First Nations Language Collection

Union Street, Toowong, S.W.1. April 7th, 1941.

Mr. Sydney May, Hon. Secretary, Q.P.N. Committee, University of Queensland,

Dear Sir,

On the matter of the place name Beachmere, the following is a copy of a letter which I have received from Mrs. Ethel Smith, of Caboolture.

"From information gathered I think the first settler to take up land, extending from Toorbul point to King Johnny Creek, was a man named Bonney. Toorbul point later belonged to a man named Hamilton. From the scrubs around Cabulture township that is now, were cut the cedar and pine logs which were rafted down the Caboolture River to what is now called Beachmere Flats. With a pitsaw the logs were cut, the planks hand-dressed, and, on the bank at the mouth of the Caboolture River, Bonney built his homestead, naming it Beachmere; "Beach" on account of the narrow strip of sandy beach in front of the house, and "mere" because of the marshy nature of the land. Bonney died and was buried on the place and a Mr. Geddes then took over, and it was to this very homestead that my father (the late Mr. D.E. Boustead) brought my mother as a bride in the year 1880, my father being manager for Mr. Geddes at the time. the original homestead stood until a few years ago when it was demolished and rebuilt at what is now known as Beachmere Beach, a mile away from the first building site, only to be pulled down again and rebuilt in the town of Caboolture, the present owner being Mr. Mat. Zanow.

I believe a Mr. Arty Bonney (90 years of age), a son of the first settler, is at present living at Sandgate, although I have not been able to locate his proper address. Probably you could accomplish this with the aid of the Postal Department and he, no doubt, could give you much more valuable and useful information knowledge of the place.

(From)

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