THE Queensland State Library plans to digitise more than three decades worth of editions of the Rosewood Register and Marburg Mail – a local newspaper that closed in 1940.
Reuben Hillier, a Specialist Librarian from the State Library visited David Pahlke’s home this month to pick up a collection of the Rosewood Register and Marburg Mail newspapers which are dated between 1909 to 1940.
Joining David on the day were fellow members from the Rosewood History Group, to view the newspapers that have been in storage at David’s home for about 10 years.
David said that the purpose of the visit, was for Reuben to take the newspaper collection to the State Library in Brisbane so each edition could be digitalised for preservation and future reference.
“The newspaper collection came from Rosewood resident Jack Roache, who once lived opposite the building where the Rosewood Register and Marburg Mail newspaper business once operated,” he said.
“Now passed, I believe that Jack collected the newspapers from the printery when it closed down, and I estimate the closure of the business to be in 1939 or 1940.
“Jack’s family contacted me to see if I would be interested in keeping the newspaper collection, and of course I said ‘yes’, because of the significance and the history of the papers.
“The condition of the papers is mixed from bad to good, with some missing and some even bound together.”
The unique collection showcases many articles that make up the area’s history, from local businesses, groups, events and happenings throughout the years.
Rueben explained to the group that the collection was unique and that it is not recommended to handle the papers without gloves.
“Some of the newspapers are more than 100-years-old, so they are extremely delicate and fragile, therefore digitising the collection and displaying the papers online is the best way to explore the content,” he said.
“Currently at the library we do have some of these papers, so we will carefully go through this collection and fill in the gaps, resulting in any duplicates that are found being returned to David.
“It is the State Library’s aim to have every title in Australian newspaper history up to the 1950s, so I feel honoured to have been invited to collect this collection of newspapers and if all goes to plan the papers will be open to the public to view on the internet in the next year or two.”
