In a single timely tome, Rod Fisher packs a lot of what’s known about the history of the timbered house in Qld – the sum of research, writing and practice over 4 decades. While breaking new ground on its origin and development, the first 4 chapters concern several key themes: 1. the evolution of a Vernacular class of housing in the north of Australia: from aboriginal to modern day, comprising a series of styles and the means of identifying each one by era and attribute 2. the historical context to traditional housing: using census data and contemporary testimony to amplify its configuration which reflects cyclical condition, personal choice and social acceptance 3. the human dimension to the main varieties of habitat and its environment: specifically the pros and cons of observers and occupants of the day followed by resolution of their discrepancies 4 whether Brisbane was in any way different from the rest of the state: examining which varieties made the greatest imprint, from elite and multiple types to the predominant gabled, hipped, pyramidal and later multi-gabled dwellings of the Vernacular tradition The next couple of chapters are casestudies illustrating those aspects, particularly the evolution of traditional housing and the impact of historical change. Though set in Brisbane they reflect larger issues: 5. the early inner suburb of Petrie Terrace: which exhibits not only changes in timbered housing over time, but also the effect of road improvement, shopping centre diversion, stadium development, building renovation and gentrification more generally 6. a timbered dwelling of nearby Bowen Hills: which, being modified several times in its lifetime and finally removed elsewhere, demonstrates change, as well as the influence of the locale and the impact of transportation improvements on housing and community At the same time, this volume serves as a guide and reference, partly by information, advice and example, but more specifically by means of the handy classification of Vernacular styles in the 1st chapter, and ultimately by instructions for researching any house in Qld: 7. a step-by-step guide to historical investigation and exposition: using a dwelling in Annerley/Tarragindi as the example That practical purpose is reinforced in the final 3 chapters by a Supplement of related material, Glossary of requisite terms and Bibliography of relevant sources on both the history and heritage of timbered housing – plus plentiful illustrations of course. As there hasn’t been a work on this intriguing subject for a long time – nor anything ever like this one – it will serve general readers, professionals, researchers, writers and academics on the one hand, and owners, occupants, renovators, restorers and vendors on the other, whether in Brisbane, Qld or elsewhere in Australia. To all and sundry, its core message is conveyed by one of Joni Mitchell’s bygone ballads: Don’t it always seem to go That you don’t know what you’ve got ‘Till it’s gone They paved paradise And put up a parking lot

Anecdotes about and biographies of Queenslanders ; includes "A Black and White Love Story" (pp.14-21) about repeated official refusals in 1938-9 to allow a young Aboriginal woman to marry a European man by whom she had a child ; "Fred Bamboo" (pp.107-128), the story of an Aboriginal medicine-man ; and "The Protector" (pp.171-178) detailing the alleged rape of three generations of Aboriginal women by a Protector of Aboriginals in 1955.

The Great Barrier Reef is a special place, teeming with life. It provides animals with food and shelter. Count from one to ten in this gentle, rhyming bedtime book, while learning about some of the Reef's most threatened creatures.

A joyful, funny and heartfelt tale of bedtime noise and adventure. But finding quiet is very hard, with football playing possums, singing bats and dancing cicadas. Will the family ever keep the noise down?

"One hundred years ago... a house was being built in the new Brisbane suburb of Red Hill. The building of the Queensland House follows the day by day construction of this cottage. It describes the detailed carpentry techniques of the time in text and pictures and contains copious advice for owners, restorers and young tradesmen."--Back cover.

Matilda dreams of seeing new places and things, away from her ordinary life on the farm. But she never expected to see them by being washed away in a flood! Will she ever see the other cows again? Based on a true story of a cow's journey down the Brisbane River, this is a book about finding courage and being brave.

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