File:"Ploughing Queen Street".jpg

From Peter Ball: The photograph showing the horse team that was used during the wood blocking contract actually depicts my Grandfather Richard Willcocks standing second on the left by the horse. He was George Willcocks younger brother; his daughter - my Mother is still alive aged 93 - she would certainly love a framed picture of this historic photograh.

Yes you read that right these industrious gents, and horses, are ploughing Brisbane's Queen Street!

But why?

One answer is offered by the Royal Historical Society of Queensland in their book Lost Brisbane describing a similar photograph of men ploughing George St towards Roma St:

"Chamberlain and Wylie tendered to put down wooden blocking for the length of Queen St and George St from Queen to Roma St. The contract was too big for them and George Charles Willcocks took over. Two plough teams were used each operating 12 powerful horses. Four drivers were required and three men to hold and guide the plough. The work was the precursor to the construction of tram lines from the late 1890s."