BRIBIE in the NEWS in 1880's BRIBIE in the NEWS in 1880's

In 1887 there were no permanent residents on Bribie and just a handful of people living rough involved in Oyster Farming, Fish Canning and Cattle grazing. The settlement of Bongaree was not established until 1912 when the Jetty was built and Steamships began regular trips from Brisbane. You need to read the following newspaper articles bearing in mind what Bribie was like at the time.

BRISBANE COURIER- MAY 1887

BRIBIE ISLAND POSSIBLE LOCATION FOR BRISBANE’S SANITARY REFUSE.

The Bribie Historical Society has been developing a huge Database of all things Bribie for many years. Hundreds of Photos, Maps, Newspaper Articles, Books, Magazines, Films, Recordings and Memorabilia. If you have something interesting from Bribie’s past, we would love to hear from you. We are currently digitising many years of old Australian, Brisbane, and Queensland newspapers with any mention of Bribie. It is interesting to find the odd occasion when little Bribie Island is mentioned.

This article is a small selection of Bribie News items from 1887 onwards covering a range of topics that include refuse disposal, a racehorse named Bribie, the first land sales, and when telephone, water and fire services first came to Bribie.

Members of the Sanitary Conference met again yesterday afternoon at the Town Hall to hear that there was a place on Bribie Island where Brisbane refuse could be deposited on the surface. The additional cost might cover the cost of steaming out to dump off Cape Moreton. The mayor said the matter had been fully considered and had found the cost of landing on Bribie Island would be greater than carrying it out to sea. The committee had done their best and were satisfied that refuse could yet be used on farms or put on an island in the Bay. Kangaroo Island, opposite Doughboy, had been offered them by the Government and could be well suited for an experiment to show farmers what could be done. He was strongly of opinion that depositing the refuse on Bribie Island was the best scheme. Mr Hocker said that if they adopted the report, it did not bind them to take the stuff to sea, and when bad weather came in they would have plenty of opportunities of depositing it on Bribie Island.

Barry Clark Bribie Island Historical Society

QUEENSLANDER - SEPT 1891

BRIBIE IS MEANEST PIECE OF COUNTRY IN AUSTRALIA

Explorer and Politician Archibald Meston described Bribie Island as the most historically interesting island on the Queensland coast and also the meanest piece of country in Australia. Bribie Island had been inhabited by a powerful tribe called "Jindoobarrie" who were graceful, athletic, and warlike. In 1840 they were numbered 600 to 1000 but today there is probably not a soul left on the island.

BRISBANE COURIER - NOV1898

RACEHORSE NAMED “BRIBIE” IN ACCIDENT

The Queensland Turf Club's Spring Meeting at Eagle Farm did not pass off without one serious accident occurring. In the Flying Welter Handicap, which was the second event on Saturday's programme. There was a field of seventeen starters, and after the horses had raced about a furlong Mr T. Higgins's horse, IDOL, tripped and fell, bringing BRIBIE down over him. IDOL was killed instantly, having broken his neck, and his rider had his right arm badly smashed above the elbow. BRIBIE was also unfortunate, receiving injuries that will prevent him from racing again, but his rider, F. Holmes, escaped with nothing more serious than some bruises and a shaking. five lots were sold at from 5 to 8 Pounds per lot. For section 3 there were no bidders. For section 4 ten lots found purchasers, at from 4 to 6 Pounds, and 10 lots found no purchasers. Sections 5 and 6, on the Esplanade, fronting Pumice Stone Channel, contained 20 lots in all, and all of these found purchasers at from 31 to 14 Pounds.

BRISBANE COURIER - OCT 1922

TELEPHONE LINE TO BRIBIE ISLAND.

Bribie Island Telephone Service has been advised by the Deputy Postmaster-General that it has now been decided to construct as early as possible a telephone line following the Caboolture River and the coast of Deception Bay to Bribie Island. The financial aspect of the work held the proposal up for a considerable time, but the Brisbane Tug Company has now offered to assist in labour, supply of poles, &c., by way of contribution towards the cost of construction. The office at Bribie Island will be at the existing receiving office, and the present hours of 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. will be observed. At Toorbul Point the office will be at the residence of Mr Joe Campbell, and the hours will be 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., and 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Telegrams are to be called for at both places. .

BRISBANE COURIER NOV 1922

BRISBANE COURIER - DEC1912 NEW BONGAREE TOWNSHIP LAND SALE

At the Lands Office, Brisbane, lots in the township of Bongaree, Bribie Island were offered for sale by the Crown land agent. The areas were, with one exception, 1 rood in extent, the upset prices ranging from 4 to 12 Pounds. In section 1, bounded by Toorbul, Campbell, Banya, and Foster streets, 14 lots were sold, from 5 to 22 Pounds. Two lots have since been sold at an upset price, and four remain unsold. In section 2, bounded by Campbell, Banya, Webster, and Toorbul streets,

WATER AVAILABLE ON BONGAREE. The hon. Secretary of the Bribie Progress Association would like to point out that the articles appearing in Tuesday morning's "Courier" might suggest that no water is available at Bribie Island, except that supplied by the Brisbane Tug Co. This is not so. For the benefit of those who intend to visit the island during the coming Christmas holidays, I wish to point out that there is a very plentiful supply of water not only from the tanks which have been so generously supplied by the Brisbane Tug Co. free of cost but from several wells on the island, which have pumps attached, giving always a bountiful quantity of water, which is not only free from any discolouration or disagreeable smell but quite good for either drinking or cooking purposes and compares most favourably with the tap water supplied in Brisbane. The charge of 1 penny per kerosene tin, which has been recently made, is not owing to any shortage, but to stop people from deliberately wasting the water the company has taken the trouble to supply. At 1 penny per kerosene tin, to equal my water rates in Brisbane I would have to consume 5376 gallons per annum, which I do not.

CAIRNS POST -NOV1950

FIRE RAVAGES BRIBIE ISLAND

Bribie settlement of 78 houses was menaced by fire fanned by gale-force westerly winds, all women and children evacuated to the only safe place, the beach. Gale-force winds swept the south-eastern coast of Queensland on Saturday. Fires destroyed one house on Bribie Island and for a time it was feared that the whole settlement of 78 houses would be wiped out. All women and children in the settlement were evacuated onto the beach - the only safe place. Lifesavers and residents formed bucket brigades and beat at the fire with bags and branches. They managed to hold the fire at bay until it burnt itself out. Fires broke out along the channel side of the island and were swept right across to the Pacific Ocean by the westerly gale.

More BRIBIE History

The Historical Society have monthly public meetings at the RSL Club on the second Wednesday of each month commencing at 6;30pm. with interesting guest speakers on a wide range of topics, and you can see many more photos and articles on our Blog Site at http://bribieislandhistory. blogspot.com or contact us on bribiehistoricalsociety@gmail.com