File F3696 - Papers and photographs relating to Moongalba and Moolgunpin

Identity area

Reference code

F3696

Title

Papers and photographs relating to Moongalba and Moolgunpin

Date(s)

  • 1901-1975 (Creation)

Level of description

File

Extent and medium

1 folder ; 30 cm.

Context area

Name of creator

(1901-1975)

Biographical history

Paul Ambrose Tripcony was born on 12 April 1901 at Myora Mission, on North Stradbroke Island. His parents were Thomas Buchanan Tripcony (1870-1958) and his wife, Mary Rose Tyrrell Rollins (1867-1939). Paul Tripcony was one of eight children. He worked as a grader driver, machinery man, and roadmaker. Tripcony was interested in Australian aborigines and their culture and collected aboriginal artefacts. He had an extensive collection of both Australian and overseas literature, which covered his wide range of interests from politics to poetry. Paul Tripcony died on 12 August 1975.

Archival history

Previously titled: Papers and photographs relating to Moongalba and Moolgunfun

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Donated by Stacia Tripcony (sister of Paul Tripcony) via Fedora Fisher

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Handwritten histories written by Paul Tripcony and photographs relating to Moongalba and the people who lived there. Mostly undated; date range of Paul Tripcony's life has been used.

Item 1: History of the Aboriginal peoples "who inhabited Moreton Island (Moolgunpin)", 2 pages, 15 x 20 cm, undated. Written in pencil with envelope attached; on the envelope, written in blue biro is 'History of Moongalba Papers'. Undated.

Item 2: Envelope, 10 x 23 cm; with handwritten pencil notes - on the front 'Jebellum and Coonoongar'; on the reverse 'Flaked stone implements and Goondoo aboriginal magic stone'. Undated.

Item 3: 'Moongalba : birth place of a Great Chief'. Handwritten, in blue biro, 9 leaves (8 with handwritten numbers). Undated. This is an account of the history of Moongalba and it's inhabitants with hand drawn map on the reverse of page one showing the forteen locations from North Hill to Capembah or Big Hill:

  1. Mook-kin or Charles Moreton ;
  2. Gurriwirribah and Maudie ;
  3. John Lifou and his wife Dungo-lee-bah [sic. Aggie Dung-lee-bah] ;
  4. Nungelly ;
  5. Eendelly or Mary Compiegne ;
  6. Jack Nufong and wife Maggie ;
  7. George Finnock and wife Kindarra ;
  8. Sydney Rollands ;
  9. Peter Graham ;
  10. Rose Martin or Nuningha ;
  11. Moongalba School ;
  12. Teachers Residence ;
  13. Moongalba Cemetry ;
  14. Sam Rollands and wife Miboo.
    Detailed accounts of: what was grown, what was caught and eaten from the ocean which includes the skills of Sam Rollands in netting dugong; information about Nook-kin including his request to be transferred to Barambah (Cherbourg); the sort of artifacts collected by Paul Tripcony ; letter sticks ; tribal ceremonies ; and the arts of net making and basket making. People mentioned include: Nu-ah-ju (Billy Cassin), Willie McKenzie, Nungellie (sister to Eendellie), Grannie Finnock (Kindarra), Rose Martin (Nuningha), Granny Sydney Rollands.

Item 4: 'Australian Aboriginal Legend of the Lightnings Playground on Moreton Island (Moolgumpin). Handwritten in pencil; 4 leaves, 25 cm.

Item 5: 'Australian Aboriginal Legend of the Lightnings Playground on Moreton Island'. Handwritten in pencil, 5 pages, 25 cm.

Item 6: 'Grannies Moongalba History'. Handwritten, in pencil. List of fourteen 'grannies'.

Item 7: Handwritten, in pencil, account of Koureyabba or whispering sands. 1 leaf, 28 cm ; on the back of a Golden Circle juice label. Attached to this are two slips of paper with handwritten notes.

Item 8: Newspaper cutting of article 'Popular native personality : Sam Rollands, of Muyora, Dead : Dugong fishing expert' by Tom Welsby, extracted from The Telegraph, 28 Feb 1936. 1 leaf ; 25 cm

Item 9: Photograph, black and white, 20.5 x 13.5 cm, undated, of Paul Tripcony, aged about 22, inscribed to 'Dear Vince with best wishes from Paul'. In brown presentation folder, 30 x 19.5 cm, with name of photographer on front cover: Sidney Riley, Queen Street Brisbane.

Item 10: Photograph, black and white, 13 x 8 cm, undated, of Sydney Rollands. Written in blue biro on reverse: "Paul Tripcony's Grandmother - Sydney Rollands, mother of Sam Rollands last of the Dugong hunters of Stradbroke Island. Sydney, daughter of Nughie tribe - last of the full bloods born on Moreton Islands (no record of birth)".

Item 11: Photograph, black and white, 10 x 8 cm, undated, of Sydney Rollands. Written in blue biro on reverse: "Sydney Rollands - last full blood aborigine born on Moreton Island - mother of Sam Rollands last of Dugong hunters on Stradbroke Island".

Item 12: Photograph, black and white, 9 x 16 cm, of 'Early Amity'. Beneath photograph, on right-hand side, handwritten in pencil is: Ruddle- Foster Studio Valley Brisbane -copy. In light brown presentation folder, 19 x 23 cm.

Item 13: Photograph, black and white, 9 x 16 cm. Handwritten in pen below photograph: 'Fernandez Gonzales and family. Gonzales on left with walking stick. Dugon fillets in foreground'. Beneath photograph, handwritten in pencil is: Ruddle- Foster Studio Valley Brisbane -copy. In light brown presentation folder, 19 x 23 cm.

Content advice: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are warned that this resource may contain images, transcripts or names of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples now deceased. It may also contain historically and culturally sensitive words, terms, and descriptions.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Unrestricted access.

Conditions governing reproduction

In copyright. Contact the Fryer Library. Can be reproduced for personal research and study. For other uses see About copyright. Please attribute the Fryer Library.

Language of material

  • Australian Language
  • English

Script of material

Language and script notes

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Digitised in 2024: D000797

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Notes area

Alternative identifier(s)

Alma MMS ID

991003796689703131

Access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

Rules and/or conventions used

Status

Revised

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Revised, RL, 17-Jan-2025.
Revised, Linda Justo, 31-Oct-2024.
Revised, SJB, 22-Nov-2022.
Migrated from LMS: April 2019, P.A.

Language(s)

Script(s)

Sources

Accession area