Bjelke-Petersen and Low family papers

Eliza Alice Low nee Ensor is Florence Bjelke Petersen’s maternal grandmother. She was born in 1856 in England and died in 1943.

Information included in this item is as follows:

• Correspondence 1910-1942 – from gandchildren, two letters appear to be from Eliza Low from Diamantina Hospital in Dalby
• Marriage certificate
• Newspaper clippings
• Government Savings Bank deposit book belonging to Eliza and Edwin Low
• Greeting cards
• Photographs

Also included is a print out of items found to have been collected and saved by ‘Granny Low’ (as she was referred to by Florence) which add includes some biographical information about the Low family and some context of the items included in this collection. The information is entitled ‘Granny Low’s Treasures’.

One mounted portrait photograph of Eliza Alice Low, nee Ensor born 1856, died 1943. Portrait does not have a date but does feature Eliza Alice as a mature aged woman.

One lace collar, provenance unknown

One lace handkerchief embordered 'd. 28th October, 1882' most likely belonging to Eliza Alice Low.

Since the date embroidered on the handkerchief is the date of Eliza Alice and Edwin Low’s marriage and as the lace collar is of a similar age to the handkerchief it is possible both of these items belonged to Eliza Alice Low.

Edwin Low was husband to Eliza Alice Low and Florence Bjelke-Petersen’s maternal grandfather.

Items include: 

• Photographs
• Copy of book ‘Messages of Love for the sick and suffering with verses by Rose Boudillon’ with an inscription to Edwin Low and handwritten annotations throughout
• Greeting cards
• Confirmation certificate, Brisbane 1899
• In memoriam of Edwin Low 1910

One mounted portrait photograph of Edwin Low with daughter Florence Mabel as a girl.

Arthur Edwin Low is the son of Eliza Alice and Edwin Low, bother to Florence Mabel.

Items include:

• Postcards and correspondence from Arthur addressed to ‘Alice’           
• Correspondence regarding his death of influenza in England immediately after the end of the first World War
• Photographs of grave in England
• Mothers and Widows badge and a service medal
• Two coins found on the battlefield by Arthur Low
• Photograph of Arthur as child (4 years old) and two other boys, Walter and Sydney, 1890 in England

One mounted illustrated certificate issued to the relatives of Arthur E. Low by the town of Ithaca honouring his service in the First World war, printed by D. W. Paterson Co. Pty. Ltd.

Harold Low is the son of Eliza Alice and Edwin Low, bother to Florence Mabel.

Items include:

• Correspondence including on concertinaed letter cards
• Postcards 1915? -1919
• Telegrams pertaining to Harold Low when he was injured during the First World War
• Church News clipping, Ithaca parish, 1935
• A book of unused postcards

Walter Low is possibly the nephew of Eliza Alice Low. He resided in England.

Items include:

• Photographs of Walter, one in Royal Naval Air Service uniform
• Correspondence - mostly addressed to ‘Aunt Alice’ in Brisbane
• Newspaper clippings

This is a small collection of items pertaining to the Gilmour family. Florence Mabel Low married James Pollock Gilmour in 1920. They had two children, Florence and Margaret.

Information held in this item is as follows:

• Small plaque (previously attached to something larger) reads "presented to Mr. David Gilmour by the Deacons Court of Busby Free Church and a few friends as a token of their esteem on his leaving Australia”, 25th Sept 1882. David Gilmour was Florence Bjelke-Petersen’s paternal grandfather.
• Photographs, largely mounted and unidentified but part of Gilmour family
• Memorial card for David Gilmour
• Florence Mabel Gilmour’s driver’s licence
• Photographs of Florence Mabel Gilmour

This item holds information pertaining to Florence Bjelke-Petersen’s (nee Gilmour) childhood, young adulthood and life before her marriage to Joh Bjelke-Petersen including:

• Girls order of the covenant folk dancing competition, 1940?
• Class photograph of students in New Farm 1929, including Florence
• Photographs of Florence’s family and early adult life 
• Florence’s schooling papers – offer of scholarship, scholars report from Brisbane Girls Grammar
• Greeting cards
• Newspaper clipping of Youth Council Annual Dinner

Australian service medals for the First and Second World Wars, belonging to George Lewis Chilman once contained in a box addressed to Mrs J. E. Chilman, c/o Messers McMaster, Montgomery & Co, 133 Richmons St, West Toronto Canada. Also written on the box "A18173, G.L. Chilman"

The medals from the First World War are marked with the recipient’s name and his unit, and relate to Chilman's service with the South African Infantry 5th Battalion, part of the South African Overseas Expeditionary Force formed by the South African Government as part of its contribution to the British war effort.

The medals from the Second World War relate to Chilman's service with the Australian Military Forces, District Accounts Office, #Q89465. When George enlisted for service in 1941, he named Florence Gilmour, of New Farm as his next of kin (later Florence Bjelke-Peterson) who was his first cousin. Prior to the war, Chilman was a representative of the Queensland Chamber of Manufacturers, promoting Queensland trade to Pacific and South East Asian nations.

Photograph album of Carl and Maren’s generation of the Bjelke-Petersen family taken mostly during their tenure of the family property ‘Bethany' in Kingaroy.

The subjects of photographs in this album include:

• Maren before her marriage
• House the Bjelke-Petersen family lived in New Zealand
• Christian, Joh and Neta as children at Bethany, helping and playing on the farm
• Neta as a child with various animals
• Joh as a young adult using farm machinery
• Christian’s funeral
• Trips to the Bunya Mountains in the sunshine coast hinterland
• Taabinga Village School Jubilee, 1947

This photograph album includes a list which describes some of the photographs in the album however any order relative to this list was lost before the items were received at State Library. Every attempt has been made to order the photographs chronologically.

One folder of mostly mounted portraits and postcard family photographs of George (Carl) and Maren’s generation of the Bjelke-Petersen family and extended family. Features a number of photos of Marie Bjelke-Petersen, who was a famous romance writer and resided in Tasmania but visited the Queensland Bjelke-Petersen family with some regularity.

Photographs feature:

• Group photographs of extended family and friends at Bethany
• George (Carl) and brother Christian Bjelke-Petersen and meeting the Prince of Wales
• Extended Bjelke-Petersen and Poulsen families
• Portrait photo of young Joh Bjelke-Petersen
• Maren Poulsen’s leaving celebrations in Laidley before leaving to marry George (Carl) Bjelke-Petersen in New Zealand
• Marie Bjelke-Petersen on trips to Queensland and at her home in Tasmania
• Bjelke-Petersen family in a boat on a river on holiday in Rotorua, New Zealand 1913

One folder of photographs of Bjelke-Petersen family friends and distant relations, mainly from the Danish community in Laidley where Maren Bjelke-Petersen (nee Poulsen) family lived after their emigration from Denmark.

• Christen Skoufoi driving to Laidley in a horse-drawn vehicle
• Portrait photograph of two couples; Mr and Mrs Peter Hansen, Mr and Mrs Niels (?) Thomas Jensen
• Hansen Family group with Pastor Prenzler
• Swensden family
• Shellback family
• Petersen family (not related to the Bjelke-Petersen family)
• Inge Marie Jensen was a childhood friend of Maren’s from Laidley after the Poulsen family emigrated from Denmark (married Peter Hansen)

One folder of photographs of Joh and Florence’s generation of the Bjelke-Petersen family beginning when Joh and Florence married in 1952.

Photographs include:

• Florence and Joh’s wedding
• Bjelke-Petersen children growing up
• Joh on official trips, at political meetings
• Florence swearing in as a Senator
• Florence and Margaret on holidays later in life
• Group portraits of Bjelke-Petersen children and their children

Many photographs in this item are professionally taken and some appear to be affiliated with newspapers. These would appear to be used for campaigns and publicity. 

One hand-created story called 'The Little Bush School' written and illustrated for Margaret ‘Meg’ Bjelke-Petersen by her Aunt Neta Stiller (nee Bjelke-Petersen) in 1960.

Audio recording of Maren Bjelke-Petersen (nee. Poulsen) talking to her grandchildren Ruth, Helen and John Bjelke-Petersen.

Maren talks of her life in different periods; early childhood in Denmark, life in Laidley after the Poulsen family emigrated.

Audio recording of Maren Bjelke-Petersen (nee. Poulsen) talking to Margaret Bjelke-Petersen, known now as ‘Meg’.

Maren talks of her wedding day.

Home movie labelled ‘A.Stiller, “Bethany”, Kingaroy’.

16 mil film reel in box addressed to J. Bjelke-Petersen in Kingaroy.

16 mil film reel in box addressed to J. Bjelke-Petersen c/o Kodak in Queen Street, Brisbane.

One folder of ephemera related to Florence Bjelke-Petersen’s time as senator. Folder includes:

• postcard with Pumpkin scone recipe
• Correspondence with attached clipping from Country Youth Crusade of Australia Inc. to Mrs. Bjelke Petersen.
• Pencil sketch of Florence – unknown artist
• Senator Florence Bjelke-Petersen business cards

Audio recording of Mrs Florence Bjelke-Petersen addressing the Tansey branch of the Queensland Country Women’s Association.

Audio recording of Joh Bjelke-Petersen as the Minister for Public Works and Housing at the official opening of a government building.

34 slides. The cardboard mounted slides are of an official visit to by Joh Bjelke-Petersen to the Torres Strait. Images include a government vessel, landscapes of islands and of a public dance ceremony.

The glass slides, some of which are damaged, are of a trip (either business or official government duty) to Western Queensland, possibly Diamantina. There are images of a shire council office and other rural buildings. Some images have been taken from a small plane.

Carved wooden artifact - most likely a shield - of the Torres Strait Island people presented to Joh Bjelke-Petersen in 1973 in recognition of his support to keep the Torres Strait Islands a part of Queensland during Australian boarder negotiations with Papua New Guinea when they gained independence.

Feathers adorn each end, the wood has been painted an earthy red and is patterned with carvings across both sides. 

14 8mm films probably taken when Joh Bjelke-Petersen served in public office of Florence and Joh Bjelke-Petersen travels through Queensland as Government representatives.