How did one small area on the outskirts of the inner city area, once the home of crime, graffiti and urban decay, become the richest suburb in Brisbane? #teneriffe #brisbane #queensland
I waited until I'd finished watching the video before I started commenting this time...that's a first for me. I can vaguely remember Teneriffe in the late 60s because my dad knew someone down that way and would visit. I can still remember the smell of the wool stores...like dirty lanolin. When we came back from Perth in the 70s, I think there was a Paddy's Market-type affair in one of the wool store buildings. I seem to remember our aunty taking us there for one of the last days of the markets. It wasn't until 2017 when I started working as a delivery driver for the Red supermarket that I saw the place again. At first I didn't recognise where I was until I saw the wool stores. Over the next three and a half years I delivered to most of the old wool store buildings and man, some of them look very impressive while retaining most of the important parts of the building, including in some, the original timber flooring on each level. The Lanolin from the years of bales being move in and out of the place preserved the timbers in beautiful condition. The neighbourhood has certainly been gentrified. I kind of like the idea that at least one industry is still in Tenerife, the sand and gravel works. Thanks for another great journey through Brisbane's history, Rob. I really appreciate your style. Very entertaining.
My parents and I emigrated to Australia in 1957 and settled in Brisbane, in which Hall's buildings which was mentioned by Rob that was situated in Commercial Road was made up of two shops, and two flats above. The flat to the left was where my parents and I lived from 1959 to 1963, which was above a shop with a German name that sold pumps for water purposes. The flat to the right was the proprietor that ran the general store (which was to the right of the building alongside the shop with the German name) which Rob mentioned and was known as 'Clarkies' who I remember seeing only once and was wounded in WW2. (I wish the cameraman focused on the building a bit longer as I would have focused on it a bit longer). Rob, if I may and you happen to read this that I use to walk from 'Clarkies' to New Farm State School and I was wondering if you sometime give New Farm State School some good coverage as I went there as many did from 1959 to '63. Thank you and enjoy your walkabouts.
We lived in a wonderful old decaying 20s Queenslander for 10 years that backed into Teneriffe Park. A rental I should add. The park is one of the best kept secrets in inner city Brisbane. We lived with all sorts of wildlife there. Generations of possums were born to two girls who share the territory, until the well healed moved in and a sociopath millionaire up the road systematically poisoned the possums, including our two girls. Ah yes. The gentrification.
Great video! Love how you put some fun into it. I remember the big Paddy’s markets in one of the wool stores. Lots of fabrics and secondhand clothes. The 80’s were fantastic! 😊
It's 3.30am in the jolly morning, and I see you've posted a new video... Well I'll just have to grab a cuppa, and enjoy that right now, won't I?!? Good stuff...😅😊
I worked in the old wool stores when I was 15 in 1971 as a storm man . Then ascot was the richest suburb & we lived 1 street from the primary school & my grandfather had a shipyard on the creek since 1930
Fantastic video Rob. Loved hearing about the history of Teneriffe, such a fascinating suburb. And to think it went from derelict to the most expensive suburb in Brisbane!
Just stumbled upon your great vid. Bought a house in Gibbon St for $43K in 1985 and after 1988 Expo felt the call of world travel and went to live permanently in Portugal. Was staggered to learn that house sold for 3,000,000 last year. Great memories of that park❤.
Haha! I used to wander around there doing photography assignments in uni. Got yelled at by the lady who lived in that derelict house many times. She threatened to have me arrested for "illegally" photographing the park :)
Lived in one of the converted Woolstores for a couple of years, loved it. Tall tall ceilings, family friendly, easy going. Bus stops outside, too bad the tram lines were ripped up though.
Me too, I loved it. Had to leave when my relationship ended, too exxy on one salary. Now it is completely out of reach financially. But I am happy on the GC.
My almost daily walk around New Farm sees all this, so fun to watch. Tons of things you could not fit in to 15 minutes, so I feel privileged to know a bit more than the video maker. For example, you were in Harcourt St - it has heritage listed Cluna (number 278) , the now badly in need of restoration and vacant home of once prominent painter and decorator Robert Exton(RIP). His firm worked on important buildings like the Treasury Buildings according to government sources. This is late 1800s with a little stable for the buggy out back. As for the future of Teneriffe? Mandatory; Tesla, dog/s, coffee, upmarket dining, ten bathrooms.
in the very early 80s my father owned a snack bar on Commercial Road opposite where Wallace Bishop is located. To say it was a rough time is an understatement. Still heavy industrial at that time.
A cat by the name of Doris Cheryl, Agnes of God, Prisoner of Zenda, Houseplant, Monotone, Crabbait did indeed live in one of 2 identical worker's cottages, built on the one title/parcel of land, at the end of Patterson street, adjacent to the Jacob's Ladder like set of stairs that ascend from there upwards onto Tenneriffe Drive, a few yards opposite from the entrance to Tenneriffe House. The ruins at the rear of which originally featured a paved & balaustraded terrace area that spilled out from under a broad verandah that several french doors of the house's commodious ballroom once opened upon & gave access to; continuing on, in the form of a broad, similarly balaustraded stairs that ran down the side of same to a drive that swept round from the front street through the currently situated parkland. It housed horses & no doubt a swank buggy or two, not servants, being originally purposed as the home's stables. My first job was as a Costing Clerk employed by the Building & Industrial supplies company of McPhersons Ltd down on Commercial Rd & I used to regularly take a lunchtime walk along Tenneriffe Drive & environs during the late 1970s; at which time several of the grand homes lining it atop the hill still served as residences for the General Managers of the various Woolstore Companys (or so I was informed by an old fellow working in the garden of one such abode).
Thanks for this interesting overview Rob. I worked at an office in NEWSTEAD and often walked along the river to New Farm. I am now retired, living in Redcliffe. There are walk-about historical tours at 9:30 AM from the Information office opposite redcliffe pier. You should attend one of these and then include this in one of your shows. Keep up the excellent work. 👏👏
That was a nice surprise tonight to see you have done The Teneriffe Suburb already. Interesting all the wool stores and how modern it looks today. Liked the music too. Good job once again .
I had to laugh when you mentioned "The soul crushing boredom of living in Brisbane city"and doubt I am only one to have considered the place as such whilst a teenager there... Hence myself referencing it often as "Brispain" although it's as much to do with the menacing paranoia of the corrupt and unscrupulous QLD/Brispain Police during the Joh Bjelke Petersen dictatorship. *cough*..The word "Pigs"to describe them is an insult to such intelligent animals, "absolute SCUM" more like it! Anyway, I enjoyed the video very much and will definitely check out more! Thank you! 🙏
Thank you for such an informative and entertaining video expose of the history of Tenerife I used to live in Bulimba and frequently visited Tenerife hopefully you will do a specific Bulimba video cheers
After his posting as master of ports in Cairns during the war my Grandad took up a post as master of wharves at Teneriffe living next to Newstead house on the river. My Aunt worked in the wool store as a young woman enjoying the attention of the US soldiers around the area. She says it was a very festive happy period.
@7:28 Thanks for giving me an annoying fun fact to bother my TAFE film class with, I appreciate it equal to or greater than the absolute hate that they feel for me for coming out with another frustratingly true bit of cinematic history... again
3:09 I had thought that the downstairs under the verandah was servants quarters. Was in much better condition. Positive it had doors, ceilings and a stairway still. 13:40 A cat called "Doris Cheryl Crabbait, Prisoner of Zenda, Agnes of God, Snakebite" lived up the end of Patterson street . It didn't look like it does now, back then.
A favorite part of Brisneyland for me. A bite to eat and a wonder in the bush afterwards. This is in the middle of the city isn't it? My dad saw a submarine along those wharf's with a broom sticking up in the air. This indicated a "clean sweep", I think meaning they sunk everything they shot at in their last patrol. Mt Coot-Tha was a munitions storage facility for the US pacific fleet. Might be a yarn in that Rob. Great stuff, thanks.
@Steve thanks! I've looked into Mt Coot-That as a potential new documentary. If I get enough interesting information I'll certainly do it. And yes, the park is in the middle of Teneriffe.
@T-ROCKS yes you should take a look at it. Keen to get your expert advice on what the rocks are and what their age is. And it's just such a nice place to explore as well.
Rob, the "old house" on Teneriffe Drive beside Teneriffe Park at the beginning of the video was originally the Coach House for Teneriffe House (recently sold for $3.1m)
Lived there in the mid 2000s because my ex had an apartment there - in Winchcombe Carson. It was beautiful, one of the prettiest places I have lived. No chance I could afford living there now!!!
@JennyEkberg It's incredible how well the area has transitioned from being rundown industrial to wealthy/ fancy/ beautiful in such a relatively short space of time. I'm sure I could be quite happy living there!
Oh those tram lines if you followed one in your car you had to make sure you passed the tram before they stopped as you in the car had to stop so passengers got off ..
Wait what!?!? Why would they have the sub walk their if it wasn't even where the submarines docked??? I thought the old wool sheds were repurposed to stock amarment (torpedoes and such).
@moist_nana the subs were there, but up at the former Capricorn Wharf. HMAS Moreton didn't arrive until later. I believe only one woolstore was taken over for US military needs, the rest kinda carried on as best they could.
@Buckets Mackenze RU-vid do the deleting of comments. Also in the comments section if you click "newest comments" most likely you'll see yours come back up. I think you owe Rob an apology.