Redland Bay, Queensland

The labour of clearing the forest was long and arduous. One man with an axe might labour for years to clear an area of land that could support a viable farm. The felled timber would then milled to provide building material for the first houses. Locally milled cedar was used for doors, architraves and other feature work on the early houses, such as the original farmhouse on what was to become Mt Carmel Orchard. The character of the red soil was such that over time, it infiltrated itself into and on farm buildings, giving them a characteristic red tinge.^[citation needed]

One early settler was Arnold Friedrich Muller who took up 50 acres (20 ha) of coastal forest north of what is now Point Talburpin. Muller's farmhouse was removed in the 1990s to make way for a stage of the Orchard Beach estate, but its site is still marked by a pair of mature fig trees, planted around 1905, at the top of School of Arts road where it meets Collins Street. While these trees were likely to have been planted for the practical purposes of shading the house from the intense afternoon sun and cold winter westerly winds, they also stand as a symbol of the enduring husband and wife farming partnerships that helped to define the character of Redland Bay. Arnold's eldest son William was born around 1879, the first white man to be born in the district. He died in 1978 at the age of 99.^{[citation needed]}

The early farms produced sugar cane, pineapples and citrus. The produce was taken to market by horse-drawn wagon at first, then by the steamboats Pearl, Eucalypta, Louisa and Porpoise, operated by one Captain John Burke. The viability of these crops was reduced as larger farms to the north at Thorneside, Cleveland and Ormiston gained a competitive advantage over Redland Bay, possibly due to access to rail transport. Redland Bay farmers moved towards producing tomatoes, cabbage, cauliflower and passionfruit. These crops continued until farming finally gave way to suburban development around the year 2000.^{[citation needed]}

Redland Bay Provisional School opened on 14 December 1881 as a half time school in conjunction with Victoria Point Provisional School (meaning a single teacher was shared between two schools). In 1890, it became Redland Bay State School.^[8][9]

On 10 November 1884, auctioneer John Cameron offered 451 suburban lots in the Redland Bay Estate, an area bounded by North Street to the north, Moreton Bay to the east, Boundary Street to the south and Mill Street to the west.^[10] The lots were advertised as having either a water frontage or splendid view of the bay and that there was a local sawmill able to provide timber for construction. The auctioner provided steamships to bring the buyers from Brisbane to the auction. The advertising also claimed the Cleveland railway line would be extended to Redland Bay (which never occurred).^[11] Another auction was held for this estate on 26 December 1884.^[12]

On 7 March 1885, auctioneer John Cameron offered 161 suburban lots (mostly 20 perches) bounded by Peel Street to the north, Moreton Bay to the east, Weinham Creek to the south and Scott and Hamilton Streets to the west, in addition to four banana farms (6 to 8 acres). One of the many benefits of the estate was the availability of "pure milk (no tadpoles)".^[13][14]

On 9 November 1885, auctioneer Arthur Martin & Co offered 780 suburban lots (mostly 16 perches) in the Torquay Estate, an area bounded by Torquay Road to the north, Moreton Bay to the east, Oakland Avenue to the south and Serpentine Creek Road to the west.^[15] As well as promising a future railway connection, the advertising also speculated "If coal is discovered, of which there is every reasonable probability, Redland is bound to become the Newcastle of Queensland, and one of the most important places in Australia".^[16]

On 22 September 1888, auctioneer R.J. Cottell offered 610 lots (mostly suburban blocks ranging from 20 to 42 perches) expanding the Redland Bay estate westward to the Moogurrapum Creek and southward to Pitt Street (with some larger farm blocks beyond those boundaries). The auction took place at the Brisbane Opera House in Queen Street.^[17][18]

On 18 March 1889, auctioneer A. Martin & Co offered 109 lots, including some still unsold in the original Redland Bay Estate as well as some additional lots in the vicinity of Broadwater Terrace.^[19][20]

An extension of the Cleveland railway line to Redland Bay and Mount Cotton was surveyed in 1889.^[21] The extension to Redland Bay was recommended by the Royal Commission into Public Works in 1922,^[22] but was never built.

In 1906, a Baptist church opened in Redland Bay.^[23][24] On Sunday 10 July 1932 it was reopened after extensions and improvements.^[25]

In 1979, the locality was described as:

From 2000, Redland Bay has been increasingly populated. Most farms have been replaced by housing, and has its own set of shops. It is relatively close to Victoria Point, and is only a ferry ride away from the bay islands, such as Russell and Macleay.^{[citation needed]}

Scenic Shores State School opened on 22 January 2024 under principal Sue Hendriks.^[27][28]

Demographics

In the

In the 2016 census, Redland Bay had a population of 14,958 people.^[30]

In the 2021 census, Redland Bay had a population of 17,056 people.^[3]

Heritage listings

Redland Bay has a number of

• 46-72 Banana Street in Nev Stafford Park (27°37′00″S 153°18′34″E / 27.6168°S 153.3094°E / -27.6168; 153.3094 (Redland Bay War Memorial)): Redland Bay War Memorial (including a Roll of Honour) ^[31][32]
• 189 School of Arts Road (corner of Collins Street, 27°37′48″S 153°18′27″E / 27.6300°S 153.3076°E / -27.6300; 153.3076 (House with cropped pyramid roof)): Orange Grove Manor, house with cropped pyramid roof ^[32]
• 125-141 Gordon Road (27°37′09″S 153°17′34″E / 27.6191°S 153.2929°E / -27.6191; 153.2929 (Redland Bay State School Residence)): Redland Bay State School Residence ^[32][33]
• Moores Road (27°37′21″S 153°18′36″E / 27.6226°S 153.3101°E / -27.6226; 153.3101 (Moreton Bay Fig trees)):
  Moreton Bay Fig trees^[32]
• 398-408 Serpentine Creek Road (27°40′09″S 153°18′08″E / 27.6693°S 153.3023°E / -27.6693; 153.3023 (Serpentine Creek Road Cemetery)): Serpentine Creek Road Cemetery ^[32][34]

Redland Bay Flying Boat Base

From 1953 to 1971, Qantas Empire Flying Boats operated from Redland Bay. These were mainly Sunderland flying boats traveling from Sydney to the United Kingdom. From 1955, Ansett, formerly known as Barrier Reef Airways also operated flying boats from Redland Bay, taking tourists to Hayman Island in North Queensland.^[35][36]

Activity at Redland Bay reached its peak in the 1950s with 105 commercial flying boat movements in July 1953. There was a steady decline after that until After 1971, Qantas began operating the new Boeing 747 long-haul aircraft that made the Flying Boats obsolete.^{[citation needed]} The base was finally closed in 1972.^[36]

The terminal for the Flying Boat Base was the jetty at Banana Street, Redland Bay, near the present location of the Bay Island ferry service. Flying boat passengers waiting to embark, and those in transit could wait and be refreshed at the Redland Bay Hotel while the Flying Boats were serviced for the onward journey.^[36]

Education

Redland Bay State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at 125-141 Gordon Road (27°37′07″S 153°17′35″E / 27.6185°S 153.2930°E / -27.6185; 153.2930 (Redland Bay State School)).^[37][38] In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 876 students with 65 teachers (56 full-time equivalent) and 42 non-teaching staff (27 full-time equivalent).^[39] It includes a special education program.^[37][40]

Scenic Shores State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at 350-372 Serpentine Creek Road (27°39′58″S 153°18′14″E / 27.6660°S 153.3038°E / -27.6660; 153.3038 (Scenic Shores State School)).^[41]

There are no secondary schools in Redland Bay. The nearest government secondary school is Victoria Point State High School in neighbouring Victoria Point to the north.^[42]

Amenities

The

Further reading

• Redland Bay State School (1981). Redland Bay State School 1881-1981. Redland Bay State School.
  ISBN 978-0-9593691-0-6
  .
• Jones, D. (David E. (2007). Wings on the river : flying boats on the Brisbane River and Redland Bay / David Jones (1st ed.). Boolarong Press.
  ISBN 9781921054273
  .

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Redland Bay, Queensland.

• "Redland Bay". Queensland Places. Centre for the Government of Queensland, University of Queensland.
• Redlands Tourism
• Serpentine Creek Cemetery: Headstone Photos