EVENTS THAT MADE BRIBIE HISTORY

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

For my local History article this Easter week

I thought I would show a list of dates of some major events over the last 253 years that have given Bribie the special place in history that it has..

Many places along the Queensland coast have an interesting history, but Bribie Island has long been recognised as a very special place, being the first explored location in what is now Queensland.

It was just eleven years after the First Fleet brought hundreds of Convicts to establish a Penal Colony in Sydney Harbour, that the first white man set foot on Bribie Island. That was Matthew Flinders with crew of the small Sloop Norfolk, and his aboriginal companion Bongaree in July 1799. They encountered the indigenous Joondoobari people of the island, who had occupied this land for thousands of years. Twenty-four years later the Moreton Bay Penal Colony was established on the Brisbane River, but sadly 100 years later most of the indigenous people were gone. Here is a chronological list of some events that impacted and shaped this island community over the years.

1770 James Cook on Endeavour sails past and names Glasshouses.

1799 Matthew Flinders & Bongaree on Norfolk visit Bribie Island.

1823 Three Sydney castaway convicts live with Bribie aborigines.

1824 Moreton Bay Penal colony established on Brisbane River.

1839 Convict transport to Brisbane ends and free settlers come.

1859 Queensland proclaimed a new colony of the British Empire.

1867 Caboolture develops as river crossing to Gympie Gold field.

1877 Reserve for remaining aborigines established at Whitepatch

1886 Proposed new Town of Bribie surveyed at Whitepatch.

1890 Oysters, Bees, Fish canning and Cattle grazing on Bribie Island.

1891 Aboriginal childrens school briefly operates at Mission Point.

Queensland was proclaimed a new Colony of the British Empire in 1859, when it was separated from New South Wales, as Victoria had also been separated and established as a new Colony in 1851.

All the colonies became States of Australia in 1901 with Federation. At that time there were few permanent residents on Bribie, but several pioneers were running business operations in Timber cutting Fish Canning, Oyster Farming, and Cattle Grazing. Small boats made visits to Bribie Island but it was the Brisbane Tug Company who opened it up for tourists.

1901 - 1937

1901 Commonwealth of Australia established by Federation.

1903 Brisbane Tug Company develops interest in Bribie Island.

1912 Steamship Koopa runs from Brisbane to new Jetty at Bongaree.

1918 Hall & Bestmann open first general store near new jetty.

1919 First motor car brought to Bribie from Brisbane before any road.

1924 First track cleared from Bongaree to Ocean beach and school built.

1933 The closest Surf Club to Brisbane established at Woorim beach.

1937 Thomas Welsby wrote book of legend "Bribie the Basket Maker".

World War 2 was declared in Europe in 1939 and with the bombing of Pearl Harbour by Japan, America came into the war and had a big impact on Australia. Bribie Island became a significant strategic location for the defence of Brisbane and a large Mil itary training camp was established at Sandstone Point, and submarine defence installations were built at Fort Bribie and Fort Skirmi sh on the north and south of Bribie Island

1939 - 1963

1939 Bribie Hotel built at Woorim used by military in World War 2.

1941 Military War defences built at Fort Skirmish and Fort Bribie.

1947 Car ferry barge starts run from Toorbul/Sandstone point.

1953 Electricity connected and Cinema shown at Church hall.

1953 Recluse artist Ian Fairweather comes to live in grass hut on Bribie.

1963 Bribie Island Bridge opened with expensive Toll lasting 12 years. In a few months’ time 19th October will be the 60-year anniversary of the opening of the Bridge, and we hope to have a special celebration for that anniversary. Over recent years the Historical Society have erected several plaques and signs on Bribie with details of some of the events listed above We give presentations to local Clubs & Groups, conduct Heritage Walks and publish several free informative brochures.

The next Bongaree Heritage Walk will be on Thursday 4 MAY and Bribie in World War 2 at Woorim on Thursday 18 MAY. These free guided walks are part of the Council “Healthy & Active” program, but you must book on web site www.mbrc.qld.gov.au/healthy-active to register as numbers are limited. You can contact us on bribiehistoricalsociety@gmail.com