Caloundra
Map from 1983 excursion by R.G.S.A. to
commemorate the first trip of the Mavis.
Source: James Schroeder Campbell collection |
We got off the ground early next
morning, and arrived at the Caloundra jetty about 6 a.m. Breakfast over, nearly all who remained by
the boat paid a visit to the observatory on Mr. Bulcock’s selection, whence a
splendid view of the Pacific was obtained; to the telegraph office, to send
messages of safe arrival to friends in Brisbane; and then on to the heads, for
the views, to bathe in the rollers, and to partake of an al fresco luncheon on Mr. Moffatt’s veranda. The land owned by Mr. Moffatt, originally a
mineral selection of 320 acres, constitutes in the minds of most persons the
pick of Caloundra, and its fortunate owner is to be congratulated on the
foresight displayed by him in securing such a beautiful sight. The Caloundra Heads are comprised in it, and
the views from the different elevated portions are unsurpassed in coast scenery
in Queensland.
The cliffs on the seaside
are a study for the geologist and the lover of nature, as also are the rocks at
the foot, in places as level as a pavement and strewed with boulders and logs
of petrified wood. Not affecting a
knowledge of geology, I am not able to give any description of the formation,
or the nature of the rocks, but I could and did enjoy to the full the wonderful
appearances presented by them in the face of the cliff and on the beach.
Plenty of beché de mer, sea anemones, shells,
&c., were easily obtainable, but the fish were shy, owing doubtless to the
high wind which prevailed, not only on the Saturday, but also on Easter Day,
and many were greatly disappointed thereat, enough and in variety of fish were,
however, caught to show the capabilities of the place, and the spectacle of a
large rock cod, computed to weigh at least 2 cwt. lying on the beach near Mr.
North’s selection (where caught) in close proximity to a decent sized shark
(also caught at the same time and place), proved conclusively to the
incredulous (and I confess I was one) that the recent descriptions of the large
cod caught were not a fable, and if at all, were only slightly exaggerated.
Monday, at 2.30 a.m., saw us on our way to
Brisbane, which, after an uneventful and rather tedious passage, was safely
reached at 2.15 p.m., in time for those, who had a fancy that way, to go and
see our gallant army storm and defend Brisbane.
I think I may safely add that all were well pleased with the trip, and
especially with having made the acquaintance of Caloundra and its inhabitants,
who all seemed pleased with us and made us welcome.
Yours, &c., ONE OF
THE PARTY.
REFERENCES
Letter to the Editor entitled Our Easter trip by 'One of the Party"
The Telegraph (Brisbane) Sat 1 May 1886 p. 2 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article174706179
Map from Information Leaflet for the Excursion to Campbellville - 26 January 1983. Royal Geographical Society of Australasia. 5 pages. The excursion commemorated the centenary of the first trip of the paddle-wheel steamer Mavis on 26 January 1883. Held in: James Schroeder Campbell (1913-1989) collection, BIHS.
FURTHER READING
Backward Glance - Coastal and River vessels of Yesteryear
https://www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/news/backward-glance-coastal-and-river-vessels-of-yesteryear-161219
The steamer Mavis was launched in 1883. The Week (Brisbane) Sat 6 Jan 1883 p. 8 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article183696488
