In 1824, John Oxley wrote that he saw a weir in the North Pine River. The local Turrbal people called it “Mandin”. It was a pocket coming off the river into which they would drive fish, which would then be easily caught.
This is “Mandin” as it appears today, just west of the railway bridge over the North Pine River.
I stopped there today, and it was easy to imagine young Aborigine kids from 200 years ago splashing about in the water, chasing fish into this pocket.
I could almost hear it.
Hell there , I attended Strathpine State School from 1947 until 1952 , one of my school mates was the son of the Distillery managers , His Mum was lovely and made us a snack after shcoll if I visited and we would look for mushrooms around the pond.
Yes the Molasses was deliveried in railway tankers from Strathpine shunting yards now gone.
The tankers were drawn by bullocks which were kept in the pound yard behind the old town hall.
When the “Ferguson” tractor came out the bullocks were retired but were soon reemployed as the modern tractor was not up to the task.
Later i became a trades man and the Company carried out maintenance shut downs around Xmas … the men always had their billy of tea on the job and when pipe work valves were being dismantled they were very carefull to spill some rum into the handy billies … Ahh the memories
If you look at the old Town hall .. notice the small door on the left? , that was the council office.. now look at our council buildings!
G’day Don
Thanks for the fascinating memories!
Neil