Alpha town sales

The urgent need to purchase allotments

A short-term term railway terminus was opened on Alpha Creek on 22 September 1884, but the first sale of town allotments did not occur for another ten months. Despite the number of people already living in Alpha, the first sale was held in the previous terminus Pine Hill on 10 August 1885.

The town was surveyed by JVS Desgrand six weeks after the terminus opened and after people had established businesses and homes. The result was that allotments in the street facing the railway line varied in size and a number had improvements on them. At the first sale, only 10.5% of allotments were purchased. It was not until the mid-nineties that the purchase of allotments increased as the town developed as the centre of a pastoral district.

Notes on the database:

The database lists initial purchases from 1885 to 1899. It includes the date of sales, size of allotments, purchaser and the price paid for the allotment. The cost of surveying allotments has been included when available. Where located, details of the Deed of Grant have also been listed.

Notes provide personal information about purchasers and the value of improvements.  The improvements enclosed in brackets indicate that buildings or other improvements on the allotment had been removed before the lot was purchased at a later sale. The movement of hotel buildings, shops and other businesses from terminus to terminus was common as rail line construction continued.

References:

The information in the list has been obtained from the following series at Queensland State Archives

Series 14026, Sales of Crown Land and Special Leases, 1859-1962.

Series 46, Triplicate Deeds of Grant – Town Lot B Registers.

Alpha town sales, 1885-1899

Sect./         Allot. Auction or sale date Size Name of Purchaser/s Purchase Price + Survey Cost (when available) Notes  (improvements removed at time of purchase) Deed of Grant – Town Lot B. No/Vol/folio. 
TOWN
I/1 10 Aug 1885 1 rd Thomas Alexander Neil £4 + £1/1/- Improvements £40 61290/60/345
I/2 10 Aug 1885 1 rd John Jacob Gaebel £2 + £1/1/- Improvements £10 61291/60/346
I/3 10 Aug 1885 1 rd John Jacob Gaebel £4 + £1/1/- Improvements £450 61292/60/347
I/4 10 Aug 1885 1 rd Samuel Brown Williams & Henry Ellis £4 + £1/1/- Improvements £450 61293/60/348 &           61294/60/349
I/5 10 Aug 1885 37 pchs David Mulcahy £3/14/- + £1/1/- Improvements  £250 61295/60/350
I/6 10 Aug 1885 37.25 pchs William Leahey £3/15/3 + £1/1/- Improvements  £350
I/7 06 Dec 1887 36 pchs John England Kellaway £2 (Improvements  £100) 71293/69/102
I/8 10 Aug 1885 24.25 pchs John Peter Vesper £2/8/10 + £1/1/- Agent – Hugh Savage; Improvements  £150 62006/61/310
I/9 06 Dec 1887 32.4 pchs Samuel Brown Williams £1/15/- (Improvements  £130) 70132/68/208
I/10 06 Dec 1887 31.6 pchs Sue Yek £1/12/- (Improvements  £100)
   “  30 Sep 1890   “ Samuel Brown Williams £5 C1406/80/21
I/11 07 Dec 1887 36 pc Charles Robins £2                             £2 (Improvements  £300) 70133/68/209
   “ 30 Sep 1890 31.6 pchs Samuel Brown Williams
I/12 06 Dec 1887 34 pchs Charles Robins £1/15/- (Improvements  £30) 71294/69/103
I/13 06 Dec 1887 1 rd Charles Robins £2 (Improvements  £80) 71295/69/104
I/14 27 Nov 1888 1 rd Charles Robins £2 forfeited
   “ 17 Feb 1891    “ Baxter Davison £6 C1579/80/262
I/15 21 Jul 1892 34 pchs David Walsh £6 C1468/80/32
I/16 21 Jun 1892 36 pchs Charles Robins/Robbins £6 C1411/80/26
I/17 30 Sep 1890 31.6 pchs Samuel Brown Williams £2 C1405/80/22
I/18 27 Nov 1888 32.4 pchs Samuel Brown Williams £1/13/- forfeited
   “ 21 Jun 1892    “ Samuel Brown Williams £6 C1408/80/23
I/19 30 Sep 1890 24.4 pchs Robert Peters £2 C1405/80/20
I/20 6 Dec 1887 36 pchs John England Kellaway £2 71292/69/101
I/21 27 Nov 1888 37.6 pchs John England Kellaway £1/18/- Agent – S B Williams; forfeited
   “ 27 Jan 1891 37.6 pchs James Robert Old £6 C987/79/12
I/22 10 Aug 1885 37 pchs David Mulcahy £1/17/- + £1/1/- 61296/60/351
I/23 10 Aug 1885 1 rd Samuel Brown Williams £2 + £1/1/- Improvements £10 61297/60/352
I/24 10 Aug 1885 1 rd John Jacob Gaebel £4 + £1/1/- Improvements £40 61298/60/353
I/25 10 Aug 1885 1 rd John Jacob Gaebel £2 + £1/1/- Improvements £10 61299/60/354
I/26 10 Aug 1885 1 rd Thomas Alexander Neil £2 + £1/1/- 61300/60/355
II/1 06 Dec 1887 1 rd Samuel George £2 Agent  W J Lyons; (Improvements £15) 71289/69/98
II/2 08 Dec 1887 38 pchs Walter Burke £2 (Improvements £250) 79134/68/20
II/3 06 Dec 1887 1 rd William Henry Shepherd £2 (Improvements £80) 71291/69/100
II/4 12 Dec 1887 1 rd Augustus Jaques £2 70135/68/211
II/5 21 Jun 1892 1 rd Baxter Davison £9/10/- Agent – P A Peel; (Improvements £15) C1515/80/149
II/6 21 Jun 1892 1 rd Lydia Rhodes £6 widow of Charles John Rhodes C1468/80/92
II/7 21 Jun 1892 1 rd Lydia Rhodes £5/10/- widow of Charles John Rhodes; (Improvements £20) C1469/80/93
II/8 21 Jun 1892 1 rd 8 pchs Lydia Rhodes £6 widow of Charles John Rhodes; (Improvements £10) C1470/80/94
II/9 12 Oct 1897 1 rd 8 pchs Carlo Bianchi £3/5/- (Improvements £10)
II/10 12 Oct 1897 1 rd Carlo Bianchi £3 (Improvements £250)
II/11 27 Nov 1888 1 rd 10 pchs Lewis Field £2/10/- + £1/1/ (Improvements £15)
II/12 27 Nov 1888 1 rd 10 pchs Lewis Field £2/10/- + £1/1/-
II/13 12 Oct 1897 1 rd Carlo Bianchi £4
II/14 12 Oct 1897 1 rd 8 pchs Carlo Bianchi £5
II/15 11 Aug 1896 1 rd 8 pchs Herbert Thomas Hallam £2/8/- C2933/85/56
II/16 11 Aug 1896 1 rd Alexander Florence £2 Agent – H T Hallam C2932/85/55
II/17 30 Oct 1894 1 rd William Little, Edward Urbane Patterson & Thomas Ridge. £2 Trustees of United Protestant Church; Agent – P A Peel C2503/83/361
II/18 21 Jun 1892 1 rd Baxter Davison £3 Agent – P A Peel C1516/80/150
II/19 21 Jun 1892 1 rd George Day £4 C1410/80/25
II/20 21 Jun 1892 1 rd Jemima Cavanaugh £4 widow of Mark Cavanaugh C1409/80/24
II/21 21 Jun 1892 38 pchs Alfred Peters £5 C1412/80/27
II/22 06 Dec 1887 1 rd Samuel George £2 Agent – W J Lyons 71290/69/99
V Reserved for public buildings
VI/1 27 Nov 1888 1 rd 29 pchs Samuel Brown Williams £3/10/- forfeited
   “ 27 Jan 1891    “ William James Lyons £6 C1998/82/187
VI/4 30 Sep 1890 2 rd William Duncan Cooper £4 Agent – W O Smith; Allotments 4, 5, 8, 9 (see below) 2 acres, purchased under one Deed. C2768/84/273 – part
VI/5 30 Sep 1890 2 rd William Duncan Cooper £4
VI/6 27 Nov 1888 2 rd Lewis Field £2 + £1/1/- (Improvements £30)
VI/7 30 Sep 1890 2 rd Julia Mulcahy £5 widow of David Mulcahy; (Improvements £50) C1948/82/12
VI/8 30 Sep 1890 2 rd William Duncan Cooper £4 Agent – W O Smith; combined with Allotments 4 and 5 (see above) C27 68/84/273 – part
VI/9 30 Sep 1890 2 rd William Duncan Cooper £4
VII/1 – 4 State School
VII/5 30 Oct 1894 2 rd Patrick Gallagher £4 C2508/83/366
VII/6 30 Oct 1894 2 rd Percy Australia Peel £4 C2507/83/365
VII/7 30 Oct 1894 2 rd Percy Australia Peel £4 C2506/83/364
VII/8 30 Oct 1894 2 rd Herbert Ilott £4 Agent – P A Peel C2505/83/363
VII/9 30 Oct 1894 2 rd George Klein, senior £4 Agent – P A Peel C2504/83/362
VIII/1 05 Nov 1895 1 rd 24.8 pchs Felix O’Leary £4 C2805/84/303
VIII/2 05 Nov 1895 2 rd Felix O’Leary £4 C2804/84/302
VIII/3 02 Dec 1895 2 rd John Cain, William Mason Walsh, John Clement Brosman Trustees of the Roman Catholic Church C2800/84/298
VIII/4 13 Oct 1897 Patrick Kaine purchased with VIII/9; see details at VIII/9
VIII/9 13 Oct 1897 Patrick Kaine £8 offered with VIII/4 C3273/85/394
VIII/10 12 Oct 1897 2 rd Alfred James Wilson £4 C3272/85/393
VIII/11 05 Nov 1895 2 rd Felix O’Leary £4 C2803/84/301
VIII/12 05 Nov 1895 1 rd 24.8 pchs Felix O’Leary £4 C2802/84/300
X/1 30 Oct 1894 1 rd John Hunt £2 Agent – P A Peel C2465/83/332
X/2 30 Oct 1894 1 rd John Hunt £2 Agent – P A Peel C2464/83/331
X/3 30 Oct 1894 1 rd John Hunt £2 Agent – P A Peel C2463/83/330
X/4 1 rd 20 pchs (Improvements £65)
X/5 18 Mar 1896 1 rd Hans Peter Anderson £5 British subject; Agent – P A Peel C2823/84/313
X/6 27 Oct 1893 1 rd Thomas Kay Parker £12 (Improvements £90) C1938/82/110
X/7 26 Sep 1893 1 rd 8 pchs Thomas Newbold £12/10/- Agent – R A Davison (Improvements £95) C1997/82/186
X/8 27 Oct 1893 1 rd 12 pchs Albert Smart £13/10/- (Improvements £100) C1995/82/184
X/9 26 Sep 1893 1 rd 4 pchs Thomas Ridge £14 Agent – Wm Dodd; Improvements £90 C2181/83/11
X/10 26 Sep 1893 1 rd 4 pchs Thomas Ridge £13 Agent – Wm Dodd C2182/83/12
X/11 05 Nov 1895 1 rd 12 pchs Albert Smart £2/12/- Agent – R A Markwell C2739/84/245
X/12 03 Dec 1895 1 rd 8 pchs Thomas Newbold £2/8/- C2770/84/275
X/13 05 Nov 1895 1 rd Anthony Steel £2 C2735/84/241
X/14 26 Sep 1893 1 rd Anthony Steele £11  + £1/1/- Agent – W Dodd; Improvements £100 C1859/81/261
X/15 05 Nov 1895 1 rd 20 pchs Anthony Steel £3 C2736/84/242
X/15 13 Mar 1894 1 rd Frank Constant £2/5/-
X/16 13 Mar 1894 1 rd Frank Constant £2/5/-
X/17 13 Mar 1894 36 pchs Frank Constant £2
X/18 13 Mar 1894 1 rd 4 pchs Samuel Brown Williams £2/5/- + £1/1/-
XI/1 19 Mar 1894 1 rd Catherine Palmer £2 wife of James Palmer C2146/82/366
XI/2  05 Nov 1895 1 rd Charles Schultz £2 British subject C2737/84/243
XI/3 13 Mar 1894 1 rd Frank Constant £2/5/- C2156/82/376
XI/4 13 Mar 1894 1 rd Frank Constant £2/5/- C2155/82/375
XI/5 13 Mar 1894 36 pchs Frank Constant £2 C2517/83/380
XI/6 13 Mar 1894 1 rd 4 pchs Samuel Brown Williams £2/5/- + £1/1/- C2065/82/315
XI/7 13 Mar 1894 1 rd John Truss £2/5/- C2154/82/374
XI/8 13 Mar 1894 1 rd Frank Constant £2 C2613/84/113
XI/10 13 Mar 1894 1 rd 4.8 pchs Rosanna Jansen £2/5/- wife of Isaac Charles Jansen C2153/82/373
XI/11 13 Mar 1894 1 rd 4.8 pchs Frank Constant £2/15/- C2528/84/4
XI/13 05 Nov 1895 1 rd Charles Schultz £2
XI/14 13 Mar 1894 1 rd Frank Constant £2
XI/15 12 Oct 1897 1 rd 4 pchs Annie Williams £2/4/- wife of Samuel Brown Williams; Agent – S B Williams C3271/85/392
XI/16 13 Mar 1894 36 pchs Frank Constant £2 C2518/83/381
XI/17 13 Mar 1894 1 rd Frank Constant £2 C2152/82/372
XI/18 13 Mar 1894 1 rd Frank Constant £2 C2151/82/371
XI/19 05 Nov 1895 1 rd Charles Schultz £2 C2738/84/244
XI/20 13 Mar 1894 1 rd Frank Constant £2 C2614/84/115
XII/1 13 Mar 1894 1 rd Alexander Elsdale £3
XII/2 [17 Mar 1894] 1 rd Harry Campbell Goffage £2 C2147/82/367
XII/3 [26 Mar 1894] 1rd Harry Campbell Goffage £2 C2145/82/365
XII/4 13 Mar 1894 1 rd Augustus Jaques £2 + £1/1/- C2068/82/318
XII/5 12 Oct 1897 1 rd Carlo Bianchi £2 purchased with XII/15 and XII/16; see details of Deed at XII/15.
XII/6 12 Oct 1897 1 rd Carlo Bianchi £2
XII/7 13 Mar 1894 1 rd Thomas Acheson £2 + £1/1/-
XII/8 13 Mar 1894 32 pchs James McDowall £1/15/- C2150/82/370
XII/9 13 Mar 1894 1 rd 24 pchs Augustus Jaques £3/5/- + £1/1/- C2066/82/316
XII/10 13 Mar 1894 24 pchs Baxter Davison £2/10/- + £1/1/- C2064/82/314
XII/11 13 Mar 1894 1 rd 4 pchs John Shaw £2/5/- C2149/82/369
XII/12 13 Mar 1894 1 rd 4 pchs Harry Campbell Goffage £2/5/-
XII/13 13 Mar 1894 32 pchs Harry Campbell Goffage £1/15/-
XII/14 13 Mar 1894 1 rd Harry Campbell Goffage £2
XII/15 12 Oct 1897 1 rd Carlo Bianchi £2 purchased with XII/5 and XII/6. C3277/85/398
XII/16 12 Oct 1897 1 rd Carlo Bianchi £2
XII/17 13 Mar 1894 1 rd Augustus Jaques £2 + £1/1/- C2067/82/317
XII/18 12 Oct 1897 1 rd Carlo Bianchi £2 purchased with XII/19 as one lot C3278/85/399
XII/19 12 Oct 1897 1 rd Carlo Bianchi £2 purchased with XII/18 as one lot
XII/20 13 Mar 1894 1 rd Alexander Elsdale £2 C2148/82/368
XIII/5 12 Oct 1897 2 rd Mary Middleton Peel £4 wife of Frederick Henry Peel; Agent – F H Peel C3275/85/396
XIV/4 11 Aug 1896 2 rd Fanny Rebecca Klein £4 wife of George John Klein, jnr; Agent – S Goldring C2935/85/58
XIV/5 01 Nov 1897 2 rd Michael Klein £4 C3295/86/35
XIV/6 12 Oct 1897 2 rd Michael Klein £4 Agent – E J Presland C3283/86/6
XIV/7 11 Aug 1896 2 rd Mary Middleton Peel £4 wife of Frederick Henry Peel; Agent – P A Peel
XV/1 11 Aug 1896 1 rd 20 pchs Timothy Doherty £5/5/- C3274/85/395
XV/2 11 Aug 1896 2 rd Timothy Doherty £8 Improvements £60 C2969/85/101
XVIII/4 11 Aug 1896 1 ac Eric Jacobson £8 C2934/85/57
SUBURBAN
I/3 13 Mar 1894 5 ac Alice Howard £10 wife of John Howard
I/4 13 Mar 1894 5 ac William Duncan Cooper £10
II/1 13 Mar 1894 4ac 2rd 24pchs Joseph Featonby £9/10/-
II/2 13 Mar 1894 5 ac John Crossan & John McGill George £10
II/3 05 Nov 1895 3 ac John McGill George £10 Agent – James P Boyd