C is for Cooktown, Croydon and Cunnamulla

For the letter 'C' in the 'Family History Through the Alphabet' challenge, I was tempted to write about cemeteries, churches and family surnames such as Campbell, Capsticks, Clark and Corduex. Instead I decided to list three Queensland towns whose records I have indexed.

C is for...

• Cooktown.  In the 1800s, Cooktown was the main port for the North Queensland gold fields. Local hospital records, which are very useful for family history, give information about people from all walks of life, including miners, sailors and railway workers. Many had spent time in other parts of Australia and in New Guinea and New Zealand. I have indexed Cooktown Hospital admission registers and some local petitions and school records.


• Croydon.  Another North Queensland mining town for which I have indexed hospital admission registers. During the 1880s, 70% of those admitted to Croydon hospital were born in Britain or Ireland, and about 15% were born in Australia's southern states, especially the Victorian goldfields. Some residents of Croydon moved to Western Australia when gold was discovered there. The index to Croydon Hospital admissions is now online, with Archives source location numbers.


• Cunnamulla.  My home town! I have indexed various records for Cunnamulla, Eulo and Thargomindah in southwest Queensland.

You will find more tips for family history in my other articles in this series.

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Cunnamulla in Google Scholar

In Google Scholar, I searched for 'Cunnamulla' (my home town). Results ranged from 'The Role of the Church in the Rural Communities of South West Queensland' to a study guide for the film 'Cunnamulla'. The book 'Cunnamulla, a brief history of the Paroo Shire' has been cited in several articles. Other titles cited include 'The Geology of the Quilpie, Charleville, Toompine, Wyandra, Eulo and Cunnamulla'.

I also found a United States patent issued to inventor William Stewart BENTLEY, Mooning, Cunnamulla.

For the full text of this article see 52 Weeks to Better Genealogy, no.27: Cunnamulla in Google Scholar.

Sentimental Sunday: JOHNSON headstone

During the 1980s I made two very detailed studies (including transcriptions) of headstones in Cunnamulla General Cemetery in southwest Queensland. A variety of verses are included in epitaphs. Some are quite lengthy, but the majority are traditional verses or phrases such as 'In God's Care' or 'Rest in Peace'. In some cases a verse was composed for a specific person, giving an insight into his or her personality or habits. One example that I found very touching was on the headstone for Bruce Valentine JOHNSON, who died in 1987 aged 22. The verse reads:

Two little words
That meant to us a lot,
From the bottom of our hearts Bruce
Here's a special "Guess what!"

Source: Judy Webster, "Cunnamulla Cemetery Heritage Walk" (thesis, University of New England, 1989).

('Sentimental Sunday' is a theme used by 'Geneabloggers'.)