John Oxley Library Queensland Ambulance Service - History in Pictures By Myles Sinnamon | 11 September 2015 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 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 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 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 Libra 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 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 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 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 Ravenswood Ambulance Brigade Headquarters 1902. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 199962 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 First ambulance building in Toowoomba ca. 1903. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 3361 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 Ambulance Officers preparing to transport an injured Central Queensland Meat Export Co. worker, ca.1905. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 49258 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 office, Ipswich 1905. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 189478 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 Queensland Ambulance Transport Brigade centre at Warwick ca. 1905. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 2560 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 Ambulance Offices in Townsville ca. 1906. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 204652 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 Queensland Ambulance Transport Brigade, Bundaberg ca.1907. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 143841 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 Early motor ambulance carrying a two wheeled covered stretcher 1910-1920. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 3396 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 Queensland Ambulance Transport Brigade officer at Southport 1912. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 189853 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 Ambulance in Warwick ca. 1912. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 3371 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 Official opening of the Queensland Ambulance Transport Brigade building Maryborough Street, Bundaberg ca. 1913. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 3370 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 Queens 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 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 Rail ambulance near Charters Towers ca. 1920. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 3468 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 Queensland Ambulance Transport Brigade building, Mount Morgan ca. 1920. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 14846 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 Rail ambulance at Roma ca. 1921. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 66398 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 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 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 Ambulance car decorated for St. Patricks Day procession at Dalby ca. 1925. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 3465 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 Gympie Ambulance Centre at Crown Road, Gympie ca. 1926. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 4260 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 Kingaroy Ambulance being pulled across the Boyne River ca. 1928. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 149386 Kingaroy Ambulance being pulled across the Boyne River ca. 1928. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 149386 Featured image for blog post 1816302 Illustrated front cover from The Queenslander November 6 1930. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Image 702692-19301106-s001b 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 Ambulance station at Mount Isa, 1939. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 67998 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 Queensland Ambulance and Transport Board QATB headquarters in Marsh Street, Stanthorpe ca. 1950. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 140499 Queensland Ambulance and Transport Board QATB headquarters in Marsh Street, Stanthorpe ca. 1950. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 140499 Myles Sinnamon - Project Coordinator, State Library of Queensland John Oxley Library (1804) Collections (1597) Ambulance Week (1) Queensland Ambulance (1) Ambulance (2) Queensland Ambulance Transport Brigade (1) Comments Post a comment Add new comment View our comments policy. Your email address will not be published. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. Your name Email Comment About text formats Text format Restricted HTMLSLQ comment HTML Restricted HTML Allowed HTML tags: <a href hreflang> <em> <strong> <cite> <blockquote cite> <code> <ul type> <ol start type> <li> <dl> <dt> <dd> <h2 id> <h3 id> <h4 id> <h5 id> <h6 id> Lines and paragraphs break automatically. Web page addresses and email addresses turn into links automatically. SLQ comment HTML Web page addresses and email addresses turn into links automatically. Allowed HTML tags: <p> <br> <a href hreflang> <em> <strong> <cite> <blockquote cite> <code> <ul type> <ol start type> <li> <dl> <dt> <dd> <h2 id> <h3 id> <h4 id> <h5 id> <h6 id> Lines and paragraphs break automatically. CAPTCHA Please confirm you are a real person View our comments policy. Your email address will not be published. Show comments (11) Submitted by Anthony Bulcock 18 May 2018 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.. Submitted by Myles Sinnamon 24 May 2018 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 Submitted by Deborah Wallace 21 July 2018 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. Submitted by Myles Sinnamon 24 July 2018 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 Submitted by Deborah Wallace 6 October 2018 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. Submitted by Myles Sinnamon 9 October 2018 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 Submitted by Louise Goodwin 16 January 2019 Hi, could you tell me when defibrillators were first introduced into Queensland ambulances. Thanks Submitted by Myles Sinnamon 17 January 2019 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 Submitted by George Perry 14 December 2019 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 Submitted by Myles Sinnamon 13 January 2020 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 Submitted by Myles Sinnamon 13 January 2020 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
Horse pulling an ambulance through Brisbane streets ca. 1897. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 189469
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 Libra
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
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 Queens
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
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
Queensland Ambulance and Transport Board QATB headquarters in Marsh Street, Stanthorpe ca. 1950. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 140499