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.
Engraving, published on 17th June 1854 in The Illustrated London News
Used by the Indigenous people of Bribie.
Courtesy Thomas Bancroft photo collection SLQ
Engraving, published on 17th June 1854 in The Illustrated London News
1770
Lt James Cook RN
Sailed past Bribie Island on 17th May 1770 on the HM Barque Endeavour.
by Julian Ashton from Picturesque atlas of Australasia 1888
Photo taken from a cruise ship. Facebook.
1779
Lt Matthew Flinders
Lieutenant (later Captain) Matthew Flinders was the first explorer to enter Glass House Bay (now Moreton Bay).
Creator Toussaint Antoine De Chazal De Chamerel 1806
Courtesy State Library of NSW
Qld_heritage_v1_no8_1968_p16_26
Creator Toussaint Antoine De Chazal De Chamerel 1806
1779
Bongaree the Man
Bongaree (or Bungaree) was an indigenous Garigal man from the Broken Bay area in Sydney. Born circa1775.
A detail from a Lithograph, hand-coloured with watercolour, on paper by Augustus Earle.
Courtesy National Gallery of Australia
Lithograph, hand-coloured with watercolour, on paper by Augustus Earle.
A detail from a Lithograph, hand-coloured with watercolour, on paper by Augustus Earle.
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.
by unknown photographer State Library of New South Wales, PXA 943
by unknown photographer State Library of New South Wales, PXA 943
by unknown photographer State Library of New South Wales, PXA 943
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.
Picturesque Atlas of Australasia,vol.II, 1886
StateLibQld 1 110020
Picturesque Atlas of Australasia,vol.II, 1886
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.
Artist unknown. Courtesy of State Library of NSW
Artist unknown. Courtesy of State Library of NSW
Drawn during the 1823 and 1824 expeditions
Artist unknown. Courtesy of State Library of NSW
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.
Devonshire Street Cemetery (Defunct) Sydney, City of Sydney, NSW MEMORIAL ID 198431999
Public domain
Family memorial from Ancestry.com
Devonshire Street Cemetery (Defunct) Sydney, City of Sydney, NSW MEMORIAL ID 198431999
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.
Photo by Lynne Hooper BIHS 2021
Courtesy MBRC P1586
Courtesy BI Seaside Museum
Photo by Lynne Hooper BIHS 2021
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.
Image courtesy BIHS
Image courtesy BIHS
Photo taken by Lynne Hooper BIHS
Image courtesy BIHS
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.
Courtesy of the SLQ. Neg No 24336.
Lost Brisbane Facebook - public domain.
Courtesy Huet photo collection.
Courtesy of the SLQ. Neg No 24336.
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.
Photo Courtesy of E Gobolos.
Courtesy E Gobolos.
Formal portrait ca1915 Courtesy E Gobolos
Photo Courtesy of E Gobolos.