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BRIBIE TIMELINE

Pre-colonial

Indigenous People of Bribie Island

The island was inhabited by the Ngunda people - later known as the Joondoburri - when Europeans first arrived. Despite thriving on the rich resources of the island for thousands of years, by 1891 there were no indigenous people left on the island.

1770

Lt James Cook RN

Sailed past Bribie Island on 17th May 1770 on the HM Barque Endeavour.

1779

Lt Matthew Flinders

Lieutenant (later Captain) Matthew Flinders was the first explorer to enter Glass House Bay (now Moreton Bay).

1779

Bongaree the Man

Bongaree (or Bungaree) was an indigenous Garigal man from the Broken Bay area in Sydney. Born circa1775.

1822

Captains Bingle and Edwardson

In 1822 Governor Brisbane sent Captains Bingle & Edwardson to see if they could find the entrance of a large river in Moreton Bay.

1823

Castaways: Pamphlett, Parsons & Finnegan

Thomas Pamphlett, Richard Parsons and John Finnegan in late September 1823 crossed over the Pumicestone Passage and arrived on Bribie Island. They were welcomed by the Ngunda people.

1823

John Oxley

John Oxley, Surveyor General of NSW, was sent north by Governor Brisbane in October 1823 to search for a suitable site for a penal settlement for repeat offenders.

1823

John Uniacke

Uniacke's personal account of the John Oxley expedition and Pamphlet and Finnegan’s survival was published in London in 1825 by former NSW Judge, Barron Field, in his Geographical Memoirs of New South Wales.

1904 to now

Amateur Fishermen’s Association QLD

The fishing club was founded on 10th May 1904 with 70 fishermen signing up as members. Thomas Welsby, a respected historian, held the post of Vice President for the first two years then President until 1921 and Patron from 1922 to 1941.

1908-1914

Sarah Balls

Sarah Balls was an extraordinary Brisbane businesswoman but who would have imagined that she would build a fish cannery on Bribie Island in 1908.

1912-1953

SS Koopa

The Koopa’s first trips were to Redcliffe on Christmas and Boxing Day 1911 but holiday-makers had to wait until Sunday, 21st January 1912 for the Koopa to arrive in the Pumicestone Passage and then only to view Bribie Island from her deck.

1912-1936

Emily Howard Coungeau

Although Emily had humble beginnings, by the end of her life she was acclaimed as a successful businesswoman, prolific and popular poet and lyricist.

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