That intersection

IN THE Way We Were in The Chronicle (TC, 14-15/12), a 1958 photograph was of the two-storey residence Rathdonnell, originally the home of Dr Aeneas McDonnell and later Dr Woodhill, then Dr Ogden. Dr McDonnell supported nurse Elizabeth Kenny in her treatment for polio. He also owned and drove the first motor car manufactured in Queensland by Trevethan Bros, Neil St.

Rathdonnell’ (“Rath: (Gaelic for house of) Donnell) on the southwest corner at the intersection of Margaret and Hume Sts was noted for its large magnolia tree. The original tree was removed and replaced by one smaller when the property was redeveloped in 1965/6.

A photograph appeared on the front page of The Chronicle of December 20, 1965, showing a bulldozer at work demolishing “Rathdonnell”. The caption reads: “Demolition has begun on three buildings in Margaret St near the Post Office to make way for a service station. Carwyne Guest House, Dr. G. V. Hickey’s former surgery and residence, and a twostorey brick building used as a surgery until recently by Dr Kenworthy Ogden were auctioned recently for removal and a bid of 20 was the only one received.” Carwyne Guest House also features in last week’s (TC 12/12) Way We Were photo.

The TC 1965 photograph was taken looking north from behind Rathdonnell and shows the “C” on the “Dry” Canberra (temperance) hotel on the north-west corner of the intersection. The Canberra was popular with “out of town” visitors attending Toowoomba Agricultural Shows (usually about April). It provided excellent accommodation only a “walk in the park” (Queen’s Park) from the showgrounds, then located where TAFE and Cobb and Co are now situated.

The south-east corner of the intersec tion was occupied by Toowoomba Technical College and High School (TC and HS built 1911, opened 1912 (the year Titanic sank)). TC and HS became Toowoomba State High School (TSHS) and relocated from there to Mt Lofty. TAFE moved into the vacated Margaret St building; but later also relocated to new purpose-built premises on the site of the previously mentioned “old” showground. At one time in its metamorphosis, TAFE also conducted hospitality training in the Canberra kitchen and dining room (then no longer “dry”).

The “old” Toowoomba Municipal Baths were located on the north-east corner of the intersection, diagonally opposite “Rathdonnell”. The last manager at that pool, and first at the newly constructed replacement, named Mylne Bay Pool (on the north-west corner of Victoria and Herries Sts), was Mr Bernie Shapland. Bernie’s son Chris spent most of his time in the water, held several state swimming records and more recently swam the English Channel.

JOHN LARKIN, Toowoomba