So you've heard of Government Gazettes ... but do you really know what they
are? In short the Government Gazettes were weekly news reports (although there
were extra issues produced from time to time), that contain fascinating
information, both historical and genealogical.
Information such as land transactions, legal notices, proclamations, bankrupt
notices, impoundments, private advertisements, patent applications,
partnerships, licences, contracts, government institutions and positions,
licence applications, bankruptcy, reward notices, unclaimed letters, statistics
and so much more. So if you've got an interest in Queensland during this period
- you're bound to find something of interest.
Government Gazettes are a much underused source, partly because of their
availability (you would usually only find them in select archives offices or
libraries), and partly because people don't know about them. Now that Archive CD
Books Australia has started releasing them on CD-ROM, everyone has access to
this amazing resource. This CD-ROM contains all issues that were released in
Queensland for the year 1873.
Example entry taken from the 26 April 1873 issue:
Department of Public Lands, Brisbane, 24th April 1873
His Excellency the Governor, with the advice of the Executive Council, has
been pleased to appoint the following gentlemen, viz:
J.B.P.H. Ramsay, P.M.
W.M.C. Hickson
W.G.K. Cusack
J.M. Macrossan
R.V. Smythe
Mark Brodziak and
G.L. Rutherford
to be Trustees of the Ravenswood General Cemetery, under the provisions of
"The Cemetery Act of 1865".
J. Malbon Thomspon
Example entry taken from the 3 May 1873 issue:
Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction
In the Will of Arthur Henry Garbutt, late of Langlands, near Brisbane, in
the Colony of Queensland, gentleman, deceased.
Notice is hearby given, that after the expiration of fourteen days from the date
of the publication hereof, application will be made to the said Honourable
Court, that Probate of the Will of the above-names Arthur Henry Garbutt,
deceased, may be granted to Jane Temple, of Langlands, aforesaid, the sole
Executrix named in the said Will.
Dated this first day of May, A.D. 1873
Macpherson and Lyons
Queen street, Brisbane
Proctors for the said Jane Temple
High quality scanned images of the whole years worth of issues. This CD has
been bookmarked for easy navigation, and pages can be searched, browsed,
enlarged and printed out if required.
