Largs appeal for Sir Thomas Brisbane and Brisbane House memorabilia

An appeal has been issued for any special memorabilia relating to Brisbane House in Largs - which was demolished during the Second World War after its roof was removed in 1939 - to be handed in to the Largs Museum.

Sir Thomas was born at Brisbane House, and died there 86 years later - but in between served as Governor of New South Wales, spending four years in Australia and giving his name to the Brisbane River after which the capital city of Queensland is named.

The appeal for Brisbane House memorabilia comes from Juliette Bentley, who spent many childhood holidays in Fairlie, and lives in Brisbane, where she worked as a school teacher for 33 years in the secondary classrooms.

She now helps teachers in Australia develop their digital skills, driven by evidence, current research and government policy, to help students develop their digital competency.

Juliette returned to Largs this week to help build educational links between Largs and Brisbane, following the recent visit to the town of David Muir from The Clem Jones Trust - who has appealed to North Ayrshire Council chiefs, via the city mayor of Brisbane, to throw their backing behind the special link ahead of the Olympics being held in Brisbane in 2032.

As well as building a school in Largs, and a sanitation system to prevent the spread of cholera in the area, Sir Thomas's legacy includes the cataloguing of more than 7,000 stars in the Southern Hemisphere.

A keen astronomer, he built an observatory at Brisbane House, though like the house itself, no trace of the observatory remains.

He even has a planetarium named after him in the city that bears his name.

Juliette Bentley believes Largs and Brisbane link could have massive educational possibilities and tie-ins (Image: Newsquest)

Juliette said: "As an educator, I really want to see young people understand not only where they come from, but the legacy of Sir Thomas Brisbane, as I come from a city that is named after him.

"The legacy he has left is enormous. We need young people to use technology which is meaningful, purposeful and creative. By working together on a collaboration which is sincere and it is about building connections and cultural empathy.

"I got the opportunity to meet Richard, Linda and Anne at Largs Museum and Councillor Ian Murdoch to chat about building close connections - not only as a sister city, but for our students, particularly with the Olympics coming to Brisbane in 2032.

"How nice would it be for young people in Largs and Brisbane to know their shared story, and meet online and one day meet face to face?

"There are so many opportunities for learning and growth. Historically we are closely so aligned, and we don't realise how closely connected we are.

Sir Thomas Brisbane and generations of his family lived in Brisbane House in Largs. (Image: Newsquest)

"We can look at the science behind astronomy - Sir Thomas left 364 scientific books when he left in 2024/25 so that the country could move forward and be at the forefront of science.

"People can support the museum by even lending or donating any of the artefacts which were sold off and auctioned when Brisbane House was demolished in 1943.

"The museum only has got two door knobs - two hinges, a plate and a teapot. We have got the original door in Brisbane. 

"I know that people have things sitting on shelves and may not want to part with them, but how good would it be to take photographs and have them uploaded digitally so we have a bank of resources and students from Australia and Scotland can learn what life was like under Sir Thomas and the legacy he left?

"Look at for example when he mapped the skies in the Southern Hemisphere; those maps were used for a further 100 years after he left.

"He also built observatories in Scotland and Australia, and we have the Three Sisters pillars in Largs, which helped align his telescopes at his observatory.

Sir Thomas Brisbane (Image: Newsquest)

"It is now his 250th birthday and to celebrate the connection between Largs and Australia is a very special thing to do and I hope everyone can get behind this." 

The Brisbane Queen Festival, celebrating Sir Thomas's legacy, ran in Largs from 1936 until 2007, and a number of former queens from the festival have visited Brisbane as part of the special connection.