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History
HISTORY BRIBIE THEN NOW&
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BONGAREE FORESHORE
what Bribie was like years ago. I talk about buildings and sites that have significantly changed over time. The historical society is considering putting informative signs on some This article compares Here are two views of Bongaree foreshore, looking south from the Jetty in 1920
By Barry Clark
Itake people on heritage walks around the streets of Bongaree and Bribie Island Historical Society they are always surprised when they see and hear Bongaree Foreshore 1920 significant heritage sites. Bongaree Foreshore 2020 and 2020 photos of many buildings A big leaning Fig Tree on and sites with which you the foreshore opposite the will be familiar. No need for Bribie Island Bowls Club many words of explanation, has been there for at least just interesting photos of some Bribie scenes from 100 years ago. 200 years, and may have been growing there when Matthew Flinders first 40 www.thebribieislander.com.au The Bribie Islander
Leaning Fig 1920 Dancing Hall Bongaree 1920
Leaning Fig 2020
landed here in 1799.. For many years, before the sea wall was constructed, it was on the sandy beach, with its roots washed by rising tides, which is why it tipped over.
DANCE HALL & SCHOOL
An old building brought to Bribie in 1922 was placed on the Hill where the Water Tower in the Caravan Park stands today. It served as
Water Tower Site
the Community Hall for all sorts of functions as a Dance Hall on Saturday nights and a School on weekdays. The building was later moved down the hill to become the first Clubhouse for the Bribie Island Bowls Club.
STATE SCHOOL
The Bribie Island State School built in 1924, was
State School 1928
State School 2020
a one room, one teacher school for the first few years. There were just 12 children, aged between 6 and 10 years, at the school initially, with just one teacher covering all subjects for all ages. Years later, he went on to become the Minister for Education. The State School now has over 800 students with many classrooms and special buildings on the large site. The original one room building is still recognisable as part of the front Administration office
PETROL STATION
The Café and Restaurant near the Jetty at Bongaree are on the site of the first buildings constructed when visitors first came to Bribie in 1912. Scoopys is on a site that was a Petrol Station back in the 1970’s. You can still see distinctive service bay archways around the building, which had Petrol Bowsers outside.
Petrol Station 1970's
Scoopy's 2020
HISTORY Other Petrol & Service stations have operated around Bongaree that are no longer there. One where the “Deli” café now stands, when it was Thornleys Bus Depot in 1950’s
SHOPS & HOUSES
When the Bribie Bridge opened in 1963 cars and visitors to Bribie increased significantly, and several new businesses started. Where the IGA Store stands today on Welsby Parade was the site of a Fish Cannery back in the early 1900’s, and several other businesses have operating on that site over the years.
Laceys store 1965
Pharmacy ex Laceys Store 2020
Near the corner of Kangaroo Avenue, where the Pharmacy stands today, was the site of “Lacey’s Store” from 1965, a Grocery shop with Petrol Bowser outside on the road. At the entrance to IGA, where Liquorland is today, stood a house owned by a famous, indeed infamous, “Vaudeville” performer from the 1930’s. Touring Australia, and never far from Theatrical scandal, Elsie Bates eventually retired to Bribie, and sold the house to the Vines family in 1947. They ran it as a Grocery Store for many years with “Maisonettes” for rent above, and it was always known as the “Duck Inn”, because the door was so low, and below the road level, that one had to stoop to get in.
CIMEMA and CHURCH
Another business that started up just before the Bridge opened was in Cotterill Avenue, which is now the site of the Baptist Church. Two families came to Bribie from Rhodesia in 1962, and Henry and Don built Hendon Recreation Hall for Roller Skating, Indoor Bowls, Badminton and Dancing. This was new and popular entertainment for Bribie, but sadly
Henry drowned in the sea at Woorim
Duck Inn 1950's Hendon Hall then Cinema 1965
Baptist Church 2020 Ex Cinema
just a year later and the business was forced into liquidation. Films has been shown at St. Peters Church hall for many years, and the big new hall became the Cinema for the next 10 years, and then “Busy Fingers” Store for over 20 years, before it became the Baptist Church in 1999.
MORE BRIBIE HISTORY
Meetings of the Historical Society are on the second Wednesday of each month at 6;30pm the RSL Club. Visitors and new members are always welcome, but due to restrictions attendance notification and approval is required. You can see many more articles on our Blog Site http://bribieislandhistory.
