Lynette and her husband Les called to collect us from our hotel in the centre of Brisbane and very kindly took us to see the 'family sights': the house that was once the home of John's great uncle (William Taylor), the adjacent house built for his son Robert, the site of William's ferry crossing business and the home of his grandson Robert Alfred. We even saw Taylor Street which was named after William. We met Lynette's brother, John Taylor and their mother Olive (Robert Alfred's widow) who kindly gave us lunch.
Below is the original house at 88 Hawthorne Street. William landed at Brisbane on 11 November 1883. He had sailed from Ireland with his wife Rachel on a small sailing ship 130 x 32 feet with about 150 people on board. The voyage took about three months. They were true pioneers.
Lynette, Olive, John and John.
We then took a ferry, City Cat, all the way up and down the river and saw the sights from the water. Built in Bulimba on the bank of the very river they ply, the City Cats are impressively fast vessels which take 160 passengers.
This chap hitched a lift until the wind got too much for him, the City Cats cruise at 25 knots.
While this one clearly lost his way to the bath...
We finished the day at a trendy Italian restaurant in the city where you queued to place your order which was then made in front of you.
Pat and John on tour