Early Brisbane’s Master Builder and Statesman First published in 2009. © copyright Beryl Roberts 2009. He Made His Mark Subtitle: Joshua Jeays – Early Brisbane Master Builder & Statesman National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry: Author: Roberts, Beryl, 1944. Title: He Made His Mark. ISBN: 978-0-646-52180-0 Notes: Bibliography. Includes index. Subjects: Jeays, Joshua, ca. 1812-1881. This book is copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission. Enquiries should be made to Joshua Jeays’ great-great-granddaughter: Judith Helen Shaw PO Box 1074, Indooroopilly QLD 4068, Australia. Design and layout by Julie and Maurice Hillier Cover design by Julie Hillier and Charlie Jeays First published by Boolarong Press Roberts. Beryl, 1944- Other titles: Stories of the Southside, Volume 1, 1991 A Closer Look at Coopers Plains, 1st Edition, 1993 Grandma’s Old Fashioned Book of Grammar & Spelling, 1995 Grandma’s Old Fashioned Book of Tables, 1995 The Early History of East Brisbane, 1997 A Closer Look at Salisbury and Nathan Heights, 2000 Study a Cemetery, 2001 Sunnybank-Runcorn Heritage Trail, 2001 Mudgeeraba Memories, 2003 A Closer Look at Coopers Plains, 2nd Edition, 2005 iv Dedication There is no doubt that Joshua Jeays made his mark on Brisbane during the founding days of our city and State. The mark shown above is made directly from a branding iron (pictured at right) used by Joshua Jeays. It is thought that it was used to identify his tools. The branding iron is still in the possession of the Jeays family today. This image is used on the first page of every chapter to represent the indelible mark that Joshua made. A view of Joshua’s His family is immensely proud of his achievements and the branding iron. pioneering spirit that must have inspired and encouraged so many others. This book is dedicated to the tenacity, enterprise and skill of all pioneers, but in particular, Joshua and Sarah Jeays, both of whom possessed an abundance of these essential qualities. ‘Success is not rare, it is common. It is a matter of adjusting one’s efforts to obstacles, and one’s abilities to a service needed by others.’ Henry Ford v About the author Beryl Roberts This book was researched and written by Beryl Roberts. Since the 1980s, Beryl has written and published 17 books, many based on the local history of Brisbane and the Gold Coast. A number of these publications, A Closer Look at Coopers Plains (two editions), A Closer Look at Salisbury and Nathan Heights, Study a Cemetery, and a number of heritage trail booklets, have been written, without payment, for the Coopers Plains Local History Group, which she helped form in 1990. Beryl is still a member of this group. A list of her publications is included on page iv. Beryl Roberts Beryl is an experienced teacher with a Bachelor of Arts (Griffith University) and a Master of Letters (University of New England) based on a thesis on horse-drawn buses in Brisbane from the1860s to the 1920s. She has lived in Brisbane much of her life and has a passion for investigating the past of Brisbane and Queensland. She has lectured and tutored in Queensland history and the human impact on the natural environment at Griffith University. vi Acknowledgements The 1850s to the 1860s in Brisbane’s past, in many respects, is quite scant of records and is an area of historical research that could do with a lot of investigation. With this Joshua Jeays research the absence of business records has made the fitting together of the ‘jigsaw-puzzle pieces’ quite challenging. In many regards this piece of research is really a beginning, and hopefully the family members may be inspired to keep gathering and delving. The research for this book has browsed a wide range of resources and repositories, and for the assistance readily given throughout the intriguing discovery tour there are many people and repositories, listed here, to sincerely thank. • Jeays and Lilley family members • Annabel Lloyd, archivist at the Brisbane City Council Archives • Katie McConnel, curator of Old Government House, QUT • Val Dennis, historian at the National Trust of Queensland • Rod Fisher and the Brisbane History Group • Raymond Evans • David Livett and the Enoggera & Districts Historical Society • Royal Historical Society of Queensland • Queensland State Archives, Runcorn • Gold Coast City Council’s Local Studies Library and facilities, Southport • National Library of Australia’s online access to early Queensland newspapers It has been a privilege to be able to look into the life of Joshua Jeays and his family and some of the events of early Brisbane and the infant Queensland colony. Like much of my historical research, it is never really put away with the sense of ‘That’s it!’ If you have anything to enhance this research, please feel free to make contact with Judith Helen Shaw, PO Box 1074, Indooroopilly, 4068. Enjoy the journey. BBeryleryl RRobertsoberts May 2009 vii Special Thanks The Jeays family acknowledges the support and encouragement of the staff at Old Government House and QUT in the production of this book. The fitting use of Old Government House for the launch of He Made His Mark on 8 November 2009 was greatly appreciated. This book was produced with funding from the Queensland Government’s Q150 Community Funding Program. viii Foreword In 2007 I had the privilege of compiling a short script on the life of Joshua Jeays for a video supporting the Distinguished Constructor Award, which was made posthumously to him in that year. The Award, made by the Queensland University of Technology annually, recognises outstanding people who over the years have made a significant contribution to construction in the State of Queensland. The more I found out about the man the more I became convinced of the debt owed by Queensland to such visionaries of the past: people who sustained a strong conviction in the future of the then fledgling State. Joshua Jeays was a leader in this regard. The parlous condition of the State finances at the time did not deter Joshua in his position as Mayor from instigating bold civil projects. Typically, he was also prepared to suffer considerable personal disadvantage by accepting deferred payment for several years for the supply of the high quality stone needed for the construction of our landmark Parliament House. In his own right he built many quality buildings, ranging from Old Government House to the delightful Bardon House. These remain today as a testament to the quality of his work. His vision in opening up the bayside suburbs of Sandgate and Brighton brought pleasant living and recreation to many families. It is appropriate that his descendants have been prominent in these suburbs since that time, and he would have been proud that the community spirit, so much a part of his character, lives on through them. From my long association with construction, I appreciate the calibre of people like Joshua Jeays. Their stories serve to instil in present-day construction students a sense of being a part of a long tradition of integrity and competence that marks construction in Queensland. We are grateful to Beryl Roberts for writing this book bringing to life a man who came from England with his family to make such a mark on the early days of our State. JJohnohn HornibrookHornibrook Adjunct Professor School of Urban Development Queensland University of Technology. May, 2009 ix x Introduction Have you ever wondered who you’d have on that fantasy dinner invitation list of any three people, dead or alive……….? Our heroes change as our lives evolve, but parents and grandparents are often on that list. A lucky few get to know a great-grandparent, but beyond that, any knowledge of the heroes (and villains) from a family’s past is often vague, if at all known. Most of us were told about Joshua being a Mayor and his connection with some of Brisbane’s early buildings, but to young minds that was ‘way back in the olden days’. We just knew that somewhere in the past there was someone of reasonable importance, but not much more. The catalyst for unravelling the mystery was the 150th anniversary of the arrival of Joshua and his family in Moreton Bay in 1853. Laurie and Albert Jeays felt the occasion should not go unnoticed and built a post-mounted plaque with an inscription of gratitude for 150 years of prosperity. On 23 February 2003, with a family crew of about 23 onboard, they sailed their yachts, Wotama and Sherpani, to Mud Island where they erected the memorial. This mid Moreton Bay location, on a sandy ridge behind the mangroves, acknowledged both the arrival point of the barque Agricola, and the family’s association with the sea. In August 2005, Queensland University of Technology had commenced renovating Old Government House. We made contact, and ever since QUT has embraced its relationship with the family. Under the leadership of Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Coaldrake and Professor Peter Lavery (Director of Precincts), the comprehensive renovation of one of colonial Queensland’s major buildings to its former glory is to be applauded, as are all the consultants, contractors and labourers on the project. The reopening ceremony on 7 June 2009 was without doubt a highlight of the Q150 celebrations. In mid 2007, Judith Shaw (great-great-granddaughter of Joshua Jeays) and daughter of Betty Shaw (nee Jeays), made known her long-held desire to have a book written about the life of Joshua Jeays.