Stage Number: MBSH.03.01.71
Group: Southern
Local Study Area: West End-South Brisbane-North Woolloongabba
Epoch: Late 19th Century
Street Address: Fish Lane, South Brisbane
Latitude & Longitude: -27.47494444,153.01566667
Time Link: 1884
Map Link: 1884
Image Time Point: 1884
Fish Lane in South Brisbane was formerly a back alley known as Soda Water Lane, as it was the main access point for the Eodone Aerated Water Company, established in the early 1880s in the old St. Thomas’ Church building. The business initially enjoyed great success and the street name was in listed in directories by 1885, but an embezzlement scandal in 1888 led to the quick decline of Eodone. The plant and machinery were sold within a few years, and the name ‘Soda Water Lane’ even disappeared from the street directories by the mid-1890s, and the name ‘Fish Lane’ came into use shortly afterwards. The lane was originally part of a reserve of 2½ acres granted to the Church of England in 1851, and was not actually dedicated as a public lane until the adjoining Melbourne Street was widened in 1924.
Telegraph, 30 September 1884, 3 November 1888, 23 April 1897; R. Hillier, ‘A History of Fish Lane, Part 2: The Eodone Aerated Water Company’ (http://blogs.slq.qld.gov.au/jol/2016/10/10/a-history-of-fish-lane-part-2-the-eodone-aerated-water-company), sighted 17 July 2017.
Buildings on the corner of Grey and Melbourne streets, South Brisbane, including the premises occupied by Eodone. Extract from Brisbane map, 1888 (Supplement to the Illustrated Sydney News, 30 August 1888). John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland.
QSA. QSA Series ID 2043 City of Brisbane and Suburbs Maps - A1A Series. 5 chains to the inch. City of Brisbane. 5 chains to the inch. Government Engraving, and Lithographic Office, Brisbane.. 634496
