Queensland Ambulance Service - History in Pictures
The Queensland Ambulance Service was established on September 12, 1892 with the formation of the the City Ambulance Transport Brigade in Brisbane. The idea of forming a civil ambulance service was initiated by Seymour Warrian of the Ambulance Corps in the Queensland Defence Force, after an accident that occurred during the Brisbane Exhibition. A horse rider had fractured his leg when his horse fell. The injured rider was assisted by well meaning but untrained bystanders and made to walk on his leg to reach a nearby cab.
When the Brisbane brigade was formed they were given a room in the Brisbane Courier newspaper building and a stretcher was built. Bearers on night duty slept on rolls of newspapers with bed linen supplied by the Immigration Department.
Horse pulling an ambulance through Brisbane streets ca. 1897. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 189469
Horse pulling an ambulance through Brisbane streets ca. 1897. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 189469
Their first patient was transported from Taringa to a private hospital in New Farm on 5 November 1892 and the brigade didn't acquire a telephone until January the following year. Over time ambulance services slowly began to form around regional areas of Queensland.
State Library of Queensland holds a large collection of photographs and books documenting the history of ambulance services throughout Queensland. You can view a full list of resources on our One Search catalogue. Below is a sample of images from our collection.
Brisbane ambulance officers posing on a buggy with a wheeled litter attached to it. ca.1898. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 343
Brisbane ambulance workers posing in front of a wheeled litter ca. 1900. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg Brisbane ambulance officers posing on a buggy with a wheeled litter attached to it. ca.1898. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 22274
Queensland Ambulance Transport Brigade officers posing in front of their Head Office in Wharf Street, Brisbane 1901. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 185641
Ravenswood Ambulance Brigade Headquarters 1902. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 199962
First ambulance building in Toowoomba ca. 1903. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 3361
Ambulance Officers preparing to transport an injured Central Queensland Meat Export Co. worker, ca.1905. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 49258
Queensland Ambulance office, Ipswich 1905. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 189478
Queensland Ambulance Transport Brigade centre at Warwick ca. 1905. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 2560
Ambulance Offices in Townsville ca. 1906. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 204652
Queensland Ambulance Transport Brigade, Bundaberg ca.1907. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 143841
Early motor ambulance carrying a two wheeled covered stretcher 1910-1920. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 3396
Queensland Ambulance Transport Brigade officer at Southport 1912. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 189853
Ambulance in Warwick ca. 1912. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 3371
Official opening of the Queensland Ambulance Transport Brigade building Maryborough Street, Bundaberg ca. 1913. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 3370
Queensland Ambulance Transport Brigade at Canungra ca. 1915. First Q.A.T.B. building in Pine Creek Road, Canungra. Ambulance officers are: Matt Braiden; J. Lawton; Sid Auld; Mr. Tyson; and unidentified man. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 47017
Rail ambulance near Charters Towers ca. 1920. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 3468
Queensland Ambulance Transport Brigade building, Mount Morgan ca. 1920. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 14846
Rail ambulance at Roma ca. 1921. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 66398
Side view of an ambulance showing the bed ready for a patient, Kingaroy 1923. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg Rail ambulance at Roma ca. 1921. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 189459
Ambulance car decorated for St. Patricks Day procession at Dalby ca. 1925. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 3465
Gympie Ambulance Centre at Crown Road, Gympie ca. 1926. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 4260
Kingaroy Ambulance being pulled across the Boyne River ca. 1928. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 149386
Illustrated front cover from The Queenslander November 6 1930. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Image 702692-19301106-s001b
Ambulance station at Mount Isa, 1939. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 67998
Queensland Ambulance and Transport Board QATB headquarters in Marsh Street, Stanthorpe ca. 1950. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 140499
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We welcome relevant, respectful comments.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
We also welcome direct feedback via Contact Us.
You may also want to ask our librarians.
Have you any record of my late Father, Reginald Charles Bulcock, who retired from Qld Rail in the 1960's. I know at the time of his retirement he was "Chief Clerk in Railway Audit" Strangle Qld Railway have NO record of him from 1940 onwards. I also know that he was a Member of Qld Rail ambulance service..
Hi AnthonyIf you would like to fill in our online enquiry form with your details, one of our helpful librarians will assist you with your question. http://www.slq.qld.gov.au/services/ask-usRegardsMyles Sinnamon – SLQ
My grandfather was the first Aboriginal Ambulance officer in Bundaberg I can"t find any information on him his name is George Pickwick could you please if you find anything please forward it to my email address thanks.
Hi DeborahIf you would like to fill in our online enquiry form with your details, one of our helpful librarians will assist you with your question. http://www.slq.qld.gov.au/services/ask-usRegardsMyles Sinnamon – SLQ
I am searching for my Grandfather whose name was George Pickwick from Bundaberg he would have serviced in the 1900's this is only a guess so if possible could you send any information to us.
Hi DeborahIf you would like to fill in our online enquiry form with your details, one of our helpful librarians will assist you with your question. http://www.slq.qld.gov.au/services/ask-usRegardsMyles – State Library of Queensland
Hi, could you tell me when defibrillators were first introduced into Queensland ambulances. Thanks
Hi LouiseIf you would like to fill in our online enquiry form with your details, one of our helpful librarians will assist you with your question. http://www.slq.qld.gov.au/services/ask-usRegardsMyles – State Library of Queensland
Hi, I have just purchased a 1969 xw falcon 3 door ex qld ambulance that I hope to restore to original. Would you have any photos of these vehicles or information to help me in my quest. Thanks in advance George Perry
Hi GeorgeMy apologies for the delay. If you would like to submit your question via our online enquiry form one of our librarians will assist you.Kind regardsMyles - State Library of Queensland
Hi George. If you would like to complete our online enquiry form, one of our librarians will assist you with your question - https://www.slq.qld.gov.au/plan-my-visit/services/ask-usKind regardsMyles – State Library of Queensland