The first government body overseeing the affairs of Wynnum and Manly
was the Road Board. In 1879, when the Bulimba Divisional Board, was created
it extended over the area of Bulimba State Electorate - from the Brisbane
River to Tingalpa Creek. In 1888, the board was split into two, with the
eastern section, containing the Wynnum-Manly area, becoming part of the
Kianawah Divisional Board. In 1902, the Local Authorities Act created
the Wynnum Shire Council with F. Gibson as the first Chairman.
In 1913 the Shire became the Town of Wynnum - Sam Greene was the first
Mayor and Joe Sands was the Town Clerk. A year later the area of the township
was enlarged. In 1917 a dispute between the mayor and some aldermen ended
in the mayor being accused of violence in the street and being removed
from office. The Supreme Court dissolved the Council and Wynnum was managed
by the Town Clerk, Joe Sands, until elections were held in February 1918.
In July 1924 a meeting was held between the various mayors and board
chairmen to discuss the creation of a Greater Brisbane Council. Mayor
Green informed this group that Wynnum Town Council did not want to join
Greater Brisbane. The government ignored the wishes of the meeting, however,
and when Greater Brisbane was declared it included the Wynnum area. On
the first of October 1925, Brisbane City Council came into being and Wynnum-Manly
ceased to exist as a separate body with control over its own administrative
affairs.
The arrival of the Railway line in 1889 ensured that the area of Wynnum-Manly
began to develop as a dormitory suburb of Brisbane. As it grew further
services were needed to augment the rural lifestyle which already existed
there. The Council set about improving the roads and services. Water came
from tanks, the dam on the creek at Manly, or Wynnum’s springs, particularly
the one in Florence Street. In 1919 the council built a reservoir at Roles
Hill and connected to the Brisbane water supply. Carbide lights were used
for streetlights until 1914 when the Wynnum and Manly Gas Company was
established. In 1922 the first electric light pole was erected, near the
town hall, and soon electricity came to Wynnum and Manly.
Other services developed as Wynnum and Manly grew. The first police station
was on the Esplanade near Wynnum Creek, with Sergeant Henry Randel as
the officer. In 1889 a police reserve was proclaimed, and in 1908, four
allotments between Pine and Cedar streets were bought for a police station.
A police office existed in Manly at a house opposite the jetty until 1936
when the Manly station was built. Mail was delivered to the railway station
until 1901, when a house was rented for this purpose. The fire service
began in Mountjoy Terrace, in a small building with a hose tower and a
bell to ring for the volunteers in 1922.
The
first school in the district was begun at Hemmant in 1864. Tingalpa followed
this in 1873. Education came to Wynnum-Manly in 1882 when the school at
Lytton opened, mainly for the children of farmers or the government employees.
In 1896 Wynnum Central State School opened and rapidly expanded. Manly
School opened in 1910 and shortly afterward the school was moved from
the now abandoned Lytton to Wynnum North. In 1901 Moreton Bay Girls School
opened, Guardian Angels followed in 1914 and various small private schools
also operated in the area. More recently, in 1941, Wynnum High opened,
Lota began in 1952 and Wynnum North State High opened in 1964.
The Anglican Church was the first to hold services in the area and St
Peter’s Church of England was built in 1889. Catholic services were
also held locally from an early date and Father Enright officially opened
the little church in 1905. Other churches also began in houses, halls
and tents until they could afford to build their own premises.
Transport to the area continued to improve. The Wynnum Central station
was erected in 1906 with imported tiles for the roof and the number of
services increased. Mr W.S. Argaet began the Pioneer Bus Service to Brisbane
in 1925, with three return journeys taking an hour and a half each way!
The Local Bus Service, which serviced Lota to Wynnum North, was first
operated by Mr and Mrs V Lewis, until they sold it in 1926 and started
the Black and White Service to North Quay. Mr Knight sold it to Andrew
and Kathleen Geraghty in 1928 and they operated it until 1945. Meanwhile
the Blue and White service to Fortitude Valley had also opened and finally
the three services to Brisbane merged to form the Bayside Bus Company.CD1
insert picture 274 Star Theatre burning down
An open-air theatre had existed in Wynnum for many years. Possibly around
1916, it was enclosed and named the Star Theatre by Sam and Wilf Greene.
It is Sam Greene who is remembered as the chief proprietor. The theatre
was very popular in the pre-television days. It was advisable to book
every Saturday night and often during the week it was also full. It
was a very child friendly establishment. The Saturday matinee admitted
children for only a penny and there were Thursday night community singing
and dance nights for sixpence. Special bassinettes were designed to go
on the ends of the seats, so even the youngest could attend and toy koala
bears were given out to the toddlers on special occasions. Adjoining the
Star Theatre was the Waterloo Bay Leader printery where the local paper
was published and distributed by Sam and Wilf.
In 1959, the Star Theatre caught fire from an adjoining shop and burned
down, taking the Waterloo Bay Leader premises with it. Many local people
remember the fire and the attendant grief as two young firemen were killed
trying to fight the blaze.
Services
The
first school in the district was begun at Hemmant in 1864. Tingalpa followed
this in 1873. Education came to Wynnum-Manly in 1882 when the school at
Lytton opened, mainly for the children of farmers or the government employees.
In 1896 Wynnum Central State School opened and rapidly expanded. Manly
School opened in 1910 and shortly afterward the school was moved from
the now abandoned Lytton to Wynnum North. In 1901 Moreton Bay Girls School
opened, Guardian Angels followed in 1914 and various small private schools
also operated in the area. More recently, in 1941, Wynnum High opened,
Lota began in 1952 and Wynnum North State High opened in 1964. 
It
was a very child friendly establishment. The Saturday matinee admitted
children for only a penny and there were Thursday night community singing
and dance nights for sixpence. Special bassinettes were designed to go
on the ends of the seats, so even the youngest could attend and toy koala
bears were given out to the toddlers on special occasions. Adjoining the
Star Theatre was the Waterloo Bay Leader printery where the local paper
was published and distributed by Sam and Wilf.