MARBURG: Is there a DARK SECRET to QLD's FRIENDLIEST Town? 

I can remember, when I was little, that on the Toowomba - Brisbane Road coming into Marburg from Toowoomba there was a house at the bottom of the hill and had a corner before it straightened up and cars use to loose their hubcaps when they went around the corner and it was referred to as hubcap corner as the residents of the house use to display all the different hubcaps they found on the front fence.

16:50. The old black and white BigQ number plates on the old cars…familiar from my childhood. I was born on the farm in Lowood, the family moving to Toowong in 1970. We had bulk extended family still up that way, I remember travelling the old Toowoomba road way before the Warrago hwy. On the old winding road either side of Minden, the RACQ used to leave yellow painted water drums every thirty yards or so on the hills to assist motorists whose cars were overheating. Same on the old Toowoomba Range, the lower road, now exclusively downhill side used to go both ways, the top road not existing. Many times, I remember my father stopping on the Range to help some poor soul, in a terribly underpowered car, to reverse up that last section, reverse being a lower gear ratio than first. Terrible road for accidents and fatalities, that Range. One reason for building the upper road, the one which goes uphill, was to physically separate runaway cars from having head ons with uphill traffic. Finally, I remember reading in the old Brisbane afternoon tabloid, The Telegraph, sometimes back in the eighties, a police report stating a driver had been pulled over and fined, after he drove his old Holden down the Range without a steering wheel ! He used a spanner on the column’s nut, it turned out not to be vice grips or even a ring spanner. He drove down the range using an adjustable (crescent) spanner. Breathtakingly stupid. Awesome work, Rob. P.S. Frederick st, Toowong, opposite the cemetery, which was my 133 acre playground growing up. We used to play cricket on Frederick st back then. Rueon Rd, which now links Frederick st to the Bardon side of Route 20 wasn’t connected, it was a dead end street. On the lower side heading towards Bardon, you can see the modern block work used to retain the high side. That was built just in 1973, to link up the newly opened Western Freeway, which was only one lane each way, ended in Taringa, you drove through Indoorpilly on Mogill Rd until Kenmore, the back onto the ‘Freeway’ to Jindalee bridge. Brisbane is so different now, back in 1970, the council turned off the street lights at 10:30 pm, to save money, as the BCC owned and operated the two power stations back then. Big country town back then, backward and awkward place.

I had to pause on that newspaper article at 4:49 and read it. It talks about how the british settlers would claim the nice parts, declare the scrub useless, and then open it available to anyone willing to do something with it, and apparently it was always German settlers who took up the challenge. Perhaps that might also explain why there are a lot of German families still in particular specific locations around south east QLD. Lots of German Surnames in Crow's Nest, for example.

Slow down had me in stitches 🤣

13:05 Trivia: The 'Bloomfield Track' in Far North Queensland roughly follows an old indigenous track between Wujal Wujal and Cape Tribulation. In the mid-sixties, some beef farmers up near Wujal Wujal decided that it would be smart to bulldoze that trail so they could more easily get cattle south to the Daintree River. That track became a bit of a hippy highway too for many years. However, by 1982 it was a narrow trail, sometimes completely overgrown. That's when I walked it over two days. Two years later the protests began when moves were made to doze a 4wd track along the same route. Luckily the protests helped create the Daintree World Heritage area.

I drove past Marburg the other day (as I do many times)... and thought... I wonder if Rob will do a clip on small towns like this one... and well... here we are! Nice work mate!

This was very good and interesting. Just a point on the historic houses, it interesting to show them as you do the churches , with the history back ground of the first family, and there involvement for the area. 👍🤔 Love you videos.

Another great documentary Rob informative and interesting as usual 👍

Fun fact those fairlane’s have been there for over 20 years.

You didn’t mention the Marburg dance hall where in the 1970s it was the place to be. Those youth in Ipswich would live for the Saturday night Marburg dances and youth from Toowoomba would travel down. It was the place to be.

Ring the bell, Rob.

Been looking forward to this one and not disappointed. Nice little town to stop for lunch and look around. Amazing when you see some of the old main roads through these towns before the big highways of today. Nice job. Loved the Drone view by the way.

i use to end up at rose wood just up the road from marburg...when i did traffic control. its a town that still seems to be stuck 100 years ago as welll .

Back in the day and not that long ago, Dancing was a very big thing in Marburg. There where dances every Saturday night, in the Marburg show ground hall. In their day, these dances where very well attended, I mean wall to wall, to an extent that, on a well attended night, the hall was so full, people sat or stood outside and went inside to dance. Prior to the drinking age being reduced from 21 to 18, country dances where a very big thing. There where are lot of people who could drive, but could not enter pubs and night clubs. Not that night clubs as we now know them where a thing at that time. Even as late as the 90's, the Marburg dances where very solidly attended. As the dancing population has aged, numbers at all country dances have dwindled. COVID and dance poliics have taken a toll, over the last few years, now the Marburg dances are only twice a month rather than every saturday night.

Another good video. Thanks Rob. I always learn something new from them. The German migration to Queensland was larger than the one to South Australia. We traveled that old highway road many times. The new one is much better. They had a bad storm that went through Marburg years ago and my Dad made leadlights and was a glazier. He loaded up a large quantity of glass to his truck and went to Marburg to help repair broken windows.

I lived in Toowoomba from 1950 to 1957 and my parents frequently visited my aunt in Brisbane. I remember leaving Toowoomba at sunrise and arriving in Brisbane at sunset. The Marburg Range was a lot of work for my father's Ford Prefect.

The Marburg dance was the thing back in the day would always be packed also the monastery and orchards were awsome they had a large pool and let us swim with a diving board.

Just before I watched this, I was watching a recipe for AUTHENTIC GERMAN POTATO SALAD.. Seems appropriate to make it this afternoon to have with the HUNGARIAN SAUSAGES.... Another great video Rob... So many things in a now small town.. Shame you forgot about the reason for the title..

Ah yes… the Marburg of 128 km Brisbane (Marburg) Radar Loop fame. Visited remotely many a time to watch a passing storm. I now have a more intimate appreciation. Easily the most productive use of RU-vid in 2024. Thank you Rob, and cant wait to see a vid on Macleay Island and the other SMBI’s.

I live in Hatton Vale, agreed would have been beautiful for all those trees but sadly more and more people keep streaming in and flattening the land and trees. Will be a depressing day when my area is filled with estates.

For me, this would have to be your best video yet and I suspect that you really enjoyed making it. The drone footage really added to it. I live not far from here and there are a number of interesting historical towns and buildings through the Lockyer Valley. Another suggestion for a video would be the Mount Crosby and Lake Manchester area. I really enjoyed this, thanks.

My great great grandfather's brother was station master at Townshend/Marburg between 1916 and 1926 (Nambour and Murarrie prior to that).

dude, i live here saw your drone up last week

Can you do something on the old Toowoomba toll road….great information in your walkabouts 🙂

You walked right by Dances Bakery. Opposite side and down a bit from the hospital. Their bread was sold over large area. I remember going into the room where the big doe mixes were. Also the dance hall on the southern side of town where the show grounds are. My grandfather was the grounds keeper for many years there. Nice video.

A great doco on Marburg Rob. (with input from Craig's drone too). As a young chap I used to enjoy dropping into Marburg with my mates and wetting our inside necks at the Marburg Hotel. A couple of decades later dropping by with my wife. She had a thirst for Antique Stores. But Marburg truly was, and hopefully still is, a very friendly town. Now as we are officially boring old relics in our late seventies, we only drive past Marburg on the way to somewhere else. Kind of sad really, but your video evoked old memories. You're good at that old sausage. Keep it up!

Thanks for posting this . Brought back a lot of memories of going through Marburg on the way to Toowoomba in the family car at the time : An Austin Tourer Soft Top Sedan. It was a toilet break, Tea break and whatever. Great Memories Thanks again

Smart move using those old Fords as sand bags .

😂 thanks for showing off my signature 🤫 truly friendly region where the locals would bring us they're old tires and selling us car's for a bargain. We used to do skids at the show with an absolute gentle giant Scotty Payne. Awesome to see the fella at the antique shop took a break. You and t rocks should definitely pick his brain

I like looking at cemeteries especially very old ones they are so interesting

I almost joined that cemetery the first time i drove to Marburg, thanks to it being 8 pm and dark.

I grew up in Marburg in the 80’s and 90’s so many bucket bongs in the park, ahh memories!

The old highway to Toowoomba was winding all the way. There were a lot of accidents. And on the western side of Toowoomba the road is straight.

I just discovered your channel Rob, I am really enjoying it, keep up the great work

I grew up in Laidley (not far away) in the 1940s and 1950s and many many times we drove from Laidley along the Darling Downs Highway and that very winding road around the hills, through Marburg and on to Brisbane. I remember every twist and turn of the road and every building. Thanks for this lovely documentary

Thanks Rob, it so nice and informative joining you on a walk round my old state. Scratchin' me head about Marburg though, one building seems familiar, and it should, cause I remember going up and down to Brisbane from Toowoomba in the 60's and 70's so many times. What is very clear in the old memory box is winding round some lovely green hills somewhere near Marburg in dad's Austin A40. Roads were quieter and slower back in the good "old" days. Thanks again Rob all the best.

Rob , thank you for your SEQ history walks. The majority so far have brought back childhood and youth memories long forgotten of old stomping grounds. Fantastic!

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Thank you for another interesting video... Please consider doing the history of Lowood. It has quite an interesting history from what I've discovered in an old booklet I bought from the state library.

That's pretty cool that German warship went so far up the Brisbane river ... Near forgotten history

My father used to get his Phase 3 GTHO Blueprinted at that mechanics, many beers sunk in that pub.

Good video. I enjoyed it. Aussie Towns Rosewood, QLD History * Prior to European settlement the district was occupied by Aboriginal people from the Yuggera language group. * The town came into existence when the railway from Ipswich to Grandchester was built during the 1860s. * It became a stopover point on the rail line for the next twenty years. * In the 1880s coal was discovered in the area and in 1881 the Walloon-Rosewood coalfield started operation. Around this time dairying and mixed farming were prospering on the rich soils. * In 1910 St Brigid's was officially consecrated and the first mass held. * In 1912 a branch railway line was established connecting Rosewood to Marburg. * A coal mine west of Rosewood stared production in 1918. * In 1988 the Rosewood historic railway was opened to the public. * In 2013 the New Oakleigh Coal Mine, the last near the town, closed down.

Love the Hotel; the dining room is like a step back in time.

My auntie used to drive on that old highway during the early 1950's when she was a teacher at Fairholme School in Toowoomba and said her old Austin would overheat and she'd have to walk to the nearest farm with a land line to call her dad to come fix the car

Used to go to Marburg for a family Sunday drive, that winding road was a nightmare...I still go past Marburg to get away from Ipswich.

Great documentary, Thanks! There are actually a lot of old videos on youtube about the building of the highways in Australia. Things were pretty rough before they built all the highways we have now. That old highway was probably built using horse and carriages. I'll add some links to a reply.

I have a family connection to Marburg through the Boettchers, and to other ethnically German/Prussian families from the greater Ipswich area, Scenic Rim and Lockyer Valley. The Nazis were barking up the wrong tree if they were hoping to recruit spies and saboteurs. Many in the wave of migration out of 19thC Prussia were Anabaptists and consequently despised Prussian militarism. My own experience has been, our extended family have retained a few Germanic cultural quirks, but ethnic identity is a distant second to religious identity.

I used to get sooo car sick on the Marburg and Minden Ranges when heading from Tmba to the Gold Coast as a kid.

Driven through it so so many times. Definitely going for a gander next time 🧐

Thanks Rob, I have been to Marburg numerous times and knew nothing about the place until today, Cheers

Rob very pleased you put the old trains in, that's where the dark secrets come in, we always loved riding on those trains we could open the windows and see the black smoke going over the top of us ,THANKS a million for the journey but Please be careful on those Roads, look forward to seeing the best next one, chow 😊😊

Great video Rob, Everytime I check out the radar I will remember your video.

Very nice. Love a walking tour full of history. Might I recommend Ipswich, Nanango, Warwick and on a cold foggy morning, Esk.

Marburg is looking good and deservedly so ...... l was in the district for a while some time ago, and this wee town always had a heart and kind spirit about itself . Be it markets at the park or music ( good stuff ! ) As history shows us , time changes much .... I trust that the spirit remains and that the locals of luvvly little Marburg prosper

Another awesome insight into local history. Cheers

Great vid mate my grandmothers family came from that area and as i kid i would vist the local show held there every year and as i young guy in my late teens would often travel there for fresh vegies which was sold just up the road keep up the great work mate

Really fascinating video with stunning footage (from the drone and from your camera too!). So many churches and such a small town hall :) Thanks for weathering the weather to bring this to youtube.

Rob, thank you for showing us the history of our local areas. I love that you care.

Another brilliant episode. Some amazing history for such a little town, that most people will drive past and ignore.

Great vid once again rob, i didnt know anything about Marburg. Nice to see the first use of drone footage in a video. It worked well and was a great spot to use it for the view of the range. Hope to see more of it. 👍

I don't remember ever visiting Marburg but we probably traveled through there when I was a kid. However, I've always had a bit of a curiosity about Marburg because it has one of our major weather radars located nearby, and I'm a bit of a weather geek. 23:10 Yaaaaay!

Another great walk. We’ve been to Marburg, a cute little town. Will have to go back and visit the Antique centre one day.

Good stuff Rob ✨👍

Will you eventually do Gatton?

This was very novel for me to stumble over. I grew up in one of the oldest houses on that street, it's a shame I don't have access anymore because there was all this writing from the 1800's in the back room. Mostly names and dates, kids drawings, so on. I'd go searching for them like a treasure hunt. I rememeber we also always had to be mindful of where we gardened because there were some unmarked burial plots predating the cemetaries. Bit of a wild thing to think of now. I laughed at the antique shop being closed this One Time, because I never thought the owner would take a holiday. It is worth a visit though, they have great stuff and reasonable prices. The building next door is the same store as the corner, just kinda overflow. Maybe stuff that needs some TLC, etc. Also the thing about it being a highway is even wilder when you know there was a rickity wooden bridge into the 90's. I'd always brace myself to drive over it as a kid. They also still held like old 1940's style villiage dances then, at the show ground. I wonder if they still do. It was a really nice place to grow up honestly. Everyone was lovely and I never felt unsafe, and still feel welcome. Thanks for the trip down memory lane. I actually learnt a few things. No one mentioned the Nazi visit, that's for sure, not surprised we lost the station after that, big yikes.

Another great show thank you

Another nice adventure. Thank you for your effort in bringing it to us.

Some of the cars at the garage have been there for at least 15 years

Would be cool to see a Nundah video covering the Zion Hill settlement. Your comments on the bank strong room also made me think of the small art space in Southbank next to Fish Lane thats an old bank and you can walk into the old strong room which has been converted into a mini gallery

I loved this video Rob. It is remarkable that this little windy road was a the main road through to Toowoomba. Marburg is looking great too for the wet weather we've had. btw that is the last reason I would have thought of for the lock. I thought they only did this in Paris . Actually I couldn't think of one reason at all except that you'd left your garage unlocked at home :D

Thoroughly enjoyed watching this one. What a lovely little town. Those Fords would be worth a few dollars now... Apparently, young people like them for drifting and skids 😁. The drone footage was cool, as was the Star Trek tombstone 😂 The mystery of the padlock is solved. Was the Magnum padlock another Zoolander throwback 😁 Thank you for this one 😊

Another great doco - thoroughly enjoyed. Thought there was just a pub there but now a must go destination.

Hope you do a documentary on Maryborough a lot history there

I have been to Marburg a few times and never knew that lock wall was there until this video!

Great channel! I love proper channels like this that make actual content, keep these up!

This is a brilliant episode mate. You do so much good work & research and it shows in your productions. You should have stopped & had the Brekkie specials at The Girls coffee cafe it’s a good feed.

Good on you Rob. I'm familiar with this area. Cheers.

Loved all your interesting snippets, your fun skip and hop 😊 and Craig’s excellent drone footage. Thanks for using your time to educate us, our next visit to Marburg will be following your trail!

I love the cemetery tours thanks Rob :)

Drone shots were awesome!

Great one Rob 🎉

I lived in Marburg for 32 years and didn't know about the 1934 German sailors' visit.

We had a bell at a church with the pull cable in my home town we use to ring it all the time late at night

If you travel down to Minden, heading west, just as the speed goes back to 100k, the old Toowoomba highway branches off to the left for a good few klm's.

You should definitely do a walkabout in Walloon, it has a LOT of history to discover. Particularly surrounding Captain John Rea, the railways and the babies of Walloon.

The Marburg Dance was an institution where many met their future spouse.

You make a fantastic educational video Rob with a relaxing feel about it. Well done mate. 👍

I like your sense of humour.

Just another brilliant doco!

Another great video. Thanks Rob. Loved the first cemetery plaque "Plot 14B Mason. Details unknown" Apparently the town's only Stonemason.

Another great episode - thank you Sir.

Great to see so much history in a little part of the world. Great video!

Fam born and bred in Marburg and I had no idea on all the history thanks for sharing

thank you for making this video...my family lived in Marburg for 10yrs. I learnt a lot more about our old town from watching this...would love to know if you are visiting Rosewood, as we moved here from Marburg, Rosewood is just over the hill, 10mins out of Marburg

Hey Rob, my wife and I are enjoying you vids so much

1:06 Those cemetery interludes give much information about early settlers, mostly German here.

From memory, Mr Chalk was the Minister for Health and Mr Tooth was the minister for Education back in the day ha!

Love your work Rob, thanks for your efforts. ❤

Coming in clutch with your drone footage 👌🏼

3:40 Rob, you and I need to go on a suburban ninja run one night, ringing all the bells that have ropes attached. That would be a trippy hippy night!