In 1890, Thomas Andrew Hamilton killed nineteen snakes. The year started at Woombye, where his uncle lived, with his cousins working on his scrub, and him helping them on theirs. He fished often, mostly with success. Late January and early February felt the affects of cyclones, causing major flooding, which came again in March, peaking higher even than 1887. On April 18 his handwriting changed from forward sloping copperplate to a backward sloping scrawl. A new pen? He returned to Downfall Creek in March, the journey from Woombye taking four full days. Through the autumn he worked in the shop and also sold oranges from a cart. In the winter and spring he cut and delivered firewood and timber. He employed James Jordan, an indigenous man named Jimmy, and William Newitt. On 27 December, his first son was born to his wife, who he referred to only as M.J. Throughout the year he devoutly attended church and bible class.
Some 20 years after the first diary Thomas Andrew Hamilton was building and selling wagons, buying and selling land and building houses. In March he bought four blocks of land at Sandgate for a total of £20. He regularly fished at the Hamilton Wall on the Brisbane River, catching up to 30 at a time, mostly bream. He spent a lot of time chasing money owed to him, and at one point arranged a £500 overdraft with the bank.
In 1911 T.A. Hamilton was elected councillor. His business running the shop, manufacturing vehicles, real estate and property development appeared to be thriving. There are few mentions of church and no bible classes; his interest seems to have turned to fishing with his friends Mr A. Cranston and Mr A. Bunhill. Mr Bunhill was only an accasional fishing companion and not as good as T.A. or Cranston, who seemed about even in numbers caught over the whole year. On July 1 he fished in the bay off Sandgate with four others. Together they caught 182 whiting.
In 1912 T.A. Hamilton witnessed the Brisbane general strike. He referred to the "wonderful crowds" on the second day of the strike when over 25,000 workers marched from the Brisbane Trades Hall to Fortitude Valley and back with over 50,000 supporters watching from the sidelines. Towards the end of February T.A. spent a few days in Woombye, where he attended church. He seemed happy, when he returned, to outfish A. Cranston 3 to 1 at the Hamilton Wall.
T.A Hamilton may well have been superstitious — he did not buy a fresh diary for 1913 but instead used another 1912 diary, amending the year and the day on each entry. On August 11 1913 his coach building was bought by the Chermside Engineering and Manufacturing Company Ltd but T.A continued sourcing orders for them. There was no time for fishing; T.A. spent the rest of the year building houses on his and other allotments in Sandgate.
T.A. Hamilton continued building houses in Sandgate. Unlike in 1890, T.A. rarely commented on the weather in the years 1910 to 1914.
By 1936 T.A. Hamilton was 75 years of age. Once again, he was recording weather conditions, but only occasionally. In January he and M.J. moved to their new home in Rode Road. On January 20 he travelled to Woombye and back in a day, in 1893 the trip had taken four days one way. The year was spent doing odd jobs around his home and helping the family with theirs. He was a keen chorist and regularly attended church, where in December he did some repairs to furniture.
In 1938, Thomas Andrew Hamilton turned 78. His wife died four days later; they had been married almost 51 years. He also suffered gout in his big toe and continued to send replies to Mr B. Tovey's "offensive letters". He bought a pair of dark glasses in March, and had to have them repaired in July. He was not charged for the repairs.
In 1943, Thomas Andrew Hamilton became notably more devout, quoting scriptures in his diary. This may have been a New Year's resolution as it lasted only till January 4. He fell very ill in August.
In 1946 Thomas Andrew Hamilton acquired a thermometer and kept a record of the daily temperature. He also writes in December of the worst storm known to Brisbane, and the Australians setting a test cricket record scoring 645 runs in the 1st innings against England. Throughout the year his diary entries suggest a much greater involvement in the church, many a local reverend calling on him and staying for tea, in particular the Rev. A.L. Rose who "had some more fun cutting bushes & had tea with us".
In 1951 Thomas Andrew Hamilton died. He passed peacefully away at quarter to ten Sunday evening October 7 1951 at the age of 91. On his birthday on February 17 he had written: "Praise God from whom all blessings flow. His love & mercy is beyond our comprehension. He has blessed me and protected my life for 91 years. This has been a wonderful birthday, from early morning until 8p.m. Friends & relations have been calling in with good wishes & presents. I have also received letters, birthday cards & many telegrams. 26 have called in and we had another late night."
The final entry in the diary was written about him: Father was very delirious all night, the worst he had ever been. It was 2.30a.m. before I got him to settle. This morning a great change has come over him, so we got Dr. Lansdown to call in. He examined him thoroughly & said he was quite unconscious & was in no pain whatever, which was a great relief to us all. We sat near him all day, he did not rally, but passed peacefully away at quarter to ten Sunday evening.
This text was written by Patrick O'Shea in 2010, and was updated by Bradley Scott in 2026.
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