Tingalpa Pioneers’ Chapel and Cemetery

15/09/2026

Our next edition of history within our graves and their travelling stories.

Written by Ray Salty Rowe

” Hannah Mary, her daughter Louisa Bertha, and sister Elizabeth Sara at grave E33-35.”

At our little historic church & graveyard at Tingalpa, there are numerous stories just waiting to be told.

In this 3rd narrative, we are highlighting our 3 guests lying in everlasting peace in their own extensive grave.

This story starts in early 1862 when Hannah Mary, sister Elizabeth Sara Bolt, mother Elizabeth Sophia, and stepfather William Wood stepped ashore from the White Star Line clipper “Lord Raglan” in Melbourne after the lengthy, humdrum voyage sailing from Liverpool, England, to their new home in Australia.

It is unexplained why or how they finished up in Brisbane and to what is today identified as Wynnum.

Sadly, it was a year later when, on her next voyage to Australia, “Lord Raglan” was lost with the crew and migrants, all of whom went to a watery grave.

William Wood’s son James was one emigrant who was eagerly awaiting joining his dad, and the expanded family, and was just one of many who disappeared that fatal day.

And now a little about "Lord Raglan“.

This elegant clipper ship had proved herself to be fast and comfortable, having established the outward journey from Liverpool to Melbourne in just 70 days.

As a matter of interest, a “clipper” ship has a narrower, sleeker hull and bow built for speed when under full sail. Ship admirers regard these vessels as the most beautiful of all.

"Lord Raglan" was a 1,900-ton wooden vessel built in Canada in 1854 for a different owner, but in 1855, she was taken over by the "White Star" line for the UK-Australian emigration and the Royal Mail service.

However, on 23 February, 1863, with a 65 crew and 289 passengers, she set a course for Melbourne, Australia.

The possible fate of her demise was an out of control fire, as when the vessel “Imperatrice Eugenie” arrived in London, the captain reported seeing a large vessel burnt to the waterline on 27th March at 1 degree N. latitude and 26 degrees W longitude, which is roughly west of the Ivory Coast on a course to round the Cape of Good Hope (Africa)

The captain inched as close as he dared, but there was no hint of any life on what was left onboard this magnificent ship.....,,. No one will ever know what happened, as that part of the story went down with the ship.

As these were the days before radio communications, news of the fate of “Lord Raglan” reached England from many ship captains on their arrival back in port.
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12/09/2026

We have a new member doing a spot of gardening, Errol.

05/09/2026

Spring community working bee. Headstone cleaning with the "Village" Cr Lisa Atwood Sue Speed Ray Pini

Send a message to learn more

01/09/2026

Community free event this Saturday.

🌿 Spring Cleaning Day at Tingalpa Cemetery & Chapel
Saturday, 5th September 2026

Hi, Village! 🌸

It’s that time of year already — Spring Cleaning Day!

As we prepare for Decoration Day on Saturday, 24th October 2026, we warmly invite our community to join the Friends of Tingalpa Cemetery and Chapel for a morning of community spirit, a little spring cleaning, and good company.

🧹 Community Working Bee & BBQ
📅 Saturday, 5th September 2026
🕣 Gates open: 8:30am
🧽 Cleaning: 8:30am – 9:30am
☕ Morning tea & BBQ to follow, till 11am.

Whether you’re a regular volunteer or have never joined us before, everyone is welcome. Bring along your gardening gloves, a hat, and a helping hand as we get the cemetery looking its best ahead of Decoration Day.

After the working bee, we’ll take a well-earned break together with morning tea and a BBQ. 🌭☕

16/08/2026

Migrant ships and more history edition. Cemetery plaques included.

Jane & Harry and Edward & Isabella and “Great Queensland”

Towards the top end of God’s little acre here at the Tingalpa Chapel and Cemetery, there are two resting places for these couples.

Jane and Edward were brother and sister and were born in Hampshire, England, and it was in June 1873 that Jane, Edward, and their parents Felix and Margery McCurly boarded the emigrant ship named “Great Queensland” in London for the lengthy voyage to Brisbane, where they berthed at South Brisbane wharf, where Southbank Parkland is now, on 2nd September 1873.

Harry Brock married Jane on 28th January 1906 in Brisbane, and Edward McCurley married Isabella 13 December 1894.

And now a bit of history about “GREAT QUEENSLAND”.

During the 1800s, many ship owners were acquiring steamships to replace their fleets of sailing ships, but “Great Queensland of the ‘London Line’” was unique in that they built her as a steamship in 1852 and then converted her to a fully rigged sailing ship early in 1873 for some reason, which will always amaze me.

The voyage to Brisbane was lengthy because in those times sailing ships would leave England, sail across the Bay of Biscay, skirt past Madeira, Cape Verde Islands, and Cape of Good Hope, next travel along the 40th parallel, riding the Roaring 40s until rounding the southern tip of Tasmania to sail northward to Brisbane.

Ships travelling past Gabo Island near the border of Victoria and New South Wales would then “hug the coast” to Queensland, which was dangerous but had to be done to avoid the 4 knot southerly current that flows off the coast.

That southerly set still flows to this day, so from experience, I have witnessed the tension on the bridge of a ship during heavy rain where taking bearings of landmarks for the ship’s precise position was near impossible. Radar was in its infancy then and could not see through the heavy rain. So being in a fully rigged sailing ship tacking or wearing would have been horrendous.

Sadly, on 5th August 1876, “Great Queensland” sailed from the East India Docks in London with a consignment of a mixed cargo of explosives and 70 passengers bound for Australia and was never heard of again until various items of wreckage were found, some with the ship's name.

A Board of Enquiry in 1877 determined that the Great Queensland’s demise was a result of a spontaneous combustion explosion.
By Ray Salty Rowe

Pic..“Great Queensland“ under full sail.

02/08/2026

Happy 140th "Bush Cathedral ".

This is the second chapel made as the first one was destroyed in a storm.

Standing tall, proud and pretty. You look young and fabulous.

We treasure you and all those buried in your grounds.

Great committee meeting was had, (meetings scheduled 1st Saturday of @ month) followed by 🎂 cake, chats and good times. Even the dog joined.

Here's to many more moments together ✨️ Ray Salty Rowe Neil Thyer Ray Pini Jools Wah Donna Turner and Kerry.

28/07/2026

This morning I joined Balmoral Cemetery, Brisbane and the Friends of Balmoral Cemetery 25th year, book launch. With Jenny Clark as MC, along with FOBC volunteer members that set up, served morning tea and prepared the 25th cake, it was a great day to celebrate.

Sue Speed is to be congrated for all her and the teams efforts for bringing this moment together.
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Books are on sale now. See images for details or PM direct. Friends of Balmoral Cemetery

22/07/2026

Our "friends" are everywhere and they travel everywhere.

Great to see our cemeteries respected and cared for throughout our country.

From the Barossa to Biloela
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