This Day in Australian History - 3rd September

In the first week of September, 1824, John Oxley, accompanied by Robert Hoddle (surveyor), Lieut. Henry Miller, of the 40th Regiment, a detachment of that regiment, and a working party of convicts, arrived at Moreton Bay for the purpose of forming a settlement. They formed a depot at Humpybong (Redcliffe Point), and on September 26, Oxley proceeded up the river and landed at a spot now occupied by North Quay, Brisbane, Oxley declared it as "a site not ineligible for a settlement." He selected it as a site for the settlement, which became Brisbane. Governor Brisbane and Chief Justice Forbes arrived in December, and confirmed the selection of the site. Forbes named it Edinglassie, but that name did not survive, the name of Brisbane being selected.

1831 - James Backhouse and George Washington Walker, the first Quaker missionaries to Australasia, sailed from London on September 3, 1831. They did much work in the Tasmanian gaols, Walker settling in Australia and Backhouse returning to England after nine years.

1839 - Foundation stone of the first Independent chapel in Melbourne is laid.

1846 - A stockman named Flood, in Charles Sturt's expedition, discovered a stream to which Sturt gave the name of Eyre's Creek. In the next month the expedition found another stream, which was named Cooper's Creek, now better know as the Barcoo.

1853 - The first steamer from Sydney arrived at Wellington, New Zealand.

1855 - All property of the Sydney Railway Company is transferred to the New South Wales government.

1857 - Hanged at Melbourne Gaol, Chong Sigh and Hing Tzan, for the murder of Sophia "The Chinawoman" Lewis in a brothel in Stephen Street (Exhibition Street) Melbourne.

1858 - The First Atlantic cable to America failed after 15 days' working.

1860 - It was decided that details of religion in South Australian census papers need not be given unless the person filling in the census desired. Previously South Australians were required to state their religion under pain of fine or imprisonment in cases of refusal.

1861 - The Union Bridge over the Murray River was opened by Miss Chauncey, daughter of the District Roads Superintendent.

1878 - The Great Southern Railway was opened from Junee to North Wagga Wagga.

1885 - Hanged at Ballarat, Charles Bushby (alias Baker), for attempted murder of Det Sgt Richard Hyland near Gong Gong.

1886 - All the pearl-shelling boats round the King Sound fishery were reported to be doing remarkably well, some making fortunes rapidly.

1888 - Queensland Architectural Institute is formed.

1889 - The bodies of George Beaumont, John Meadows, James Hodson, and Alexander Grant were recovered from Hamilton Pit, in which a disastrous explosion had occurred.

1893 - James Harrison, well known as a journalist and for his ice-making and carcase freezing appliances, dies.

1894 - The barque, Cambus Wallace, was wrecked on Stradbroke Island, Queensland, six lives being lost.

1901 - The Australian flag is flown for the first time.

1907 - Clearing work was started on Bellbird Colliery estate prior to the sinking of the tunnels.

1918 - John Forrest, Australian statesman, first Premier of Western Australia, explorer, and financier, died at sea off the coast of Africa. (Born 1847)

1926 - First issue of the Canberra Times is produced.

1927 - All trains stopped on the railway lines throughout Queensland, the Premier's notice of dismissal of railwaymen taking effect from noon.

1928 - Clifford Hulme, hanged for the murder of Harold Eaton Smith at Wubin on 22 June 1928.

1932 - A railway smash occurred between Karangi and Coff's Harbour, when 10 out of 13 large refrigerator or bogey vans of the Brisbane-Melbourne fruit express, left the rails while travelling at 35 miles an hour. The vans were badly smashed, but no one was injured. Traffic was held up for about 40 hours.

1939 - Australian Prime Minister, Robert Gordon Menzies, announces that Australia is at war with Germany.

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Sources:

1. Anniversaries To-Day (1934, September 3). Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), p. 4.  
2. To-Day's Anniversaries (1930, September 3). The Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 - 1947), p. 8. 
3. On this day (1965, September 3). The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995), p. 2. Retrieved September 1, 2018, from 
4. Looking Back (1940, September 2). News (Adelaide, SA : 1923 - 1954), p. 4. 
5. Today's Yesterdays (1936, September 3). The Daily News (Perth, WA : 1882 - 1950), p. 6 (FINAL). 
6. Today's Yesterdays (1934, September 3). The Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1931 - 1954), p. 6. 
7. Today's Yesterdays (1936, September 3). The Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954), p. 6. 
8. This Day in History
9. www.onthisday.com (Australia)