Tag: Tarragindi Tasserone

Tarragindi Tasserone: The Man Behind The Suburb’s Name

Did you know that Tarragindi was named after a person? Who is he and why was the suburb named after him? Here are the answers to those questions, plus a short look-back on Tarragindi’s life.

Read: Revisiting the Cycling Trails of Toohey Forest

The area was once called Sandy Creeks, taken after a creek that has its source in Toohey Forest to the south and flows through the major part of the suburb.

Samuel Grimes, who was believed to be the founding father of the area, built a house there and called it ‘Tarragindi,’ from the name of Tarragindi Tassarone, who helped clear timber from his property.

According to the Queensland’s Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Grimes seemingly asked Tarragindi what they should call the property and he suggested calling it Tarragindi, which means ‘camp on the hill.’

Samuel was one of the children of William and Mary Grimes who emigrated to Brisbane from Ashby-de-la-Zouch in Leicestershire, England in 1849.

Samuel Grimes and family (Photo credit: State Library of Queensland)

The Grimes were among the emigrants selected by John Dunmore Lang to colonise the recently-opened Moreton Bay settlement and sailed on the Chasely, one of Lang’s chartered ships.

The family became one of the most prominent political families in Tarragindi and were central figures in the history of South Brisbane.

Tarragindi Tassarone, on the other hand, was originally from the Loyalty Islands but he was kidnapped from there in the late 19th century, escaped from his plantation, and was taken in by Alfred Foote who found him sitting on the roadside. He worked for the Foote family in Ipswich and later became their much-loved member.

Tarragindi, also known as Tarra to his loved ones, never fully commanded the English language, but he made himself understood by expressing himself through quaint sayings and ‘peculiar gestures.’

Tarragindi (in the back row, third from the end) with the Foote family (Photo credit: State Library of Queensland)

For a time, Tassarone would help clear lands and one of his previous employers was Grimes, who was building his house in the area in the 1890s.

Tarra was said to be impressed that the Grimes family named their homestead after him. The news soon spread and some locals would call the property, Tarragindi Hill. 

Tarra’s headstone in the Ipswich cemetery  (Photo credit: State Library of Queensland)

Tarra lived with the Foote family until he passed away at the age of 63. He died on 13 January 1913 at the Ipswich Hospital after months of trying to recover from a severe injury. He was buried at the Ipswich cemetery with a headstone that reads ‘In Memory of Tarra.’

The entire area was officially called Tarragindi in 1931, almost two decades after Tarra’s passing.

Natural Landscape and Great Uphill View at Tarragindi’s Visitor-Friendly Reservoir

In Tarragindi, there’s a certain place hidden in the heart of the suburb where you can have a peaceful, relaxing time with Mother Nature. Natural scenery, beautiful trees, serene hiking trails, cool forest breeze, pet-friendly atmosphere, and a great uphill view – what’s not to like for any nature lover?

The beautiful Tarragindi Reservoir is a gem of a place well-hidden amidst houses of locals. To get there, you’ll have to drive (or walk) through a narrow road. Be wary of quite a few cars parked on the roadside. Because of this, passersby often drive through the opposing lane.

Once you get to the place, you’ll notice that it is surrounded by a one-way road. You won’t miss it because quirky handwritten one-way signs are everywhere. No cemented parking spaces are available. However, you can park anywhere on the wide grassy field without having to worry about your vehicle being a hindrance to other site visitors.

To reach the uppermost part of the area, you’ll have to traverse a few flights of stairs. Don’t worry, the steps are manageable. They’re not very steep and the sections alternate between flat and hilly grounds. On a good note, trails like the ones in the area are very effective for exercising. For those who prefer a consistent flat ground, they can just stroll around the water works area.

As you go up the flights of stairs, you’ll get to notice several more structures. These structures are built for the purpose of managing and balancing the water supply in the suburb. That said, Tarragindi Reservoir is basically a big water facility area. Not to set your hopes up for any visible natural bodies of water, this place is perfect, nonetheless, for a sunny nature stroll.

Camp on the Hill

The adorably hilly suburb of Tarragindi was formerly referred to as “Sandy Creek”, according to the Department of Natural Resources and Mines in Queensland. In the 1890s, Samuel Grimes, an early settler in the suburb, named it “Tarragindi Hill”.

Mr Grimes employed a certain Kanaka man named Tarragindi Tasserone, who was responsible for clearing the property’s timber. When asked by Mr Grimes as to what they “should call the property,” the employee reportedly answered, “Call it Tarragindi, it means ‘camp on the hill’.”

Once a rural area, Tarragindi was eventually urbanized in the inter-war years. In 1922, the service reservoir was established as the first urban structure. It was followed four years later by a primary school in Wellers Hill (formerly Weillers Hill).

Tarragindi’s freely accessible Reservoir is open to people of all ages. It is located in the suburb’s 159 Tarragindi Road. You can bring your pets along, take a stroll, jog, have a picnic, enjoy the uphill view, or do anything else that you like. Once there, do not forget to take Instagram-worthy photos.