My Culture; My Story - Hail Scots in the Fraser Coast

Photograph of the Mary Ann. The first locomotive engine built in Queensland, 1873.Source QSA Blogs 
It was built by John Walker and Co. The first test run was 30 June 1873. The engine hauled trucks of logs on a timber railway from Tin Can Bay to Cooloola Careek. (Information supplied with photograph and taken from: Queensland heritage, v. 2, no. 3, Nov. 1970.)

The Queensland State Archive Blog written by Judith Nissen tells us of the story of  William Pettigrew.
Pettigrew was a Scotsman. He was trained as a surveyor and appointed on a failed settlement scheme.He developed many strings to his bow during his time in Queensland. The one that brought him to the Wide Bay was timber cutting.
Nissen (2016) tells us 
Timber cutting required licensing and, over the decades, Pettigrew & Co held numerous timber licenses. One major area of activity was Wide Bay. The Maryborough Bench of Magistrates recorded timber licences from 1866 onwards for the cutting of cedar and pine at £2 per licence, as well as hardwood (£1 per licence).(Qld State Library Blog 21 March, 2016 By Queensland State Archives).

Pettigrew had the first steam sawmill, built in 1853 on the banks of the Brisbane River. The Mary Ann,made in Maryborough by Walkers Ltd, was the first Queensland-built steam locomotive. The archives have a letter sent  on 5 August 1873, to Governor Normanby. The letter described the Mary Ann's purpose and detailed progress in building the rail track for transporting timber from Thannae to Tin Can Bay.

The Mary Ann carting timber for Pettigrew and Sons at Cooloola, 1873.

This photograph is part of the Maryborough Wide Bay & Burnett Historical Society Inc Collection and can be found in Fraser Coast Libraries Image Collection

The Mary Ann carting timber for Pettigrew and Sons at Cooloola, 1873.

Copies of the book Welcome Back Mary Ann  by Nancy Bates, a tribute to the locomotive can be found in the Fraser Coast Libraries Collection. They are also available for sale at $20 a copy from the Bonds Store Museum and the Walker Street News. The locomotive is owned by Council but is maintained and run by a special group of dedicated volunteers who are members of the Maryborough City Whistle Stop Inc. 

Do you have Scottish ancestry? Tell us your story.

Did you know Queensland State Archives (QSA) has many treasures and resources for both government and public clients. They host regular events and have displays of some of their collections. Visit their  Flickr page or the QSA blog for a glimpse into their collections.

References:
Nissen, J, (2016) retrieved on 21st May,2018 from 
https://blogs.archives.qld.gov.au/2016/03/21/hail-strangers-hail-scots-in-queensland/

Tags #statearchives #MaryAnn #steam #locomotive #Maryborough