• About Me
  • About My Blogs
  • Diary
  • Moreton Bay Timeline
  • My Publications
    • Queensland’s German Connections
    • Port of Brisbane
    • Moreton Bay Reflections
    • Moreton Bay People – The Complete Collection
    • Peel Island History – A Personal Quest
  • My Shop
  • Reader’s Forum
  • Welcome to my Moreton Bay world

Moreton Bay History

Moreton Bay History

Category Archives: pyjama parties

Bayside Reminiscences – Surfers Paradise – Nell Birt (nee Covill)

18 Saturday Jul 2020

Posted by historianludlow in Bernard Elsey, pyjama parties, Surfers Paradise

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Bernard Elsey, pyjama parties, Surfers Paradise

Bernard Elsey’s Beachcomber Hotel and pool – the scene of his popular pyjama parties

I was born in Manly in 1918 and apart from two short periods (Bribie in the thirties and Surfers Paradise in the early fifties) l lived most of my life in Brisbane until seven years ago, when I moved to North Stradbroke, where I now live.  Although I left Manly when I was two years old, I went back to visit over the next few years, and have fond memories of going to the oyster banks to have my fill of what is still my favourite food.  It was legal to take away as many oysters as you wished – provided they were shelled. We would eat our fill while there, and take more home in a billycan.  My aunt would then cook yummy oyster stew.

One of my earliest memories is of travelling to Southport in the mid-twenties.   The trip took several hours, and necessitated crossing two rivers, the Logan and the Coomera.  The crossings were made by barges, which carried eight cars.  As one load was filled, the next eight cars would move up and wait for the ferry to go across the river and back.   We children would play while we waited for our turn to cross, and I remember once falling from the back of our small utility and cutting my knee when we moved off unexpectedly.  (In fact, I still have the scar.)

At Surfers Paradise

Although Surfers Paradise is not really part of the Bay, I thought my impressions of this area in the late forties and early fifties may be of some interest. In the mid to late 1940s my husband bought a large parcel of land at Surfers Paradise. This comprised several hundred acres and reached from Ferny Avenue to the Nerang River, and from Narrow Neck to where River Drive curves towards the river.  We then proceeded to develop it, filling low-lying parts with truckload after truckload of sand, and then putting in roads and naming them (Cypress, Pine etc).  We gave the Council some land for a park around what was the Budd’s Beach area. Allotments were sold for ₤600 ($1200) – the mind boggles to think what they’d be worth today. My dad retired and he and my mother built a house on one of the allotments facing the river.  Dad loved fishing, and there were lots of fish in the river.  I remember his favourite was flathead. (Their modest house was torn down some years ago and replaced with a much larger one.)  We also owned land in Cavill Avenue and in Orchid Avenue, but unfortunately sold these immediately prior to the lifting in the early fifties of building restrictions, after which Surfers Paradise began to boom.

At the time, Surfers was at the verge of its popularity with people other than local Brisbane holidaymakers.  They were mostly from Melbourne, coming in winter to enjoy the sun and the beach. The development was noticeable in just the four or five years I lived there, particularly in Cavill Avenue, where we opened a Real Estate office.  The hotel was the venue for meals and entertainment – dancing to the music of Johnny Goldner was very popular.  Also, next door to the hotel beer garden was a two-storey building where ‘pyjama parties’ were held.  A Chinese restaurant was opened, and further down the highway the “Windjammer” – run by a Melbourne woman, Sophie Graves – was the venue for Sunday night entertainment. Johnny Goldner was pianist there also.  Towards the end of my stay in Surfers I remember going to South Stradbroke on one of the launch trips run by Bernard Elsey.  I also remember Keith Williams, who took up my husband’s suggestion and started a water ski business on the Nerang River (not long before his Hamilton Island days).

At Stradbroke Island

Going to Surfers now is like going to a different world from the one I knew.  I certainly would not like to live there now, though it’s fun to visit occasionally.  My interest now is in Stradbroke, which strangely enough I had not visited until I bought a house here seven years ago.  Although personally I know nothing of the early Straddie, I have read several books on its quite remarkable history.  Even in the past few years I have noticed that it is changing – the rise in land prices and the number of visitors denote that the island is becoming very popular.  I often sit at the Dunwich Bakery for morning coffee, and meet and converse with people from many parts of the world – I have met people from Denmark, Germany, England, Japan, Italy, Switzerland, even one from Alaska.  Very seldom do I meet anyone from the US.  It is all very interesting and I am enjoying spending my later years here on Straddie.

Nell Birt (nee Covill)

February 2009

(Extract from Peter Ludlow’s book ‘Moreton Bay People 2012’ (now out of print)

Recent Posts

  • From a Farm Beside the Sea with Pam Tickner – Part 2
  • From a Farm Beside the Sea with Pam Tickner – Part 1
  • Wellington Point
  • William in Lockdown
  • A Visit to the Royal Flying Doctor Service (Queensland)

Recent Comments

historianludlow on Wellington Point
keith Boulton on Wellington Point
historianludlow on From a Farm Beside the Sea wit…
Brian Russell on From a Farm Beside the Sea wit…
keith Boulton on Wellington Point

Archives

  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015

Categories

  • 1960s scene
  • Aborigines
  • ACGS
  • Aircraft
  • Amity
  • Art
  • Avebury
  • Bancroft
  • Bath
  • Bee Gees
  • bees
  • Bernard Elsey
  • Bird Island
  • Bishop Island
  • boats
  • Bradford on Avon
  • Bribie Island
  • Brisbane
  • Bulimba
  • bushfires
  • Caboolture
  • cataracts
  • Christmas
  • Churchie
  • Cilento
  • Cleveland
  • coal
  • Coins
  • coral dredging
  • Covid 19
  • Cowan Cowan
  • Cribb Island
  • CSIRO
  • CyArk
  • Deception Bay
  • dreams, hallucinogens
  • dredges
  • Dromagh
  • Drones
  • duelling
  • Dunwich
  • Electronics
  • Faith
  • Fantome Island
  • film
  • fishing
  • football
  • Frank Boyce
  • George Symons Suits
  • Germany
  • Glengariff
  • Google Earth
  • Gustav Dux
  • Gutter Bar
  • Heide Museum of Modern Art
  • Historic buildings
  • History
  • Hobart
  • Hogmanay
  • Hong Kong
  • Ian Fairweather
  • Immigration
  • indigenous
  • inebriates
  • Ireland
  • Jack The Ripper
  • Japan
  • jetties
  • jigsaw
  • John Oxley
  • Karl Marx
  • Kastellorizo
  • Kleinschmidt
  • Kooringal
  • Leichhardt
  • Leprosy
  • Literature
  • London
  • Lyne Marshall
  • Mallalieu
  • mandala
  • Maryborough
  • Matthew Flinders
  • Memories
  • Metropol Hotel
  • mining
  • Missionary
  • Mona Mona Aboriginal Mission
  • Moreton Bay
  • Moreton Island
  • Moscow
  • Mr Magoo
  • Mud Island
  • Museums
  • music
  • National Geographic Magazine
  • New Year
  • Nundah
  • oysters
  • Pam and Ernie Tickner
  • Paris
  • Pasternak
  • Pebble Beach
  • Peel Island
  • Petrie
  • Phillip Island
  • Photography
  • Podcasts
  • Politics
  • Port of Brisbane
  • pyjama parties
  • quarantine
  • Raby Bay
  • Redcliffe
  • Redevelopment
  • Redlands
  • Richmal Crompton
  • Robert Burns
  • Rotary
  • Royal Flying Doctor Service
  • RQYS
  • Russell Island
  • Russia
  • science
  • Scotland
  • sharing
  • sharks
  • ships
  • shore birds
  • Siberia
  • soccer
  • Spanish Galleon
  • St Helena Island Prison
  • Stanthorpe
  • Stourhead
  • Stradbroke Island
  • Submarines
  • sugar cane
  • Surfers Paradise
  • Tallegalla
  • Tangalooma
  • The Hunchback of Notre Dame
  • The Seekers
  • Toulkerri
  • Towles
  • travel
  • TV
  • Uncategorized
  • Vintage Vikings
  • Walter Porriott
  • Wellington Point
  • whales
  • Whepstead Manor
  • Woodford
  • World War I
  • World War II
  • yarns
  • zoos

Meta

  • Register
  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.com

Recent Posts

  • From a Farm Beside the Sea with Pam Tickner – Part 2
  • From a Farm Beside the Sea with Pam Tickner – Part 1
  • Wellington Point
  • William in Lockdown
  • A Visit to the Royal Flying Doctor Service (Queensland)

Recent Comments

historianludlow on Wellington Point
keith Boulton on Wellington Point
historianludlow on From a Farm Beside the Sea wit…
Brian Russell on From a Farm Beside the Sea wit…
keith Boulton on Wellington Point

Archives

  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015

Categories

  • 1960s scene
  • Aborigines
  • ACGS
  • Aircraft
  • Amity
  • Art
  • Avebury
  • Bancroft
  • Bath
  • Bee Gees
  • bees
  • Bernard Elsey
  • Bird Island
  • Bishop Island
  • boats
  • Bradford on Avon
  • Bribie Island
  • Brisbane
  • Bulimba
  • bushfires
  • Caboolture
  • cataracts
  • Christmas
  • Churchie
  • Cilento
  • Cleveland
  • coal
  • Coins
  • coral dredging
  • Covid 19
  • Cowan Cowan
  • Cribb Island
  • CSIRO
  • CyArk
  • Deception Bay
  • dreams, hallucinogens
  • dredges
  • Dromagh
  • Drones
  • duelling
  • Dunwich
  • Electronics
  • Faith
  • Fantome Island
  • film
  • fishing
  • football
  • Frank Boyce
  • George Symons Suits
  • Germany
  • Glengariff
  • Google Earth
  • Gustav Dux
  • Gutter Bar
  • Heide Museum of Modern Art
  • Historic buildings
  • History
  • Hobart
  • Hogmanay
  • Hong Kong
  • Ian Fairweather
  • Immigration
  • indigenous
  • inebriates
  • Ireland
  • Jack The Ripper
  • Japan
  • jetties
  • jigsaw
  • John Oxley
  • Karl Marx
  • Kastellorizo
  • Kleinschmidt
  • Kooringal
  • Leichhardt
  • Leprosy
  • Literature
  • London
  • Lyne Marshall
  • Mallalieu
  • mandala
  • Maryborough
  • Matthew Flinders
  • Memories
  • Metropol Hotel
  • mining
  • Missionary
  • Mona Mona Aboriginal Mission
  • Moreton Bay
  • Moreton Island
  • Moscow
  • Mr Magoo
  • Mud Island
  • Museums
  • music
  • National Geographic Magazine
  • New Year
  • Nundah
  • oysters
  • Pam and Ernie Tickner
  • Paris
  • Pasternak
  • Pebble Beach
  • Peel Island
  • Petrie
  • Phillip Island
  • Photography
  • Podcasts
  • Politics
  • Port of Brisbane
  • pyjama parties
  • quarantine
  • Raby Bay
  • Redcliffe
  • Redevelopment
  • Redlands
  • Richmal Crompton
  • Robert Burns
  • Rotary
  • Royal Flying Doctor Service
  • RQYS
  • Russell Island
  • Russia
  • science
  • Scotland
  • sharing
  • sharks
  • ships
  • shore birds
  • Siberia
  • soccer
  • Spanish Galleon
  • St Helena Island Prison
  • Stanthorpe
  • Stourhead
  • Stradbroke Island
  • Submarines
  • sugar cane
  • Surfers Paradise
  • Tallegalla
  • Tangalooma
  • The Hunchback of Notre Dame
  • The Seekers
  • Toulkerri
  • Towles
  • travel
  • TV
  • Uncategorized
  • Vintage Vikings
  • Walter Porriott
  • Wellington Point
  • whales
  • Whepstead Manor
  • Woodford
  • World War I
  • World War II
  • yarns
  • zoos

Meta

  • Register
  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.com

Blog at WordPress.com.

Cancel