In the annals of LGBT history, the Brisbane Queens Ball has had its fair share of homes and memorable moments. From its humble beginnings on Mount Tamborine in 1962 to a fateful night at Mudgeeraba’s Wallaby Bob’s Pub in 1971, the journey of this iconic event is a testament to the resilience and spirit of the Australian LGBTQ+ community.
Mount Tamborine: Where It All Began
The Brisbane Queens Ball was conceived as a response to the constant police raids on ‘camp’ parties organized in Brisbane during the 1960s. Drag queens, in particular, faced the uphill battle of navigating the inner city’s hilly landscape while being pursued by law enforcement. In 1962, they decided to take the party to Mount Tamborine, a remote and unpoliced hamlet, for the Queen’s Birthday Long Weekend.
What started as a one-time event soon became an annual tradition, complete with dancing, drag shows, costume contests, and a growing number of attendees. As the event outgrew private homes, locals generously offered a community hall for the annual celebration. However, the Brisbane Queens Ball eventually outgrew even that space, prompting a move to new horizons.
Mudgeeraba: A Memorable Misadventure
In 1971, Dame Sybil von Thorndyke, a founder and primary organizer of the event, sought a new location for the Brisbane Queens Ball. Brisbane remained off-limits due to Queensland’s conservative climate and the ever-present threat of persecution. It was then that Toye de Wilde suggested Mudgeeraba in the Gold Coast Hinterland.
The party-goers, avoiding official attention, rented a hall and brought their own beverages. However, the pivotal moment came when they drank Wallaby Bob’s Pub dry over the long weekend. Locals, though not homophobic, were unforgiving when it came to the deprivation of cold beer. Dame Sybil decided it was best to never return to Mudgeeraba, marking the end of this particular chapter in the Ball’s history.
A Bittersweet Memory
Despite the shortage of libations, early attendees of the Mudgeeraba Ball held fond memories of the event. However, tragedy struck with the disappearance of a young gay First Nations man who had planned to attend. His car was found washed off the road after a storm-induced flash flood on the way to the Gold Coast. This poignant moment reminds us of the challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community in Australia’s history.
As the Brisbane Queens Ball continued to evolve, it left behind memories of resilience, celebration, and the enduring spirit of a community that thrived even in the face of adversity.
