The Australian Women's Register

This collection consists of a bound photocopy of “Memories of Early Brisbane” by Margaret Ann Ogg as sketched and told to Ernest Briggs. There is an introduction written by Irene Longman, the first woman to be elected to Queensland Parliament. The reminiscences cover many aspects of life in Brisbane, including descriptions of Newstead House and other old homes, lolly-shops and toyshops of the seventies, women of early Brisbane, music in the streets and in the homes, the aborigines, the convicts, personalities of Brisbane, the wedding of Dame Nellie Melba, and folk songs of Queensland. Of note are the melodies of two aboriginal songs taken down by Miss Ogg’s sister from Tom Petrie’s singing of them, pp 58-62, and the derivation of the tune of ‘Waltzing Matilda’ from the Scottish song ‘Thou Bonnie Wood of Craigielea’, pp 308-311.