Celebrating 150 years
The Beginnings
Although some three kilometres from the city centre, Fortitude Valley has always been an important crossroads and centre of activity in Brisbane.
The first settlement grew in what is now Fortitude Valley, from three boatloads of settlers who had been sponsored by the Presbyterian preacher, Dr John Dunmore Lang. Indeed, the new settlement took its name from the ship, Fortitude, in which the first 256 of Lang's settlers had arrived in January 1849. Because of a feud between Lang and the government, no land was released for the new settlers who chose a site close to the (now) intersection of Brunswick and Wickham Streets.
The first Anglican Church in Brisbane was St John's in what is now Queen's Park, at the corner of George and Elizabeth Streets and the Valley folk had great difficulty in getting to it. Wickham Street did not exist - only a chain of ponds and brickworks - and the Ann Street cutting had not been made.
In 1856 the Anglican Rector rented a house at the corner of Ann and Ballow Streets (near the old Valley Post Office) to be used as a school during the week and for the Divine Worship on Sundays.
It is this humble beginning of the parish which we celebrate today!
Celebrating 150 years of the Holy Trinity Church in Fortitude Valley
To help celebrate this marvellous achievement, a series of concerts/celebrations has been put together for 2006:
| Sunday, 5 February, 5pm | The Southern Cross Soloists |
| Sunday, 19 March, 5pm | Piano Recital - Colin Noble |
| Sunday, 2 April, 3pm | Music for Passiontide |
| Saturday, 13 May, 5pm | Youth - St John's Cathedral Trebles |
| Sunday, 20 August, 3pm | Piano Duo - Juliet Hoey and Janice Lockwood |
| Sunday 26 November, 3pm | Symphony - Brisbane Symphony Orchestra |
And major services for Passiontide, Easter, Advent and Christmas with music by Holy Trinity Choir and Organ.