John Street decorated for a special occasion, but as it would have looked before the fire.
“I learn, with great regret, of the serious loss sustained by Rosewood in the recent disastrous fire. I sincerely sympathise with those who have suffered.”
Those were the words in a telegram received on 7th January 1914 by Cr. F. A. Kingston, Chairman of Rosewood Shire Council, from the Governor, Sir William MacGregor.
Rosewood township had been the victim of one of those disastrous fires which occasionally occur in Australian rural centres.
Just before 2 a.m. on Saturday, 3rd January 1914, a fire broke out in the rear of Fraser’s boot shop in John Street and spread rapidly, resulting in the destruction of nine business premises. The main business portion of the town, a block on one side of the street, soon became a mass of smouldering ruins.
Mr. Hedley Stone, the night-officer at the railway station, first raised the alarm after he came out of his office and saw a fire at the back of the buildings. He hastily crossed a paddock and saw a fire in the centre of a wall between Fites’s shop and Tomlin’s shop. The fire was then about 6ft high and 5ft wide (1.8m x 1.5m). He raced to the Police station and then up the street knocking on doors and shouting “Fire!” as he ran.
The Royal Bank, Wendt’s Rosewood Hotel, Fites’s Oyster Saloon, Fraser Bros., bootmakers, Frank Tomlin’s chemist shop, Campbell’s dental rooms, Pender & Hall, auctioneers, Pender & Pender, solictors’ offices, Augusta Hohnke’s fruit shop, refreshment room and residence, and two unoccupied stores owned by Mrs. Mary Evans (wife of Joseph William Evans), were all razed to the ground.
The Royal Bank stood on the railway side of the two-storey Rosewood Hotel. Both were described as “fine looking” structures. The others were smaller wooden buildings. Most were insured but would cost double the money to rebuild.
Alexander Fites woke at about the same time as Hedley Stone. The glare woke him and he immediately ushered his family out of their residence at the back of his shop, which was only about 10 foot (3.04m) away. News of the fire spread quickly. Residents of the town, many in their pyjamas and armed with buckets, rushed to the scene from all directions. At Fraser’s shop flames leapt 12 ft (3.6m) into the air. Thankfully the brothers lived a quarter of a mile away from their shop and the Evans family lived elsewhere, but the others lived where they conducted their businesses.
When the fire burst through the roof of Fites’s shop and ignited the two-storey Rosewood Hotel, the flames leapt to an enormous height. The chemicals in Tomlin’s shop boosted the fire and the resulting fumes hampered any efforts by the bucket brigade. The glow from the fire could be plainly seen from the verandah of the Queensland Times in Ipswich about 11 miles (17.7 klm) away.
Crowds of people from the surrounding district arrived to help. There was no fire brigade in the town or a water service. There was a well with 10,000 gallons of water right on the scene of the fire, but no fire-machine. It soon became apparent to everyone that their efforts were in vain. However, despite that, hundreds of willing hands formed bucket brigades and removed as much furniture, fittings and belongings from the buildings as humanly possible in the circumstances.
The boarders at the hotel were able to save most of their belongings and the land outside the flaming arena became the depository for a heterogeneous collection of goods.
Mr J. R. Allen, the station master, whose residence was next to the bank, was fortunate to have his house saved. Three factors were at play; the slight southerly wind that was blowing, the large number of big trees around his residence and the buckets of water that were tipped on the wall that was closest to the bank.
Around 3 a.m. the Bulcock Bros.’ store and the police station on opposite side of the road appeared to be in danger. Large plate glass windows in Bulcock’s store cracked from the heat of the fire and flames broke out at the front of the store several times. Men climbed onto the roof and wet blankets and bags were passed up and thrown over it for protection, while a bucket brigade continuously passed water up to wet it all down. In this fashion, the store was saved.
A brigade also attended to the police court building. The paint on the walls was badly scorched but it was also spared. The same was attempted at Mrs Evan’s shop which was next door to McGeary and Grant’s butcher shop. In a bid to stop the fire’s path at the northern end, when the first of Mrs Evan’s shops caught fire, its northern wall was purposely knocked down by some of the men. This action, combined with the water brigade’s efforts, was successful in stopping the fire’s progress any further up the street.
In just two hours, the fire consumed one building after another and nothing could stop its progress. All of the buildings were built of timber, so those in the track of the fire burnt fiercely. All anyone could do was stand by and watch and wait until the fire burnt itself out. By 4 am it was over. Much more damage would have been done if it had not been a relatively calm morning.
The sunrise revealed a pitiful and melancholy scene. No doubt the savings of many worthy pioneer settlers were represented in buildings which were so ruthlessly destroyed by the fire. Many people were sitting or lying down where they fell, exhausted by their strenuous efforts to fight the fire. Hundreds of bent-up sheets of iron and pieces of debris were strewn about and a dozen or so tanks were tipped over or leaning in all directions, and the fire was still smouldering. With the light of day some folk became homeless. Two women with babies in their arms were seen with their children around them, weeping bitterly. Others were searching for their belongings. Business owners were taking inventory of their losses. Some, like Frank Tomlin, escaped with little more than what they stood up in.
At the height of the blazing fire, while the town was otherwise engaged, a heavily laden goods train crashed into the railway gates. In the chaos, they hadn’t been fastened by the townsfolk in their haste to get to the fire. No damage was done apart from wrecking the gates.
Most surprisingly, the strong room of the Royal Bank stood out most boldly and in tact amongst the devastation. On learning of the fire from the bank manager, Mr. A. S. Ogg, the General Manager (Mr E. Denny Day) gave instructions that no water was to be thrown on the strong room and to let it cool down in its own time. It was a new type of fireproof strong room made of brick and lined with steel plates and enforced concrete. Mr Day said he would be interested to see how it would stand the test.
All the money and securities were left in the strong room. When Mr Day visited in person to open the safe, the lock, which had been oiled several times since the fire by Mr Ogg, opened at his first attempt. Mr Day found that it was little the worse for the heat and the contents were found to be in perfect order. The walls, however, were badly cracked and when he tried to shut the door he found it had sagged and was impossible to lock.
The afternoon train carried a large number of curious people from Ipswich and many others arrived by motor cars and other vehicles to have their own personal view of the scene.
The strongroom can be seen still standing on the left in the bottom photo.
The Telegraph of the 3rd January expressed the sympathy felt by the heart of Brisbane for the sufferers of the fire.
The Rosewood sufferers will not show a spirit of surrender; but they will have to show, a spirit of courage. They will have to begin again at an industrial point resembling a mathematical point which is said not to have parts or form. They are to begin from nothing but their unexpended power to labour, their courage and the confidence that their neighbours will feel in them. We mention these things because, after all, they signify a great deal.
We do not know that Rosewood sufferers will need financial help by public subscriptions. That is an after consideration. But meanwhile every sensitive heart will be moved by sympathy, that these, our near neighbours, for Rosewood is not wholly unlike a Brisbane suburb, should enter on a new year, the day before yesterday, seemingly so full of promise, with the loss of nearly everything they had of mercantile value in this world. Again we say sympathy with the sufferers by the Rosewood fire, and something more, should something more be required.
A week after the fire most of the businesses had found a temporary premises while they waited for the ruins to be cleared and for new buildings to be constructed. Harry Wendt fitted up a bar in his sample room behind the hotel and erected a large tent for his customers. The sample room had been spared from the fire along with a small residence. Frantic efforts saved a small amount of the hotel’s furniture and goods. Amazingly, the piano was saved and it and other salvaged items were put in the Police Station’s yard.
Fite’s residence, at the rear of his shop (tobacco, and fancy goods and lollies) was also spared. He only had time to save the day book and some cash.
Edmund and Harold Fraser operated from a premises adjoining Runho’s house in Railway Street (next to his store). They saved nothing from the fire but a few boots.
Pender & Hall and Pender & Pender moved across the road into a shop they had previously occupied. They lost valuable maps and records in the fire as well as their office furniture.
Mr M. M. Campbell, a dentist from Ipswich, who visted Rosewood every Thursday, had a room in the Pender building. He lost his furnishings and fittings including his dentist chair and dental engine.
Mrs Hohnke began operating out of Mr W. E. Collett’s hall. Her husband Charles was the foreman mill-hand at Rosewood Sawmill and the fire left them homeless.
Police Sergeant John Allen allowed a clerk from the Royal Bank to temporarily occupy a prison cell at the police station and use it as a place of business and abode.
Meanwhile carpenters were busy getting Mrs. Evans’s remaining shop in order for the Royal Bank to use.
Mrs George Wallace (Edith), sister of Henry Jacob Wendt of the Rosewood Hotel, lost most of her wedding presents and the Rosewood Cricket Club lost their bats etc which had been stored at the hotel.
Mr Tomlin saved only the books from his shop and was arranging a temporary premises.
An inquiry was held at the Rosewood Police Court on Wednesday 21st January at the Rosewood Police Court before Mr. P. W. Pears, Police Magistrate. The following people testified: [1]
Hedley Frederick Samuel Stone
I am a railway night-officer at Rosewood. I was on duty at the Rosewood Station on Saturday, the 3rd instant. At about 1.35 a.m. that day I was at the station. I came out of the office and saw a fire at the back of the buildings in John-street. I came over to the back of the buildings through the paddock and saw a fire at the rear of Fites’s shop. I went over to it. It was about the centre of the wall of Fites’s shop-between it and Tomlin’s shop. The fire was then about 6ft high and 5ft wide. I saw no one about when I got there. I did not know at the time that Fites and his family were living close by and I had no means of putting the fire out. I went and called Hohnke and someone answered. I went up the street giving the alarm of fire and then returned. I think the fire started from outside at the bottom of the wall of Fites’s shop. There was nothing to show how the fire originated. I got all the assistance I could.
Charles Hohnke
I am a foreman mill-hand at Rosewood saw-mill. I live with my, wife in John-street at the refreshment rooms. On Saturday morning I was awakened by someone knocking at my window. The person said, “I believe there is a fire at Fraser’s.” I ran out at the back and saw the reflection of fire on the buildings. The fire was between Fraser’s and Fites’s shop, the space between which is about 1ft wide. The fire was underneath the corner of the building. This was 30ft or 40ft from my shop. I went over about 20ft from the fire; it was then about 10ft up the outside wall. I could not see if there was any fire inside Fites’ house is in the back yard of his and Fraser’s shops. I got no answer from Fites so I went home, and called my family up. Going home, I saw Mr. Tomlin in his bedroom. There was no fire in Tomlin’s then. I saw no one while I was at the back looking at the fire. When I got home I roused my family, and went out at the front, and I called “Fire!!!” The fire was spreading very quickly.
I think the fire started outside, and under Fraser’s and Fites’s shop. I did not see any fire inside the shops. During the week before the fire there had been fireworks discharged in all the back yards of the premises burnt down. There were no fireworks discharged in my backyard on the night of the 2nd instant. If I had had water, I think I might have put out the fire when I saw it. I was insured. My stock was worth, on the night of the fire: about £400. It was insured for £200. I consider I lost about £200 by the fire.
Frank Bevan Tomlin
I am a chemist in Rosewood. On the 3rd instant, about 1.45, I was awakened by the reflection of a light in my room. I went to the front room. I looked between Fraser’s shop and my own, and could see the fire at the end of Fraser’s nearest to my shop: I then went and called Hohnke and went back by the back door to my own shop. I saw the night officer in my shop with a lamp. I began to move my stock. I only got my books out; the fire had then caught my shop. At the time of the fire I estimated my stock at £400. It was insured for £200. I have no idea of the origin of the fire.
Edmund Fraser
I am a partner of the firm of Fraser Bros. I had a shop in John-street. Alex. Fites had a refreshment-room on one side and F. B. Tomlin a chemist’s shop on the other. My shop and Fites’s were in one building. On Friday, 2nd instant, my shop was open till 9 p.m. I and my brother Harold stayed there till 9.30. There was no light of any kind in the shop when I left. There were no crackers discharged in our back yard that night and there were no matches left in the shop. I do not live at the shop. I was awakened at my house about 2 a.m. I went down to the fire and found the shop a mass of flames. We saved nothing from the fire but a few boots. I have no idea how the started. My stock was worth £450. It was insured for £250.
Henry Jacob Wendt
I am the licensee of the Rosewood Hotel in John-street. On Saturday, the 3rd instant, about 2 a.m., I was awakened by cries of “fire!” I was sleeping on the balcony of my hotel. I went to the back of the hotel. I saw flames coming from Fraser’s shop. I roused all in the hotel. I did not go to the fire. My hotel was afterwards burnt down by the fire. I had a big stock of over £200 worth. The stock was insured for £100. The billiard table was insured for £60–it was worth £85. and the furniture was worth £300. There had been crackers discharged in the back yards of the shops burnt on the night of the fire. There was none discharged in my yard. I have no idea how the fire started.
Harold Fraser
I am a member of the firm of Fraser Bros. We occupied the shop in John-street that was destroyed by fire on the 3rd instant. I live about three-quarters of a mile away. We left the shop about 9.30 on the Friday night. We put the lights out before we left. The light is acetylene gas. The workshop is at the rear of the building. We had four machines working. I was awakened by the glare of the fire in my bedroom. I got up and went down and found our premises gutted. We saved no books or papers. I have no idea how the fire started. There were no crackers discharged at the back of our shop that night, to my knowledge.
Alexander Fites
I kept a refreshment room in John-street. I lived at the back of the shop. On Friday night I closed my shop about midnight. There were about a couple in the room when I closed. They stayed half to three-quarters of an hour, then when they went I shut up the place. The kitchen was in the shop. I have a stove in the kitchen burning wood. There is a fire left in the fire box, when I left, with the door closed. The kitchen was on the hotel side, farthest from Frasers. My stock in trade on the night of the fire would be worth about £500. There were tobacco, and fancy goods and lollies. It was insured for £300. I made out the estimate of the value of my stock in trade for the Insurance Company, the other day. I never told anyone I estimated my stock-in-trade at £280 or £300. I did not save at books and papers. I had a lease of the place for four and-a-half years.
The light and the noise woke me on the 3rd instant. I saw the fire coming out of Frasers when I first saw it. The first person I saw was Sergt. Allen, when I got up. The fire spread very quickly. I sent into my shop, but the heat was too great to get much out. I only had time to save the day book and some cash. There had been a lot of fireworks discharged in the back yard of the shops burnt down on nights previous to the fire. There were no fireworks discharged in my yard the night of the fire. I had a fair stock of fireworks in my shop.
John Allen, Acting-Sergt. of Police
On Saturday, the 3rd instant, about 1 a.m., I was awakened by someone calling “fire”. I looked out and saw the fire was at the rear of Fraser’s shop. I went across and saw the rear of Fraser’s and Fites’s on fire. The fire was in the workshop at Fraser’s. I went and saw that Hohnke was up. I then went to the hotel to wake the people. I went back to Fraser’s and tried to save some things. The fire spread very quickly. Nine places were destroyed. From inquiries made since I can find no cause for the fire. Several nights previous to the fire, fireworks and crackers had been discharged at the rear of Fites’s and Hohnke’s shop, more particularly Fites’s.
On the 31st of December a larger cracker was discharged in the doorway of Fites’s shop. A number of young persons were invited to the back of the shop to discharge crackers, so that the police could not interfere with them. On the morning of the 3rd instant, about 2.30. I came through the back yard of the Rosewood Hotel, and heard several crackers discharged near where the fire afterwards started. The only person I then saw about was Fites, and a couple of people in his shop.
It was determined that the fire started under the back corner of the Frasers’ workroom, which was located at the back of their shop. There had been fireworks and crackers let off in the back yards of some of the the shops since New Year, including on the night of the fire.
The Police Magistrate said that he hoped the law would be changed so that the use of crackers would be stopped in populated centres. “If people want to use crackers why don’t they go into the bush where they can do no damage to anyone?”
Some insurance details.
The Royal Bank, building and contents – £300, with the London and Lancashire Insurance Company.
The Rosewood Hotel and contents (owned by Mrs. E. Ruhno) – £1,150, London and Lancashire Insurance Company.
H. J. Wendt – stock-in-trade £100, furniture £450, Australian Alliance Company.
Fraser’s and Fites’s buildings (owned by Mrs. E. Ruhno) – £300, London and Lancashire Company.
Contents of Fites’s fish and oyster saloon- £100 with the Atlas Insurance Company and £200 with the Queensland Insurance Company.
Contents of Fraser’s boot-shop – £250, Norwich Union Insurance Company.
F. B. Tomlin, and Pender and Hall’s buildings (owned by Mr. E. J. Pender, Ipswich solicitor) £650 in the Atlas Insurance Company.
Messrs. Pender and Hall, stock-in-trade uninsured.
Tomlin’s Stock-in-trade – £200, Palatine Insurance Company.
Mrs. M. Hohnke’s premises (owned by Mr. E. J. Pender) £500, in the Atlas, Company.
Mrs. Hohhke’s stock-in-trade, £250, in the Manchester Company.
Mrs. J. W. Evans’s shops – £150 in the Royal Insurance Company.
Bulcock Bros. premises, owned by Mrs. E. Ruhno – £700, United Insurance Company.
By the end of April a new Rosewood Hotel had been erected by contractor Charles Ridsdale, along with new shops for Fites and Fraser Bros and a new Royal Bank was being constructed.
The fire accentuated the necessity of having a more up to date fire fighting scheme for dealing with such emergencies in this small country town.
The strenuous lives and hardships faced by the early residents tended to produce men and women of independence and of vigorous initiative. It was thought, at the minimum, that each business should place a large tank to its building and have pipes landing to the different parts of the building, and it would also pay for every householder to have water laid on.
They knew their requirements and immediately began to seek advice and hold a public meeting so they could put a suitable proposal for a more modern up-to-date scheme into practice. However, the result of these efforts to obtain anything more substantial is another story entirely.
© Jane Schy, 2024
Source:
[1] Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld. : 1909 – 1954), Saturday 24 January 1914, page 15