Clarence Corner, Stanley Street

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Clarence Corner, Stanley Street, Brisbane

The Brisbane Courier
Friday 24 Dec 1928

The Clarence Corner

Sir - In your issue of Saturday, 8th, I read with interest a letter on the above subject, over the name of Magee and Co., and would like to refer to the statement that the name "Clarence Corner" was first suggested by the members of the Harris and Co.'s drapery business some 30 years ago.

I can look back over 50 years to that part of South Brisbane, when Cobb and Co.'s coaches passed by the old Clarence Hotel on their way to Southport. One driver, named Roderick, was a very popular coachman on this route, and while living at Pimpama at that period I passed the old Clarence Hotel in those coaches on several occasions. Again, less than 10 years later, our family resided at the corner of Merton-road and Peterson-street. I think I am correct in stating that at that time the name Clarence Corner was common among the residents thereabouts. The hotel was then leased by a Mr. King who had a fairly large family. Crump's butchers shop occupied the opposite corner, where the York Hotel now stands, and the Duke of Cornwall Hotel at the corner of Stanley and Allen streets was occupied by the Allen family.

Well do I remember the old line of buses to the outlying South Brisbane districts, run by such proprietors as Chalk, with buses to Kangaroo Point and East Brisbane; Kluver to Wolloongabba and Logan-raod; and Sodens to Boggo and Ipswich roads. The old familiar words of the drivers as they whipped up their pair of tired horses to the call of Stanley-street, Clarence, Woolloongabba, is yet clear to one's memory.

While on this subject reference may be made to the erection of the Boggo-road theatre now known as the Princess. It is just about 40 years since this theatre was erecte. The Ruthven Brothers who resided in the district, were the prime movers, and the architect was a Mr. Ibler. Quite a number of very fine concerts, theatrical performances, nigger minstrel entertainments, and balls were conducted in this building in the early years after its erection.

I am sir
J. R. Costello
South Brisbane, December 12


Then and now...

Street view of the Clarence Corner area of South Brisbane

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