We had a pretty good weekend. On Saturday I headed on the train out to Canon Hill to the National Archives of Australia - Brisbane Reading Room. I had not been to the facility since 2003, when Darryl was down here for his Parathyroid operation, and they had shifted to the back, as the front section is hosting John Oxley Library & State Library (or at least the family history part) while their premises at Southbank is being redeveloped.
On arrival, I was asked if I would like to attend a seminar which was on Preservation of Family History Records and I found it quite interesting, and learnt a couple of things. Then I headed into the reading room, where there were cartons of records for me to look at (for the once a month Saturday openings you must pre-order your records, and I ordered a lot as I didn't know how much I would get through). As it turned out, I only got through two books - the pages are 'very' old and fragile, and you have to turn them very carefully. The books were the Seamen's Registers for Maryborough, and I was thrilled to find evidence of William Melchert signing on and off the schooners going to and from the South Sea Islands (the record didn't actually say that, just 'Foreign' port, but it is an inference from the number of Islander crew on the return voyages). This adds to the picture that I got last time, when I had the registers for Brisbane. I think I have found his earliest voyage when he was discharged from the 'Sibyl' in 1877. I am certainly looking forward to my next visit to continue through the books. The trouble is that it is only open one Saturday a month!
On Sunday afternoon and evening I worked on my work project, so am really happy with what I achieved for the weekend.
During the week we had a couple of visitors...see the photos!
