January 2
• Stanthorpe Shire production statistics released
January 6
• Danger in damp hail rockets
• Heavy hail damage at Amiens
January 8
• Cost of living spiral continues
January 13
• Gillian Wright- Stanthorpe Girl wins Lilley medal
January 22
• Governors visit Stanthorpe
His Excellency, the Governor of Queensland, Col Sir Henry Abel Smith KCVO and Lady May Abel Smith visited Stanthorpe on Friday, February 6, when he officially opened the Centenary Show.
• Big dam bursts in Ruby Creek; flooding in town
An old dredging dam at Ruby Creek, estimated to be about one-fifth the size of SKD, burst overnight and caused flooding in the lower parts of Stanthorpe. Water lapped Carnarvon Bridge in Stanthorpe and flooded over the top of the rails on the McGregor Bridge. Biggest flooding since 1928.
January 27
• M. Ferguson tractor demonstration
Field day at Mr. Chas Ferguson’s, Applethorpe
February 5
• St John Pratt Memorial Gates officially opened at Showground
• DDT best for codling moth
February 10
• Stanthorpe Centenary Show
Large crowds attend both days- fruit display outstanding- Civic Welcome to Governor
February 12
• Retiring Ambulance Superintendent Honoured (Mr. F. Thorpe)
February 19
• Obituary: Stanley William Pierpoint
February 24
• Public meets town planner
Over 50 people attended a public meeting in the Shire Chambers on Thursday night to discuss the draft town plan with the town planner
March 10
• Olympic swimming pool to be investigated
• Fire at Wallangarra
Sgts and other officers mess and cookhouse at no 5 COD Army Depot, Wallangarra completely destoryed by fire
• G.R. Koina & Sons new modern premises
March 19
• Fierce hail storm lashes Granite Belt- damage estimated at £150,000
A devastating hail storm accompanied by high winds, lashed the apple and grape growing areas of the Granite Belt late on Tuesday night and caused damage estimated at £150,000. The storm lasted for no more than half an hour and losses from 25 per cent to 100 per cent were reported. Hail up to 18 inches deep lay on the roadside and in orchards near The Summit and Thulimbah until late yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon. Path extended from Dalveen to Ballandean.
March 24
• Proposed high school site
April 28
• Italian Festival in Stanthorpe
St Joseph’s- albero della cuccagna (slippery pole), bocce, pignatte, pesca
Feast of St Joseph the Worker
Fr. Anastasio, a cappachin priest from Sydney to bless the tractors and trucks of farmers. Procession will wend its way around a few streets.
April 30
• Texas Hall disaster appeal fund
May 7
• Apple Blossom Week and Centenary Celebrations to be continued
• Ballandean State School Golden Jubilee
May 14
• Ballandean State School first seven pupils return
May 21
• Strange object seen in sky at Dalcouth
June 2
• 50 to be naturalised on Tuesday (total of 207 since October, 1954)
June 9
• 44 Naturalised in ceremony in Rex Theatre
• Immigration Week- part of Queensland’s Centenary Year
June 23
• Stanthorpe Cyclist Again
Tom Callan, second in 30 mile road race after riding to Ipswich to compete (ten hour trip) arrived 11am. 3:30pm started road race. Failed to win the race by a margin of 6 inches. 42 years of age in three months time.
June 30
• Members of Toowoomba RSL Lecture on Civil Defence in the even of an atomic attack
July 23
• Granite Belt shivers in icy blast
July 28
• Snow, sleet, and winds lash Granite Belt
August 27
• Sliced bread comes to Stanthorpe
Glasgow Baker (N & E.A. Kavanagh) have shown considerable enterprise to bring this modern facility to the town and district
September 3
• Council going ahead with Civic Centre Planning
October 1
• Apple Blossom Festival Week- Queensland Centenary Year
October 13
• Miss Apple Blossom Queen- 1959
• Dog stole show in procession- Bill Clancy and Alsatian
October 15
• Tom Callan raised £100 for ambulance
Rode for two and a half ours on rollers in Maryland Street
October 20
• Dedication of New Memorial Parish Church of St. Paul
• Shire Chairman & The Press
Keeping of Alsatian dog in the town (Stanthorpe’s ’Bailiff’ – W.J. Clancy)
October 22
• Special meeting on Civic Centre
October 27
• Minister promises high school within two years
• Methodist 85th anniversary
• Last services in Old St. Paul’s (established 1905)
November 3
• St. Paul’s Memorial Church dedicated
November 5
• Excellent television reception
On Monday night a representative of the Border Post witnessed the opening of the ABC National Television station ABQ Channel 2 at the resident of Max Vincent, Stanton Street on an AWA 21 inch set. (local manager of RDS Pty Ltd)
• Catholic priest for Wallangarra – Rev Fr E. Brian O’Dwyer
November 10
• Charles Chauvel on television
Australian walkabout
November 12
• Sudden death of Charles Chauvel
November 17
• Tragic death of Brian Pidgeon
November 24
• Back to Eukey week
• Life membership for Tom Callan
December 1
• School of Arts & Civic Centre
• Rainfall a record
December 17
• Diesel fruit train for Granite Belt
• Messrs Martin Wilton & Sons architect for Civic Centre
