HISTORICAL SNIPPETS OF THE SALVATION ARMY IN THE SOUTH-WESTERN REGION OF QUEENSLAND.1 Robert Marshall This paper is a brief overview of information concerning the commencement of corps and other Salvation Army institutions or previously existing corps of The Salvation Army in the south-western region of Queensland, Australia. Focus is given to the commencement of The Salvation Army in each of the towns with some investigation into Salvationists who became identifiable with the local community. Toowoomba area corps, outposts and social work centres
The Toowoomba Barracks, Bowen Street, 1887.2
Toowoomba Corps was opened on the 1 May 1886 and the first officer was Captain John Head. Head was said to have opened Fortitude Valley, Ipswich, Toowoomba, Roma, Warwick, and Eidsvold corps.3 The first meetings were held in the Temperance Hall in Bowen Street, close to where the first hall was constructed. The foundation stone for the first hall was laid on 29 October 1887 and this hall was used until 1913 when it was replaced by the William Booth Memorial Hall on the same site.4 It needs to be noted that the corps was subsequently relocated to its current location on the corner of Anzac Ave and West Street. In May 2017 Toowoomba Corps will have completed 130 years of service.
Reference citation of this paper Robert Marshall, “Historical snippets of The Salvation Army in the south-western region of Queensland”, The Australasian Journal of Salvation Army History, 2, 2, 2017, 40-52. 1 This paper was presented at the public meeting of the Australia Eastern Territory Historical Society, Brisbane Chapter, Carindale, 21 November 2016. 2 Photograph from The Salvation Army Toowoomba Centenary, 1886 – 1986, (Toowoomba, Australia: The Salvation Army Toowoomba Corps, 1986). 3 Salvation Army Toowoomba Centenary, 1886 – 1986, 2. More investigation is needed into these claims and Head did not open Ipswich or Fortitude Valley. There were corps operating in these places well before 1885, see the work of Garth R. Hentzschel. In addition to this see Roma too could be questioned, see information on Roma Corps listed below. 4 Salvation Army Toowoomba Centenary, 1886 – 1986, 2.
The Australasian Journal of Salvation Army History, Volume 2, Issue 2, 2017. Page 42