John Phillips a former UQ Mining Engineer recently visited the JKMRC with his father Mr. Tony Phillips and nephew Josh Phillips. The Phillips family were keen to visit the site as their Ancestors the O’Brien family (Tony’s Grandfather – Felix O’Brien) had many years ago owned the land that our site, JKMRC, University of Queensland presently occupies.The family purchased a five acre block they called “Fernbrook” in 1910 and relocated their beautiful two storey 20 room home on the site.
The family story goes that a German Immigrant digging postholes found silver. Felix Phillips had experience as a young man mining for Gold in Western Australia. Soon after finding the silver,the family sold “Fernbrook” and moved to Toowong.
