HISTORY
100
YEARS of Bribie Post and Telegraph By Barry Clark Bribie Island Historical Society
he history and location of Post and Telephone services on Bribie may surprise you. Before the Brisbane Tug & Steamship Co. built the Jetty at Bongaree in 1912, there were only about 20 people resident on the island, mainly involved in Oyster farming, Fish Canning, Cattle grazing and Bee Keeping. Regular Steamship trips came to the new jetty at Bongaree from Brisbane in 1912, bringing passengers, luggage, materials, drinking water, personal items and provisions. As the resident population and visitors increased, the benefits of a regular postal service were recognised. 46 www.thebribieislander.com.au
Woorim Post Office 1960’s
A Petition sent to the Deputy Postmaster-General in 1913 requested a twice-weekly mail service from Brisbane to Bribie. The PMG agreed to a Post Receiving Office agency being set up in one of the few houses on Bribie, that of the Tug Company caretaker, just north of the jetty.
The first caretaker George Jacques, and his replacement Alan Layton, both went to serve in WW1 and in 1917, Tom Lawrence became caretaker, and his wife Henrietta looked after the Post and a small general store in their house, until 1921.
TELEPHONE COMES
A few years later a request was made for a telecommunications service to be provided to Bribie Island. The Tug Co. agreed to supply Telegraph poles and
Caretakers House 1912 The Bribie Islander
