Starting in the crowded camps of the First World War, the Spanish Flu killed thousands of people in the northern hemisphere before entering Sydney in January 1919.

The Queensland Government closed its borders and established quarantine camps along its southern boundary at Wallangarra and Coolangatta.

Travellers were required to remain in the camps for seven days before being allowed to enter the state and strict inspection of all ships was carried out.

Nevertheless on May 3 1919 laundresses at Kangaroo Point Hospital in Brisbane were diagnosed.

It then spread throughout the State and defied all attempts to control it, including isolation, closure of public places, and inoculation.

Unlike previous outbreaks of influenza, many of the 830 deaths from the disease in Queensland in 1919 were young adults with Aboriginal populations particularly vulnerable - the epidemic caused 69 deaths among the 596 residents of the Barambah Aboriginal Settlement (now Cherbourg).

In Northern Queensland the quarantine station at Cape Pallerenda north of Townsville was crammed with people stricken with the virus.

The Townsville Daily Bulletin of May 21,1919 said the population of the quarantine station was gradually increasing.

"Two more cases, one mild and one suspicious were yesterday added from Wodonga," the paper revealed.

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And much like today, ships were the carrier of disease.

"The Adelaide Company's steamer Paringa arrived to the bay at 5.30 last evening, and was ordered into quarantine. It was discovered on a medical inspection being made by Dr Evans, that there were eight cases of what the doctor describes as typical influenza aboard. These patients were removed to quarantine station during the evening. There are 60 passengers on the Paringa."

The Bulletin also corrected an earlier report that a case of influenza had been discovered at Hughenden.

"According to a wire received last evening this is not the case. It is however, admitted that a suspicious case of illness is under observation at the hospital at Hughenden.

"Lone Scoutmaster Owen has written to Patrol Leader, W. Hammond, from Cloncurry, instructing him that the members of the Boy's Scots Association, are to render every assistance to the public in the event of the influenza epidemic raging in Townsville."

Such rumours were commonplace. According to Charters Towers' Northern Miner May 31, 1919 "It was rumoured in town to-day that Fix this textthere was a case of the dreaded 'flu in town, but inquiries made tonight the information that it was only a case of the ordinary type, patient, a well-known resident of Torrens Creek.

But deaths were reported in May at places like Charleville, Cunnamulla and Emerald.

Barcaldine was not yet affected but held a meeting of the Shire Council and the hospital and the Chamber of Commerce to form a board to deal with it should it affect the town. "It was decided that If only a few cases occurred to use an isolation ward in the hospital, but if the epidemic should be severe to use the Shire Hall."

By the end of 1919 the virus had mostly run its course though the cost was high. According to the Daily Standard of December 4, 1919,10,528 deaths occurred in Australia, over half in New South Wales.

NSW 5870; Victoria, 3347; South Australia, 504; Queensland, 284; Western Australia, 335; Tasmania, 186

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