HISTORY HANDS A LANTERN ON SAMFORD
Now aged 93, George Davey has been reminiscing about his youth as a street lamp attendant in Samford Village before the arrival of electricity.
Moreton Bay Regional Council’s Division 11 Councillor, Bob Millar, said replicas of the old fuel fired street lamps had been erected in Samford with the assistance of an $11,125 grant from the Queensland Government’s Department of Public Works.
"A piece of Samford Village’s pre-electric heritage is back with the recent installation of three fuel light stands.” Cr Millar said.
“And even though they won’t be illuminated, they are a lasting reminder of a by-gone era and worthy inclusions on the Q150 Samford Village Heritage Trail – a 1.3 kilometre stroll taking in 13 historical sites in celebration of Queensland’s 150th birthday.
It was one of the Samford Valley’s best kept secrets but not anymore with the replica street lamps and the Heritage Trail featuring on Channel 7’s ‘The Great South East’ recently.
George Davey was interviewed on the show at one of the heritage street lamps in John Scott Park.
"George was the son of a local bullock teamster and as a young man pressurised the fuel which kept the street lamps burning," Cr Millar said.
"The safety and convenience of a lot of people, before the arrival of electricity, relied largely on the likes of George Davey and the street lights they attended to.
"Channel 7’s story on the Samford Village Heritage Trail was a fascinating glimpse into the region’s pioneering history."
"A piece of Samford Village’s pre-electric heritage is back with the recent installation of three fuel light stands.” Cr Millar said.
“And even though they won’t be illuminated, they are a lasting reminder of a by-gone era and worthy inclusions on the Q150 Samford Village Heritage Trail – a 1.3 kilometre stroll taking in 13 historical sites in celebration of Queensland’s 150th birthday.
It was one of the Samford Valley’s best kept secrets but not anymore with the replica street lamps and the Heritage Trail featuring on Channel 7’s ‘The Great South East’ recently.
George Davey was interviewed on the show at one of the heritage street lamps in John Scott Park.
"George was the son of a local bullock teamster and as a young man pressurised the fuel which kept the street lamps burning," Cr Millar said.
"The safety and convenience of a lot of people, before the arrival of electricity, relied largely on the likes of George Davey and the street lights they attended to.
"Channel 7’s story on the Samford Village Heritage Trail was a fascinating glimpse into the region’s pioneering history."
George Davey and Sofie Formica at Samford from the Great South East.
