2015 marked 150 years since the formation of the Salvation Army in East London. Since that time, the Salvation Army (often referred to as the ‘Salvos’ in Australia) have spread throughout the world. The Salvation Army have been active in Queensland since the 1880's, including regional areas of the State, including Maryborough (since at least 1885 and possibly earlier), Gympie (1886), Warwick (1887), Charters Towers (1888), and Boonah (1890). The Salvos are noted for their charity work, especially among the poor and homeless. State Library of Queensland has a collection of over 100 digitised photographs documenting the early history of the Salvation Army in Queensland, which can be easily viewed through our One Search catalogue. Below is a sample...

Salvation Army barracks, Tantitha Street, Bundaberg 1889. John Oxley Library, STate Library of Queensland. Neg 153894

Salvation Army Barracks at Hodgkinson Street, Charters Towers. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 46855

Salvation Army Temple in Ann Street, Brisbane taken about 1897. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 22211

Salvation Army Band, Charters Towers ca. 1900. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 201190

Band members from the Brighton Road, Highgate Hill Salvation Army Girls Band. Undated. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 18689

Salvation Army Hall, Howard, Queensland. Undated. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 145756

Salvation Army nurses at a Brisbane womens refuge. Undated. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Digital file

Group of gentlemen at the Salvation Army Aged Men's Retreat, Brisbane ca. 1910. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 187621

Mount Morgan Salvation Army Band, Queensland ca. 1911. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 14828

Official opening day for the People's Palace, Brisbane 1911. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 68764

Salvation Army Band at the opening of the hall in Drayton Street, Nanango, Queensland 1912. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 159648

Congregation gathered outside the Salvation Army Hall, Croydon ca. 1913. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 44932

Salvation Army Men's Home Stanley Street, Brisbane ca. 1914. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 6547

Salvation Army Women's Home South Brisbane ca. 1914. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 6546

Clara Woodward in her Salvation Army uniform. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 169665

Frank and Minnie Lyons standing on the steps of their home, Roma ca. 1920. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 196619

Salvation Army Divisional Music Festival, Brisbane City Temple, 1927. John Oxley Library, State Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 98157

Beatrice Collingwood a member of the Woolloongabba troop of the Salvation Army Life Saving Guards New Farm Park ca. 1927. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 127861

Salvation Army Mobile Canteen at Brisbane City Hall 1943. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 102763

Inaugural radio session of The Salvation Army Half Hour in the broadcast studio of 4KQ, Brisbane ,1947. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 98155

Salvation Army Temple Band, Brisbane City Temple 1950. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 98156

Salvation Army officer Leiutenant R. Apolony with his van Thargomindah district 1954. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 170844

Salvation Army brass band playing at New Farm Park, Brisbane. Undated. 7032 Kahlert collection of colour slides 1970-1990. (In copyright). John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Image 7032-0001-0065

Salvation Army worker unpacking food in the RNA Showgrounds Crisis Centre during the Brisbane floods 2011. Troy Hansen 2011 Flood Photographs. (In copyright). John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Image 27804-0001-0032

State Library also hold a number of published histories on regional branches of the Salvation Army.

The digital story below is from Eva Burrows. Eva discusses her longstanding charitable work with the Salvation Army. She was inducted into the Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame in 2012.

https://vimeo.com/46783775

Myles Sinnamon - Project Coordinator, State Library of Queensland