Doralma (Doralina) and an Oxlade on Oxlade

Doralina or Doralma

As you pass through Oxlade Drive today and observe the range of architectural styles of homes and units the house with the number 123 does stand out. Cared for over time and still appearing to provide accomodation as it has done for over a century. It is unknown as to whether the name of the house was Doralina or Doralma as the electorol rolls has the name as Doralina but the family notices in the newspapers have Doralma. Now this could be a spelling error as the two names are very similar. Like many houses in Brisbane of this age still standing today they provide more than a century of stories that encompass family life, tragedy, war, sporting achievements and links to other Brisbane people.

When William George and Rosa Stanley first lived at Doralma it was on River Drive, New Farm. In 1907 George Oxlade (Rosa's father) built a new house in Lower Bowen Terrace. Rosa Oxlade was now Rosa Stanley having married William George Stanley in 1905. River Road was officially extended or completed in 1927 after the Brisbane City Council resumed land from James Clark (The Pearl King) to allow the road to go through his property and make it a through road from Sydney Street to Brunswick Street. River Road was then renamed Oxlade Drive. The name Oxlade referred to Rosa's brother Alderman Allen M. Oxlade. One can only think how proud Rosa would have been that she was an Oxlade living on Oxlade Drive. The Oxlade name is still a part of Brisbane with George Oxlade's business still providing a service to those in the art and craft industry.

https://www.oxlades.com.au/default.wcsx

https://newfarmhistorical.org.au/oxlade-brothers-the-making-of-a-family-business/

William George Stanley died 2/12/1946 born (registered4/7/1878 Hackney London) 1881 census 5 yrs of age 39 Harleyford Rd Lambeth. Rosa Alice May Oxlade born 1/8/1884, married W G Stanley 8/11/1905. Her father was George Oxlade of Oxlade Printing.

William George Stanley Military Service

When enlisting for WW1 at the age of 39 years and eleven months on March 23, 1916 W G Stanley stated that he had served 6 years in the Volunteer Territorials, 9 years in the Moreton Regiment. 13 months Boer War and 18 months Princess Beatrice Rifles and was discharged due to injury.

When he enlisted he gave his address and next of kin as his wife Rosa and the address as William Street Beaudesert. His occupation was given as Motor Car Driver. W G Stanley's actual trade and profession was a tailor. During the war he suffered epilepsy and after a number of army hospital visits he was attached to light duties using his skills as a tailor. His medical records from the war state that he fell off a horse around 1902 and was unconcsious for 30 hours and the epilepsy started not long after that. 

He returned to Australia on the ship Balmoral Castle and was discharged as medically unfit for active service in May 1918. The story here is of a man who was an expert marksman with a rifle and almost 40 years of age knowing that he had a severe medical issue still enlisted to due his duty for what was know as "King and Country".

Prior to WW1 W. G. and Rosa lived in River Terrace, New Farm

It is unknown why W G Stanley and Rosa moved to Beaudesert but in 1916 prior to his enlistment he took on a motor car dealership in Beaudesert selling Buick and Cadillac vehicles. Rosa was secretary of the Beaudesert Red Cross while W G was away serving in the war. W G Stanley obviously had a very keen interest in motor vehicles and the electoral rolls after he returned to Australia have him listed as a motor driver.

The skill that W G Stanley was well known and respected for in the town of Brisbane and Queensland was his marksmanship with the rifle. When he made the move to Beaudesert in 1913 the newspaper reported how the town's competitive shooting ability would definitely improve. Rifle shooting was a very popular and well documented sport in the early 20th century. William George or W. G. Stanley was definitely one of Brisbane's elite marksman. In October 1921 W. G. was selected to represent Queensland in the Commonwealth match to be held in Sydney.

W. G. Stanley on the left picture published August 16, 1933 in the Brisbane Telegraph.

The above is taken from the Truth, Sunday 19th February 1933

Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1933 - 1954), Tuesday 3 December 1946, page 12

STANLEY The Relatives & Friends of Mrs. R. A. Stanley, Mrs. M. Stephenson. Mr. & Mrs. A. E. Stanley, Mr. & Mrs. V. W. Farquharson, Mr. W. G. Stanley and Families are invited to attend the funcral of her beloved Husband, their father, Father-in-law, & Grandfather, Vllllam George Stanley, of Oxlade Drive, New Farm, to move from Alex. Gow's Funeral Chanel, Petrie Bight, This Tuesday afternoon, at 3 o'clock, for the Toowong Cemetery. ALEX. GOW. Funeral Director. 

STANLEY.— City of Brisbane Rifle Club. —The Members of the above Club are Invited to attend the Funeral of their late Club Member, William George Stanley, Vice-president, to move from the Funeral Chapel, as per family notice. 

May Dorothy Stanley

May Dorothy Stanley born at Shoncliffe, Montpellier Street, Clayfield on September 23 1906. The oldest of four children born to George William and Rosa Stanley.

Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 - 1947), Saturday 11 August 1934, page 15

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BRISBANE GIRL WEDS IN ENGLAND 

Stephenson - Stanley Ceremony

THE wedding took place at St. Cuthbert's Church, Darlington (England, of Mr. Arthur Ernest Stephenson, of Ardlui, Yarm Road, Darlington, and Miss May Dorothy (Masie) Stanley, elder daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. G. Stanley, of Brisbane. The bridegroom claims to be a direct descendant of George Stephenson, the railway pioneer. The bride was given away by Mr. J. F. Emerson, and was attended by Miss Evelyn Bantham. Mr. Cam Stephenson was best man and the Rev. R. F. Drury officiated.

The bride wore white satin beaute, cut on classical lines, with a train. She car-ried a double sheaf of lilies, to which was tied a silver horseshoe, given to her before she left Australia. Her head-dress was of old lace and orange blossom, with a long tulle veil. The bridesmaid's dress was of white georgette, sprigged with roses, with shoulder cape trimmed with white fur, and a striking bow of red satin to tone with her bouquet of red roses. She wore a large white hat with a red satin bow. The bridegroom's mother wore sprigged ninon, with hat to match. Dr. Kitson was the organist, and the reception was held at the bridegroom's home.

When the couple left for a honeymoon tour of Devonshire, the bride wore a blue-grey costume, with a large blue felt hat and shoes to tone. Those present included friends from Australia. Prior to leaving Brisbane Miss Stanley was the guest of honour at many pre-wedding tea parties.

Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Ernest Stephenson, leaving St. Cuthbert's Church, Darlington, England, after their marriage. Arthur Ernest Stephenson Born 28/11/1901 in Darlington, Durham. His father a forgeworker would have worked in one of the train building workshops that Darlington is historically known for. It could be assumed that he worked in the Stephenson train factory as there are documented records that he was descended from the inventor George Stephenson of the Stephenson Rocket and had his own train factory in Darlington.

Arthur Ernest Stephenson was a Royal Navy man and when WW2 started he was of course off to serve his country. Unfortunately his ship the "Banka" a minesweeper came to grief in the Malay Straights in December of 1941. He was the captain of the ship with three other British Navy officers and 40 Malay crew when it hit a Japanese mine on the 9th December. Only four Malay crew survived the disaster.

May or Maisie Stephenson lived at Casa Del Rio, Surfers Paradise after her husband's tragic death. She had two small children with her and one can only assume that life was very difficult. She died at her mother's home 123 Oxlade Drive. 

May Dorothy Stephenson Died 11/08/1948

Brisbane Telegraph (Qld. : 1948 - 1954), Thursday 12 August 1948, page 6

STEPHENSON.— The Relatives & Friends of Masters Allen & Richard Stephenson, of Surfers' Paradise, are invited to attend the Funeral of their beloved Mother, May Dorothy Stephenson, to move from Alex Gow's Funeral Chapel, Petrie Bight, To-morrow (Friday) Morning, at 11 o clock for the Toowong Cemetery. ALEX GOW, Funeral Director. 

STEPHENSON.— The Relatives & Friends of Mrs. R. A. Stanley, Mr. & Mrs. A  E. Stanley & Family, Mr. & Mrs. W. W Farquharson & Family, & Mr. W. G. Stanley are invited to attend the Funeral of her beloved Daughter, their Sister, Sister-in-law & Aunt, May Dorothy Stephenson, of Pacific Highway, Surfers' Para-dise, to move from Alex. Gow's Funeral Chapel, Petrie Bight, as per above notice. — ALEX. GOW, Funeral Director

William George (Bill) Stanley Jnr.

William George Stanley Jnr. was born at his home Doralma on the 25th September 1921 and was commonly known as Bill Stanley. He served in WW2 from 1939 to 1948 in the Royal Australian Navy. After leaving the service he married and moved to Ipswich where he ran a plastering business. 

As a small boy Bill Stanley would have been able to look out of the front window and see the Brisbane River. Water and sailing was obviously his passion as he went to become an international representative for his country in sailing. The 1926 Post Office Directory only has one house on River Road between Hazelwood and SArgent Streets and that is the Stanley's with a young Bill having his front yard and playground as the Brisbane River. His uncle Allen M Oxlade was an Australian Rugby Union representative and a household name in Queensland sporting circles in the first part of the 20th century. Young Bill must have inherited some Oxlade sporting genes as he was well known as a club rugby league player in the Ipswich competition. 

It is unknown why young Bill Stanley moved to Ipswich. As early as 1947 presumably after being discharged from the Navy he started travelling to Ipswich on a weekend to play Rugby League. After marrying Evelyn Lawn in March of 1948 he started his own plastering business in Ipswich and lived in the town till 1954 in East Street. By 1958 Bill and Evelyn had moved from Ipswich back to his childhood home of 123 Oxlade Drive. Bill was still registered on the electoral roll for 1943 as 123 Oxlade Drive so he only had approximately a decade away from living in his family home. His mother Rosa Alice Stanley continued to live at 123 Oxlade with her son and daughter in law until her death on the 14th. April 1981.

Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld. : 1909 - 1954), Saturday 31 August 1946, page 7

Got His Nunber! Bill Stanley, Tivoli winger, is probably claiming four as his lucky number. On Saturday he missed his train from Brisbane, "thumbed" rides in four different vehicies and scored four tries. Incidentally, Bill is an expert rifle shot and a good sailor.

Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld. : 1909 - 1954), Monday 16 August 1948, page 3

Tivoli played with white armbands as a mark of respect to the memory of teammate Bill Stanley's sister Mrs. M. 5tephenson, Surfers Paradise who passed away last Wednesday. 

Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld. : 1909 - 1954), Saturday 27 November 1954, page 5

Sailor 

Local footballers will be keeping an eye on the sailing results tonight. Former Ipswich league forward, Bill Stanley, who gave up football to concentrate on sailing, will be engaged in the final of the 12ft. skiffs test race on the Brisbane River today and will sail with the 18-footers tomorrow. Bill's national title victory in the 18-footer Australia is well remembered in Ipswich, and his many friends will wish him well this afternoon.

Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld. : 1909 - 1954), Thursday 23 June 1949, page 1

Bill and Evelyn Stanley were a couple who did not sit on the front verandah and admire the view. Bill obviously was a sporting man and one who loved the thrill of the race. He and Evelyn became involved in teh breeding and training of race horses. The following is taken from the Brisbane Racing Club Newsletter of March 7, 2018.

The first will be the opening of the Stanley Room, a dedicated display housing the collection of trophies, photographs and memorabilia associated with horses owned by Bill and Evelyn Stanley – two stalwarts of Queensland racing in the post-war era.

They raced no fewer than 99 horses including top liners Rajah Sahib, Cyron, Mr Cromwell, High Sail and among races they won were a Cox Plate, Stradbroke Handicap, Doncaster Handicap, Australian Cup and Queensland Derby. The Stanley Collection will illustrate the successes of the couple’s horses, from the early days when Mr Stanley owned and trained a small team from stables at Ipswich including one venture when he trucked three horses to Goondiwindi for a two-day meeting and won four races.
Mr Stanley had been an Australian champion sailor and a top rugby league footballer. He and Mrs Stanley established a successful plastics manufacturing business at New Farm and willingly helped out racing licensees down on their luck by giving them employment in their factory. Mr Stanley became a committeeman of the Queensland Turf Club. The Association with the support of the Brisbane Racing Club is putting the finishing touches on the Stanley Room. No date has been set for the opening.

The Stanley Room has been opened and one can visit to see the extensive collection.

https://www.queensland.com/us/en/things-to-do/attractions/p-5d19789fa6eb29c07e4edf32-thoroughbred-racing-museum-and-archives

My research has led me to believe that Bill with his plastering skills and knowledge turned his attention to plastic making. Whether this is Bill Stanley's business that has evolved into a company still operating today is unknown but the timeline and researched information match. The following is taken from teh current company's web site.

Stone Shields was first established in 1956 under the name of Auto Plastics, becoming Stone Shields in 1963. The company was run by the original owner until July of 2010 and all staff has worked in the company for over 12 years. Originally located in Arthur Street New Farm, Brisbane, we moved in 2003 to Newstead. Then, under new management we moved to Sandgate for three years before relocating to Brendale. We are the original manufacturers and wholesalers of weather shields in Australia, featuring a large range of patterns from 1948 through to current model vehicles.

When I first saw Doralma it stood out amongst the very extensive range of Queensland house architecture that stands along Oxlade Drive. It looked unique standing there as if to say "I have stood the test of time". What I did not know then that this house is more than a building providing a reminder of homes past but it is unique in that it is one single families home for more than a century. Doralma has seen family members born and die as well as tragedies and happiness over one families life time. Doralma an excellent example of the Queensland family home.