In conversation, August 2010
Donna was the youngest child of Eileen and Gordon Neal. She had a sister, Allwyn who was 3 years older to her. The family originally owned a cattle property outside Charters Towers. It was during the days of the depression, and many people in Queensland sold their properties and moved towards the city in search of a better life. Gordon and his wife Eileen made the decision to make Brisbane home in 1935. Donna was 5 years old when they made the move. Acting on sound investment advice her parents looked to buy an inner city apartment block which they could partly rent out as a source of income. New Farm in those days was one of the most desirable suburbs and had a large population of Jews and Italians. It was accessible to the city by tram and their two daughters could attend good schools close by. Khandallah offered the perfect investment opportunity and the family purchased it in 1936 from Captain Charles C Matheson of the Australian Flying Corps.
The origin of the name Khandallah is still unclear, but it was built in the Colonial Queensland style in 1880. It was designed by T R Hall who was also the architect for Brisbane Town Hall. It stands imposingly at the corner of Moreton Street and Bowen Terrace . At some point in its early life, the building was lifted up and divided into seven apartments. White verandah fenestrations, with trims in contrasting colours, set a striking composition externally. On the eastern face of the building, the windows have timber slatted blinds that that help keep the strong eastern sun away. The interior is painted in light pastel shades that makes the place feels very old worldly and bright. The original interior finishes include high pressed metal ceilings with rose centre pieces and decorative cornices.
Green and purple stained-glass doors add a beautiful sense of colour and charm as do the wooden floors. Clawfoot baths, bay windows and rooms of large proportions lend an old world charm that still remains to this day. The high ceilings and large windows allow plenty of light into the building and it has a wonderful southerly aspect that overlooks the street. In plan the Neal’s family home features a den or parlour that leads to a central hall which separates two bedrooms. The central hall has a charming bay window at one end from which one enjoys beautiful views of the street. The larger bedroom has a high ceiling and borrows light from the den through a bay window. Donna and her sister Allwyn shared the smaller bedroom which has a folding set of wooden doors along one side. The kitchen is to the back of the house and leads directly to an external staircase. A hinged lattice door at one time secured the landing verandah at the top of the stairs. Common laundry facilities are on ground level at the back of the block. The upper units have two entrances one from the living area and one from the kitchen. Common laundry areas are located at the back of the block on ground level. A charming little garden set by a low stepped fence wraps itself along the front and side of the building.
Donna fondly remembers her growing days in Khandallah and New Farm. She recalls both her parents being very involved with the war efforts. Her father entertained many of his WW1 friends on the back lawn discussing “how they won the war”. During WWll, Gordon Neal was in the intelligence corps and was stationed at One Tree Hill (Mt. Coot- tha). It was not unusual to see an army truck pull into the back driveway calling for him at any hour. Eileen Neal worked with the Women’s Auxiliary Transport Service and drove officers around. Among the various tenants that Khandallah held in those days were American servicemen and their wives. As a child Donna and the other kids in the neighbourhood liked playing in the backyard trenches that were dug in case of evacuation.
Donna and Allwyn walked down to Holy Spirit school where they studied for two years. Once they joined All Hallows Convent in the valley, the sisters used to attend school by tram . Trams existed in New Farm until about the end of the 1960’s. Donna stayed at the school hostel for two terms. In 1942 the Japanese bombed Darwin. The entire nation went into a state of fear. Boarders from All Hallows were evacuated to Dalby Convent during this period and Donna was one among them.
Hostel life was tough and the nuns were strict disciplinarians. She did not like the strict timetable that the boarders had to observe and sorely missed home and the times she spent in New Farm with her parents and friends.
After two terms she came back home to New Farm and quickly resumed her happy life. Playtime meant backyard cricket with the neighbourhood kids. She was especially close to John and Dorothy who were the children of the Presbyterian priest Reverend Hoog and his wife. They were both in the Maritime services during the war years and Donna helped serve tea and biscuits to the sailors on many Sundays. Like many New Farm families, Saturday evening often meant watching the cinema at Astor Theatre on Brunswick Street. She recalls the Pie Shop (currently within Merthyr Village) from her childhood days. Just like today, New Farm Park was the centre of communal events and on Sundays families flocked to enjoy the brass band, river views, roses and jacarandas at the park.
Allwyn Neal learnt ballet in school and often danced at patriotic functions and entertained members of the forces. She later taught ballet for a few years until she joined TAA as an airhostess when she was 21years. She eventually married a doctor in Melbourne, and settled there until she passed away in the 1950’s. Gordon Neal passed away in 1959. Eileen Neal lived on in Khandallah until she had a stroke and moved to Sydney. She died in 1972. With Eileen’s death, most of the old photographs of Khandallah and the early days have sadly been destroyed.
DOCTORS RECEPTIONIST AT NEW FARM: At the age of 17, Donna worked as a receptionist with Doctor Alfred Morton for one year. She was trained by the doctor himself in doing the accounting and filing patient cards. Dr Morton was a gentleman who was very respected by his patients and the New Farm community. He ran the clinic from his own house which was between Holy Spirit School and Church on Villiers Street.
In 1947 Donna graduated from high school. She took up nursing at Brisbane General for two years but had to withdraw when her mother’s health took a turn for the worse and she had to look after her. At this point, she worked with Doctor Francesco Castellano, an Italian GP for one year. He was a short tempered Italian man but he never turned down patients and often worked long hours in order to see them all. Many of his patients were Italian migrants who were unfamiliar with their new country. Dr. Castellano had originally practised in Cairns, Ingham and Innisfail. Italians came down all the way from Innisfail in North Queensland to be treated by him. The doctor taught Donna how to use a syringe and gave her many lessons in patient care.
THE FLYING DAYS: Donna followed in her sister’s footsteps and joined the airline industry at the age of 20. Her career with the airlines spanned 10 years. She was meant to train as an air hostess for TAA in Melbourne for 6 weeks, but eventually stayed on for 18 months. After graduating, she moved back home to Brisbane and was scheduled for DC3 flights that went mostly over the channel country and other inland areas. Her main routes were to Birdsville, Townsville and Charters Towers and many cattle properties over Queensland. But occasionally, she also flew to far off destinations. A DC3 flight from Brisbane to Darwin took 14 hours in those days and had a capacity for 21 passengers and the crew.
The flights were manned by two pilots and one hostess. Of course, flights took much longer than they do these days and on landing the crew usually remained at the stop there for 2-3 days. Donna recalled an incident where one of the passengers who was meant to fly to Sydney instead boarded a flight to Townsville. The unfortunate man had to stay overnight and take the flight back down to Sydney the following day. Most passengers were property owners flying back to their farms and sometimes a landing strip would be located in cattle properties. It was customary in those days for the property owner to call the entire crew for tea at the Homestead! At Christmas time the crew would have lunch with the entire town of Birdsville including the staff, doctors, nurses and aboriginals.
Many airline crews stayed at the hostels in New Farm. The place was always abuzz with activities. In later years, many airline parties were held at Khandallah with both TAA and Ansett flying staff attending. One could say that the place rocked at one time! The TAA hostel was just up the road in Bowen Terrace, but sadly today only the original brick wall remains. Hotels were not allowed to serve alcohol on Sundays but the crew more often than not found a way around it. Donna shared a bitter sweet memory of a flight that she was rostered for and missed because she was unwell. The DC3 flight to Mackay in 1961 crashed and the air hostess who was her substitute died. The incident shook Donna completely and she decided to leave the airlines soon after that.
Donna met her future husband, Ian Cameron who was then a pilot with Ansett. He was originally from Melbourne. Airhostesses were not allowed to marry and had to leave if they did . Donna and Ian decided to get engaged a few years after they met. After the engagement Donna along with a friend travelled to England by ship. The journey took six weeks and there were social events and parties all through the trip. During her time in London, Donna worked at a retail store. A year later Ian and Donna got married at Kensington, London and the couple remained there for three weeks.
They then returned to Australia and settled in Sydney where their daughter Jane was born and grew up. Ian Cameron passed away in November 2004.
KHANDALLAH AT PRESENT: Khandallah at present is owned by Donna Cameron, the only surviving member of the Neal family. Although she lives in Sydney, close to her family, she still feels very much part of New Farm and her childhood home- Khandallah. The seven flats (2X2 bedrooms and 5X1 bedroom apartments) are rented to long term tenants who love the old world charm that the building projects. Many of the original antiques have disappeared over the years as tenants have found it hard to leave without them. But some portions retain their original charm intact. The property is now successfully managed by All Urban Rentals.
Khandallah today is a heritage listed building.
The Brisbane City Council Heritage Incentive Scheme supports owners of such properties by contributing 30% of conservation and restoration works. One hopes that with loving care from owners such as Donna and the support of Council this lovely piece of New Farm history would remain for many more generations to enjoy.