Purga History 150 years since European Settlement 1855-2005

Purga settlement

Early Pioneers

Margaret & Martin Ryan, from Ballinlough, Tipperary, Ireland

Ryan Property at Purga

1855-1880 The first generation of Europeans to settle at Purga built homes and established farming communities, a school, and collaborated in the development of local area representation to government. Mid 1850’s Rev Dr William Lambie Nelson (from Scotland) purchased land (first Presbyterian Minister) 1855 Frederick & Catherine Bauer arrived in Sydney from Hamburg, Germany. They later settled at Purga. 1862 James Dick & family settled at Purga from Scotland 1863 Martin & Margaret Ryan left Ireland-Purga settlers 1871 Purga State School opens 1879 Purga Divisional Board commenced

The first generation of Europeans to settle at Purga built homes and established farming communities, a school, and collaborated in the development of local area representation to government.

Mid 1850’s Rev Dr William Lambie Nelson (from Scotland) purchased land (first Presbyterian Minister)

1855 Frederick & Catherine Bauer arrived in Sydney from Hamburg, Germany. They later settled at Purga.

1862 James Dick & family settled at Purga from Scotland

1863 Martin & Margaret Ryan left Ireland-Purga settlers

1871 Purga State School opens

1879 Purga Divisional Board commenced

Purga School

Farming pioneers – Dick family

Dick Family Diaries of Purga

1880-1905 In this boom time, there was further local community development and forging of public transport links with other regions. 21/7/1882 Opening of Fassifern Rail Line – for steam trains. The rail line assisted with postal delivery. 15/2/1877 Purga Creek Hotel – Warwick Rd (thought to be on Cnr of Boonah Rd & Ellison Rd), license to Robert Ryan. 1/1/1901 Australia became a Federation under a new Constitution. 31/3/1903 Purga Shire replaced by Purga Divisional Board.

In this boom time, there was further local community development and forging of public transport links with other regions.

21/7/1882 Opening of Fassifern Rail Line – for steam trains. The rail line assisted with postal delivery.

15/2/1877 Purga Creek Hotel – Warwick Rd (thought to be on Cnr of Boonah Rd & Ellison Rd), license to Robert Ryan.

1/1/1901 Australia became a Federation under a new Constitution.

31/3/1903 Purga Shire replaced by Purga Divisional Board.

Family picnic at Purga

Purga State School c. 1892

1905-1930 People of Purga were influenced by WWI. Members of the community collected donations to build their own church that was shared by various denominations. 1914-1915 Opening of Purga Aboriginal Reserve – administered by government. Transfer from Deebing Ck. 1914-1918 World War I 13/10/1916 Ipswich Shire was formed and replaced the former Purga Shire. 28/7/1917 Moreton Shire (name change from Ipswich Shire). 1921 Salvation Army ran the Purga Aboriginal Mission. They had the only telephone and assisted postal delivery 1922 Purga United Church was built through fund raising by locals. Sunday School was run by volunteers.

People of Purga were influenced by WWI. Members of the community collected donations to build their own church that was shared by various denominations.

1914-1915 Opening of Purga Aboriginal Reserve – administered by government. Transfer from Deebing Ck. 1914-1918 World War I

13/10/1916 Ipswich Shire was formed and replaced the former Purga Shire.

28/7/1917 Moreton Shire (name change from Ipswich Shire).

1921 Salvation Army ran the Purga Aboriginal Mission. They had the only telephone and assisted postal delivery

1922 Purga United Church was built through fund raising by locals. Sunday School was run by volunteers.

Fassifern Railway - Purga

Cricket team – Purga School

Purga Rugby League Team

Dick Homestead – Purga dances

Purga Church Sunday School

1930-1955 World War II and government policy, concerning Indigenous people, had impacts on Purga society. 1937-1939 Government policy of assimilation and exemption certificates for Indigenous people came into force. 1939-1945 World War II. 1940 RAAF Amberley Air Base commenced Goolman air strip in operation 1940 Prisoner of War camp at Yamanto 1944 Harold Blair auditioned & accepted into Melba Conservatorium of Music, Melbourne. 1945 Purga Country Women’s Association 1948 Purga Aboriginal Mission closed.

World War II and government policy, concerning Indigenous people, had impacts on Purga society.

1937-1939 Government policy of assimilation and exemption certificates for Indigenous people came into force.

1939-1945 World War II.

1940 RAAF Amberley Air Base commenced

Goolman air strip in operation

1940 Prisoner of War camp at Yamanto

1944 Harold Blair auditioned & accepted into Melba Conservatorium of Music, Melbourne.

1945 Purga Country Women’s Association

1948 Purga Aboriginal Mission closed.

War service – Augie Band

Goolman airstrip

Purga School Calf Club

Purga School Committee

1955-1980 There was a downturn in development at Purga. Vital public transport and State School services were closed. Electricity brought some comforts and TV opened up more direct media links to the world. 1960’s Electricity came to Purga 1964 Fassifern Rail Line closed. 1967 Purga State School closed & passed to over to CWA. Continued as centre for community gatherings. 1969 TV broadcast of first man walk on Moon. c.1970s Purga Friends Association was formed.

There was a downturn in development at Purga. Vital public transport and State School services were closed. Electricity brought some comforts and TV opened up more direct media links to the world.

1960’s Electricity came to Purga

1964 Fassifern Rail Line closed.

1967 Purga State School closed & passed to over to CWA. Continued as centre for community gatherings.

1969 TV broadcast of first man walk on Moon.

c.1970s Purga Friends Association was formed.

1962 Purga State School

1980-2005 There were major civic developments at Purga for Indigenous and other Australians. In celebration of Australia’s Federation, a community cultural hall was built adjacent to the school, church, and Purga Aboriginal Elders and Descendants site. 1984-91 Hoffensetz Ironbark Ridge Winery commenced. 23/4/1988 Aboriginal flag was raised at Purga and the site of the old reserve was returned to the Indigenous people. 1995 Ipswich City Council (Amalgamation of Ipswich City Council & Moreton Shire) 1995 Relocation of Purga Church to school site by locals. 2001 Opening of Purga Community Cultural Centre beside school – Aust. Federation grant to Purga Friends Association, Inc.

There were major civic developments at Purga for Indigenous and other Australians. In celebration of Australia’s Federation, a community cultural hall was built adjacent to the school, church, and Purga Aboriginal Elders and Descendants site.

1984-91 Hoffensetz Ironbark Ridge Winery commenced.

23/4/1988 Aboriginal flag was raised at Purga and the site of the old reserve was returned to the Indigenous people.

1995 Ipswich City Council (Amalgamation of Ipswich City Council & Moreton Shire)

1995 Relocation of Purga Church to school site by locals.

2001 Opening of Purga Community Cultural Centre beside school – Aust. Federation grant to Purga Friends Association, Inc.

Purga Friends Association, Inc.

Purga Aboriginal Elders

Greens Rd Farm – Gary Mullins

Purga Creek Biker’s rally 1990’s

Fire ant eradication

2005-2030 There are contrasting ideas about the future for Purga: Purga is zoned as a rural area and allotments can not be subdivided, so it retains its rural nature and heritage. Purga is targeted as a possible location for development in the State Government 2005 South-East Queensland Regional Development Plan. What will be the impact of the proposed multi-modal inland port development; direct rail and road networks? Will the local people be able to continue as primary producers and enjoy the rural lifestyle, in the face of major industrial development on their doorstep? We look forward to actively promoting Purga’s future:

There are contrasting ideas about the future for Purga:

Purga is zoned as a rural area and allotments can not be subdivided, so it retains its rural nature and heritage.

Purga is targeted as a possible location for development in the State Government 2005 South-East Queensland Regional Development Plan.

What will be the impact of the proposed multi-modal inland port development; direct rail and road networks?

Will the local people be able to continue as primary producers and enjoy the rural lifestyle, in the face of major industrial development on their doorstep?

We look forward to actively promoting Purga’s future:

Future: Community music development

Ballroom dancing Chandese Watts from Purga

Musicians & Poets

Purga Aboriginal Elders & Descendants

Purga Music Museum & Harold Blair

Preserving our heritage

Award winning Andalusian stud horses

Preserving environment & water

Ironbark Ridge Winery

Sport & Athetics – Mark Sills

Movie location – Rural vistas

Community Consultation - Future Purga residents wish to be involved in planning and promoting future developments at Purga through: Workshops to learn about Purga industries and issues that affect the community. Community meetings, social gatherings, and focus groups to exchange ideas Consultation and joint planning around future developments.

Purga residents wish to be involved in planning and promoting future developments at Purga through:

Workshops to learn about Purga industries and issues that affect the community.

Community meetings, social gatherings, and focus groups to exchange ideas

Consultation and joint planning around future developments.