Redcliffe Remembers bicentenary

Photo courtesy of Sarah O'Neill Photography

The community came together to commemorate the bicentenary of European settlement at Redcliffe during the Redcliffe Remembers event on September 14.

The event was held at Corscadden Park, near where Lt Henry Miller arrived on the brig Amity with soldiers and their families, and 29 convicts on the same date 200 years earlier.

They first settled near Humpybong Creek before moving to the banks of the Brisbane River in May 1825.

The area had been home to the Ningy Ningy (Gubbi Gubbi Nation) for thousands of years and was a gathering place for surrounding tribes.

The Redcliffe Remembers event opened with a moving Welcome to Country from songwoman Maroochy Barambah, who is a descendant of the Turrbal and Gubbi Gubbi people and Scottish Australian Andrew Petrie.

Councillor Karl Winchester (Div 6), who officially opened the event, said the early European settlers built accommodation for the Commandant, soldiers’ barracks, jail and other structures during an eight-month period.

“Unfortunately, it didn’t pan out as the best site and they had to up-stumps and relocate, and that’s where Brisbane came about the following year,” Cr Winchester said.

“After relocating, it was some time before European settlement reoccurred in Redcliffe. In March 1861, Redcliffe became an agricultural reserve within the division of Caboolture.

“It wasn’t until April 1888 we became a division in our own right. We became a shire in 1903, Redcliffe Town Council in 1921, and most famously, and something I think we’re all nostalgic about, became the City of Redcliffe in 1959.”

Redcliffe became part of Moreton Bay Regional Council, now Moreton Bay City Council, in 2008.

Council upgraded Corscadden Park in the lead-up to the event, with enhancements to make it a more appealing place to visit, but also a Humpybong history trail to recognise its historic significance. It was completed in partnership with History Redcliffe and Rotary.

Tough assignment

Federal Member for Petrie Luke Howarth said there were about 70 people in the initial landing party at Redcliffe, the first to attempt a settlement in Queensland.

“The choice of site was motivated by its proximity to fertile land and potential for agricultural development, but the settlement faced immediate challenges due to the isolated location and the harsh environmental conditions,” Mr Howarth said.

“Despite the initial enthusiasm, Redcliffe struggled with logistical difficulties which hampered its development, and the harsh climate and the lack of suitable agricultural land made the sustaining the settlement difficult.”

He said it was impossible to comprehend how difficult it must have been for the early settlers in Redcliffe and, while the settlement was abandoned, Redcliffe is now a place many people want to live.

History Redcliffe President Janet Franklin thanked the event’s sponsors and volunteers for supporting and organising the commemorations.

“We’re thrilled with the development of Corscadden Park, named after the Corscadden family (who were) early pioneers of Redcliffe,” she said.

Nathan Corscadden, and his family, represented his ancestors at the event opening.

Redcliffe Remembers, co-ordinated by Rae Frawley, included a program of stage entertainment, community group information stalls, face painting and children’s activities.

It was the culmination of a week of events to commemorate milestone including the Moreton Bay Bicentennial Commemoration Conference, a talk at Redcliffe Library, a history walk, an afternoon tea and talk, and a morning tea for descendants of historical figures.

Those in attendance at the morning tea included descendants of convicts, Lt Henry Miller and Reverend John Sutton.

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Photos by Sarah O'Neill Photography