Introduction
This is not an experiment. It is the start of Stage 11 of the Mapping Brisbane History, called A.I. Renditions. Let’s be clear. A.I. Renditions are “fictions,” but if made as accurate as possible they are truthful renditions: the fiction comes as close as it can to the truth.
It has been a struggle to get the rendered image accurate, as Google Gemini finds it very difficult to follow clear and countless repeated instructions, often rephrased. You can see the mistakes in the 1844 Wade rendering. However, even with the mistakes in the Wade rendering, it does not take away a benefit here in a re-imagining of Brisbane Southside on the Brisbane River, the Moreton Bay Settlement 1824-1844.
1824 Norman Creek M107615
The Norman Creek system contains what has been folkish referred to as the Ekibin Creek at the bottom of the map. It is the spine area of the Brisbane Southside. Central to the landscape body of the Southside and the creek systems, being the nerves of life flowing from the ridge lines of Highgate Hill, Annerley-Stephens (Stephens Mountain), Nathan ridge, and Mount Gravatt.
1839 Norman Creek Stapylton M10764 Gemini Generated Image
In the rendering work I frequently confused the creek systems — Oxley, Norman, Bulimba. It has taken much time to get it right. A shallow reading can confuse. Map reading is not always easy. The A.I. rendering may not be accurate of the different water courses. Landscapes are also an approximation. However, it is still a good re-imagination until new historical geographers join our ranks and participate.
1839 Oxley Creek Stapylton M10764
Stapylton is a mixed-use locality in the City of Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, Stapylton had a population of 430 people. The area was named after surveyor Granville William Chetwynd Stapylton (1800–1840), who was killed by Aborigines on 31 May 1840, near Mount Lindesay. We have Stapylton to thank for our understanding of the pre-European Oxley creek system.
1839 Oxley Creek Stapylton M10764 Gemini Generated Image
Both the Oxley and Norman creek systems are very important to Brisbane Southside. If the Norman creek system is the spine, the Oxley is the indigestive system. It made the flood plains of Coopers (Cowper) Plains fertile land. This is why the first settler-invaders thought the Plains would be best used for herd and agriculture land. This ignored Aboriginal wisdom about regular floods.
1844 Wade Map MT.12 (west end)
More than what would become Brisbane City (CBD), West End of the river became the City’s great cultural and arts area. It would also become the centre of Queensland social justice and social reform movements, not that many Brisbane local historian understand that fact.
1844 Wade Map MT.12 (west end). Gemini Generated Image
Brisbane Southside began in South Brisbane, and that is likely to be true for Pre-European Aboriginal communities, although we are yet to understand that story. Although the Wade rendering by A.I. is mistaken at a few geographic features, the re-imagination can be achieved by ignoring the mistakes and take the truth of the re-imagination. This is the fault of many self-proclaimed local historians: obsessed with mistakes and cannot perceive truth.
Conclusion: The Need to Support This Work
My hope is that you have benefited from this visual essay, that I been unpaid to do and now live in poverty.
If you do think that this is a benefit, please consider donating. Or I would gladly render you a service for a payment. Contact me at [email protected]
Neville Buch
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