Did you know that a captivating 20th-century petrol iron relic sits on display at the Yeronga Community Centre, offering an insightful glimpse into the suburb’s rich history?
The petrol iron, showcased in the ASHG history room of the Yeronga Community Centre, is a portal to the past, illuminating the daily lives of Yeronga residents in the early 1900s.
Originating from when electricity was not a household staple, these irons used fuel such as petrol, alcohol, methylated spirits, and kerosene to generate heat. The innovation represented by these irons includes a built-in pump to pressurize the fuel, a significant advancement over the traditional flat irons heated on stoves.
Personal Stories from Villa Street
The historical significance of the petrol iron is further deepened by its mentions in the autobiographical works of two former Villa Street residents in Yeronga — Jessica Anderson and Ivy May Lydia Marsh.
Ms Anderson, a notable Australian writer who grew up in Yeronga during the 1920s and 1930s, reflects on the iron’s perceived dangers in her award-winning stories.
In contrast, Ms Marsh’s autobiographical notes celebrate the petrol iron as a significant improvement over the arduous “Mother Pots” irons, praising its convenience and the relief it brought from the heat generated by wood-fired stoves.
A Petrol Iron Backstory
The backstory of the petrol iron intersects with the industrial growth of Brisbane.
Initially associated with James Colquhoun and Sons and later with the Gloria Light Co., the iron’s history traces through various ownerships, including significant corporate transitions and the economic ebb and flow of the early to mid-20th century.
The Gloria Light Co., initially involved in lighting, began to diversify its product range to include household items such as the petrol iron.
Although the company was not based in Brisbane initially, it expanded into various Australian cities, including Brisbane, especially under the influence of figures like Sir John Beals Chandler, the former Lord Mayor of Brisbane.
“This petrol iron was made by the Gloria Light Company Pty Ltd (Australia) in the 1930s. It has a Patent Applied for date of 1936. The Patent was applied for on 1 May 1936 and granted in early 1937. The basis for the Patent is the design of the pricker/fuel control mechanism. The patent was applied for by John Beals Chandler, who at the time was Managing Director of the Gloria Light Company Pty Ltd.”
Collections WA Ltd
By 1916, Mr Chandler, from England, had set up an office in Charlotte Street, Brisbane, as a local agent for the Gloria Light Co. His involvement brought the products, including petrol irons, closer to the Brisbane market.
Eventually, Mr Chandler took over the Gloria Light Co., influencing its operations and product distribution from Brisbane. This local management helped integrate the petrol iron and other products into the Brisbane and broader Queensland markets, establishing a more direct connection between the product and the city.
The presence of such appliances in Brisbane homes, as indicated by personal accounts and historical records, shows that these items were part of everyday life and contributed to Brisbane’s historical and cultural fabric.
Community and Connection
Ros Watson loaned the petrol iron relic to the ASHG history room to preserve and share its history. The display not only educates visitors about the technological innovations of the past but also celebrates the communal spirit of Yeronga.
Published 8-May-2024
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