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Chair Used By George Essex Evans
George Essex Evans was described by his friend , Prime Minister Alfred Deakin as ‘ Australia ’ s National Poet ’. He was registrar of births , marriages and deaths in Toowoomba and lived at Glenbar , about halfway down The Range on the Old Toll Bar Road .
Of his many poems , ‘ The Women of the West ’ and ‘ The Nation Builders ’ are probably the best known . When he died suddenly in 1909 , the community erected a monument in his honour at Webb Park overlooking his home .
The Ladies ’ Literary Society donated the chair to the Toowoomba City Council . It is on permanent display at the Toowoomba City Library in Victoria Street .
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Poem by George Essex Evans
This is an original hand-written copy of the poem ‘ The Crown of Empire ’ signed by the poet , George Essex Evans .
It was an ode commemorating the coronation of King Edward VII . A copy was printed on white satin and presented to the King by Prime Minister Edmund Barton .
The poem is historically significant as one written during the Federation era and has associations with a Prime Minister and the King .
Souvenir Vase
The view from Picnic Point is unrivalled in Australia and this vase shows the original kiosk with part of the iconic Mt Tabletop , while roses are reminders of Toowoomba ’ s Garden City image . This picture is shown on both sides of the vase and its base contains the inscription , ‘ G . A . Morton Red Arcade Toowoomba ’. The Red Arcade in Ruthven Street was a fancy goods store specialising in souvenirs such as this .
Carnival of Flowers Memorabilia
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Toowoomba ’ s first Carnival of Flowers parade was held on 21 October 1950 , and has become a popular event associated with the Garden City . That year the Carnival Queen was Fay Ryan , but a crown was made for the queen in 1953 and Dawn Hillocks was the first to wear it . The same crown was used at every Carnival until 1966 .
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Statue of ‘ Puppy ’ at Picnic Point
From the first Carnival of Flowers procession in 1950 , ‘ Puppy ’, the mascot of the Toowoomba Thistle Pipe Band , was an eager participant beside his owner , Drum Major Hughie Morgan .
At well over six feet when adorned in his magnificent bearskin and full Scottish national dress , Mr Morgan was an imposing figure leading the band .
Not to be outdone , ‘ Puppy ’, wearing his tartan-fringed rug , trotted beside his master and won the hearts of all .
A statue of ‘ Puppy ’ was erected at Picnic Point following his accidental death in 1958 which saddened the community .
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Weis ’ Bars
Weis ’ Bars were developed in Toowoomba by Cyril Weis in the 1930s when he owned a corner store and made his own ice-cream and confectionery . Drawing on the abundance of fruit in the region , Cyril created an ice-cream based on the concept of fruit salad and cream . His ‘ Fruito Bar ’ was a hit in the region , but war-time rationing halted production .
In 1957 Cyril ’ s son Les and his wife Val relaunched the Fruito Bar from the Empire Theatre Café where it was immensely popular with theatregoers .
Today , factory production enables Weis ’ bars to be enjoyed not only in the city where they were invented , but throughout Australia and in many overseas countries .
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Carlton and United Breweries Window and Last Bottle of Beer
This window preserved in the premises occupied by McDonald Printing Group in Mort Street , is a reminder that beer has been commercially brewed on this site since the 1880s when Thomas Meagher started the Bulimba Toowoomba Brewery .
He sold to the Breheny Brothers around 1900 and their Silverstream Brewery operated until 1923 when the operation was purchased by Queensland Brewery Limited . They built a new brewery which was officially opened on 3 December 1924 .
Carlton and United Breweries took over in 1961 and when their operations ceased in April 1976 , the last bottle of beer was kept for display .
The McDonald Printing Group , which started operations in the old brewery building in 1990 , continues to make use of an original bore .