Yungaba Action Group - working to keep Yungaba and its grounds as a place for the people.

History of Yungaba...

In the 1820s, the high ridges of the southern bank of the Brisbane River at Kangaroo Point were covered by forest which, along with nearby swamps, provided food for the people of the Coorparoo clan. During the convict period, the area was planted with grain and a watch was kept to keep away Aboriginal people.

European control of the land around Kangaroo Point increased over the following decades. Areas of land were surveyed, subdivided and sold by the Crown as town blocks. The land currently occupied by Yungaba was first part of a tallow works, then became the private residence.

From the 1840s Queensland was a significant destination for thousands of immigrants from Europe , mainly the United Kingdom . In the early 1880s, a time of great expansion in Queensland , hundreds of men and women arrived at Queensland ports each year ready to make a new life. So in the prosperous economic climate of 1884 the Queensland Government acquired land at Kangaroo Point and in the following year invited tenders for the building of a handsome new ‘immigration depot’ that would match the optimism of the time and appropriately greet the new arrivals.

The resulting Kangaroo Point Depot was completed by the end of 1887 and was receiving immigrants in the New Year. Since then, this stylish building, with its extensive grounds (named Yungaba in the 1940s) has provided the first welcome for countless immigrants ready to make Queensland their home and a significant site for cross cultural exchange.

In periods of reduced immigration, the depot was used for a variety of public purposes. In the depression of the 1890s, it served as an employment agency and temporary refuge for the destitute. In 1901 it was used as a reception centre for troops returning from the Boer War. It also served as a military hospital during both the First and Second World Wars.

One of its most significant uses was during the ‘Great Depression’ in the 1930s when it became the headquarters of the project team that designed and built the Jubilee Bridge (later renamed the Story Bridge). This historical connection is now reflected in the visual links between the pylons and girders of the Story Bridge and the Yungaba site.

Following the Second World War, Yungaba was again devoted solely to its migrant functions – the reception, orientation and settlement of immigrants. The government immigration offices were located there and over succeeding decades, Yungaba became famous for its concerts and parties showcasing the growing cultural wealth of Queensland.

For over 120 years, Yungaba has been a significant public place. Its significance was recognised with a listing on Queensland’s first heritage register in 1988. It is the only extant purpose-built immigration depot in Australia.

Yungaba immigration depot - A mini-biography

1824: The site is a forest. Sporadic presence of Aboriginal people who will be most unfortunately be referred to as ‘marauding aborigines’ and as ‘persistent thieves’ in the 1987 publication, ‘Yungaba – 1887-1987 – A century of service to migrants’ by Margaret Jenner, for the then Department of Family and Youth Services –Ethnic Affairs.

Kangaroo Point's history. Excerpts from BRISbites community history project .

Aboriginal history

The southern bank of the Brisbane River at this point was occupied by the Coorparoo clan. The high ridges above the cliffs were heavily timbered and this and the swamps in the lower areas provided food for the people. It is unlikely that they ever used the area as a camping ground. Nehemiah Bartley recorded that in the scrub between Woolloongabba and Kangaroo Point skulls of Aborigines killed in fights were often found.

During the convict period the area was planted with grain and a watch was kept to keep away any Aborigines. Conflicts between the convicts and aborigines did occur including at least one death.

In 1846 a battle between Aborigines was reported there. Aborigines were common in area at that time.

Subdivison of Kangaroo Point

1844: in January of that year, Kangaroo Point is subdivided into lots, numbered 13 to 36.

The government purchases lots 21 &22, 6 acres, for 14,000 pounds, for the erection of ‘immigration barracks’.

1885: Rough sketch plans are drawn for the immigration depot (Kangaroo Point Depot), and tenders for construction are called in August. Four tenders are submitted.

On 2 November, a construction contract is signed with William Peter Clark
The design has the following characteristics:
Italianate elevation; Queensland characteristics e.g. enclosing verandahs, galvanized iron hoods, ventilators to the roofs; institutional style in that the treatment is resolutely symmetrical.

1886-88: William Edward Parry-Okeden is appointed Immigration Agent.

First Immigrants Landed

By Christmas 1887, the construction is considered as completed. In August, that year, the agent seeks the establishment of a wharf to enable immigrants to be landed. Conditions were still precarious as, by February 1888, “there was still no surface drainage and the immigrants paddled through a sea of mud…”.

1889: In January, the depot was temporarily closed so as to allow fumigations against an outbreak of scarlet fever.

1890s: Owing to the erratic nature of immigrant occupation, the depot is variously used also as temporary refuge for the destitute, or as an office for employment and other such functions dictated by temporary convenience.

1901: The depot is used as a reception centre for troops returning from the South African War.

At about the same time, the Immigration Agent provides an office space to a Mrs Frew, for her activities as ‘protectress of Aborigenes’.

1904-06: Pacific Islanders, most of whom were forcibly taken to Australia as labour in the cane fields, are being repatriated as a result of the White Australia Policy. They are assembled at the Immigration Depot prior to sailing away.

1915: The depot is converted into a military hospital with a capacity of 270 beds.

1934-40: Part of the depot becomes the headquarters of the office for the design and planning of the Jubilee Bridge later renamed “ Storey Bridge ’.

1941-46: The depot is reconverted to a hospital, focusing particularly on the treatment of venereal diseases, arising from the dynamics of World War II in the area of the Pacific, when Brisbane had become a ‘major liberty town’.

Post- WWII:

16,000 pounds are allocated to the remodeling of the Kangaroo Point Depot. This is renamed ‘YUNGABA State Migration Office and Reception Centre’.

The facility can now be exclusively dedicated to the purpose for which it was constructed in the first place. It eventually houses the Queensland ‘Ethnic Affairs’ function under a successive variety of names and ministerial or departmental responsibilities.

Reception of immigrants and Orientation and Settlement services are its prevalent functions which eventually include a fully fledged program of Language Services.

1970-75: Construction of Unit Blocks (for migrant families) and of the Administrative Building . In 1974 the Brisbane River floods merely lapped onto the exterior of the buildings.

1987: Yungaba Centenary’s celebrations.

1988: Heritage listing

1993: Government establishes the ‘Queensland Ethnic Affairs Policy’.

1993-94: Cessation of the traditional migrant function. Strategic developments in multicultural affairs.

1994-96: Air-conditioning installed in significant parts of main building and in the Administrative building.

1995-96: Minister Margaret Woodgate, sells the southern carpark space to Radio 4EB. Control of Yungaba is transferred from Family Services to Premier and Cabinet.

1996-97: The exterior of the main building and parts of the interior are repainted at long last.

1996-98: Restructure of Ethnic/Multicultural program. In August 1998 Government announces the Queensland Multicultural Policy. The main component of the program is transferred to the CBD at 64 Mary Street .

It is to be noted that, as of 1994, following the cessation of the State migrant function , Yungaba had been put to good use. Some accommodation units were let to the Commonwealth Department of Immigration for its refugees’ reception in Queensland . On completion of that contract all the units were refurbished and used for the accommodation of overseas students. These activities, together with the hiring out of space for community functions, secured a steady flow of income.

The period 1990 to 1998 marked the development and consolidation of Queensland ’s modern focus on multicultural affairs of which ethnic affairs was a subset. Policy development went through progressive phases and, in August 1998, culminated with the launch of the ‘Multicultural Queensland Policy’.

The site became the hub and focus of new horizons in the thinking and practice of multicultural affairs. The facility opened its doors to the wide community both by way of provision of space for inter-cultural meetings and activities, and of office space to community-based multicultural and ethnic organisations.

Notable examples of contributing programs housed at Yungaba were: the Brisbane Ethnic Music and Arts Centre (BEMAC) devoting its programs and activities to diversity within and through the Arts, and the International Bilateral Business Centre grouping a number of Chambers of Commerce established at Yungaba with the cooperation of the Department of State Development.

In the same period, the search for a meaningful future for the site centred around numerous consultations.

These led to the distinctly preferred option for Yungaba’s redevelopment as a Multicultural Centre. The rationale underpinning this option was the intent to preserve the tradition and public interest embodied in the site.

This option recommended the development of a centre of best practice in all aspects of intercultural relations, nationally and internationally, be they in the realm of education, business, communication, the Arts, training, tourism, and the media, with a strong focus towards contributing to peace and harmony in community relations..

In addition, an inter-active Museum of Immigration was proposed as a significant addition to Brisbane’s historical, cultural, and heritage sites.

In 1997 a Government working group was established to consider options for the redevelopment of Yungaba as a centre point for ethnic and multicultural activities, with the present use by various ethnic and multicultural groups to continue to report within twelve months.

A change of government in 1998 slowed progress. In 1999 the Department of Premier and Cabinet commissioned the C&B Group to consult with interested parties and prepare a report on redevelopment options.

In 2000, the Government decided to: :
1) Endorse ‘in principle’ the redevelopment of the Yungaba site as a Multicultural Centre.
2)The Centre was transferred to the Minister for Public Works who was to conduct a feasibility study on the development of Yungaba as a multicultural centre.

A workshop, involving all main stakeholders, focused on planning the future of the Yungaba site in the spirit of the Cabinet decisions.

In 2001/2, Public Works opted to curtail accommodation in the Units Bocks and kept these premises vacant for the past few years thus discontinuing the flow of income. It may be plausible to consider this decision as dictated by a tacit notion as to the possibility of selling the property even though the reason given for the decision was the structural weakness of the Units Blocks.

Recent history

In 2002, negotiations were entered in to by Government with entrepreneurial entities, for the sale of the property.

Thus, the essence of the redevelopment approved in 1997 and in 2000 had been abandoned - without any form of either public consultation or public tender - in favour of purely economic considerations. The sale of the property was basically agreed to with one of the offerers, Australand, a company of real estate developers. However, to date, well into 2006, finalisation has not eventuated as the sale is subject to various conditions, including development approval.

The planning presented by the potential purchaser late in 2002, showed as follows:
- some 96% of the original site was ear-marked for redevelopment into up-market multistorey units.
- some 4% of the original site, more precisely the area now occupied by Yungaba’s only car park, extending over a surface of some 875 square metres, was propose for the erection of a street-front multistorey building one floor of which was proposed to be allocated to the semblance of a multicultural centre.

When contrasted with the space envisaged in both Government submissions, the drastic space and scope reduction in the development of a Multicultural Centre pointed to a waning government interest in multiculturalism, despite the otherwise flamboyant ongoing government statements in support of multiculturalism.

The 4% space provision for a multicultural centre was largely inadequate both conceptually and in terms of space.

The up-market project included the main Yungaba 1887 heritage building which was proposed or even ear-marked for redevelopment into luxury apartments for those privileged few able to afford the luxury.

In the first submission to Government this superb building was to house, among other things, an Immigration Museum designed to capture the 107 years of immigration history in Queensland . This consideration was not considered in Australand’s planning. Likewise, there was no provision for capturing the varied and rich history of this site. This amounted - wittingly or otherwise - to an obliteration of public memory.
Noted compiled by Guido Cifali

Current

Home of BEMAC (Brisbane Ethnic Multicultural Arts Centre) and Conference Centre.

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