1933 Riding tour over the Blackall Range to Bribie Island

The following article gives a glimpse of Bribie Island in the 1930s within a description of the broader environs of the Blackall Range – a distance that travelling by horse afforded people at that time. A view of Bribie Island from the Glasshouse Mountains afforded Helena a wonder that was matched by the view she had of the Glasshouse Mountains from Bribie Island!

Over the Blackalls. Riding in Queensland.

By Helena Cass

1933

It was folly to plan a riding tour with Mystery over the Blackall Range. But there is a special providence for helpless women, and a guide presented herself. She was short and very fat. She wore a flop hat and a grey ulster, and on her undersized grey pony she looked like a pilgrim from the Canterbury Tales. Having made my will, I placed myself in her hands. We turned our backs on the little fishing village, still unspoilt, which one day will draw the world to see the sun set behind the Glass Houses – those vast pillars of rock which loom in splendid isolation like pyramids against skies of cerise and primrose and purple-blue. Our way lay through bush thick with wildflowers. We rode past groves of magnificent palms, tangled lawyer-vines and water-vines, nests of the white ant several feet high, and tall gums with thin, straight trunks like columns in a Gothic nave. It was strange, in this depth of bush, to hear the roar of a 'plane and see, in the narrow lane of sky, the mail 'plane pass south. In one clearing was a section of a house, with people living in it as they built. The garden was being kept in boxes upstairs until the chickens, could be fenced in.

At Landsborough, with its three timber mills in action, we gave our bush ponies their first shoes, and pushed on up the range for the night. Below us stretched 80 miles of coastal scenery, clear as in an aeroplane photograph - the blue of Moreton Bay, that quiet arm of water called The Passage, cut from the sea by the long length of Bribie Island, low hills in the foreground, and behind and above us the Montville Range. 

Aerial view of Bribie Island and hinterland.
Description: Earth observation views taken from shuttle orbiter Endeavour during STS-67 mission.
Date taken: 3.5.1995
Source: The U.S. National Archives

A new guide took me in charge next morning, a bush girl riding a spirited animal which she had broken in herself, and leading another which she was training to follow like a dog. The country rivalled the land of "Swiss Family Robinson.'' We passed banana gullies, pineapple fields, and orange groves. When we were hot and thirsty we bought pineapples and ate them by the wayside, in the only way to eat a pineapple – by cutting off the top and eating the pulp with a spoon.

The Glass Houses

Suddenly we gained a plateau and stopped to gaze at the amazing scene. Below, on a great plain, were the Glass Houses and a multitude of lesser mounds. These are no ordinary mountains, nor, speaking accurately, are they mountains at all. They are solidified lava, which has choked the vents of old volcanoes. Seen closely there is something awe-inspiring about them; they belong not to our age, but to a past world, what we know as Mesozoic times. I have seen them in the early morning, their hard surface gleaming in the sun. It was so that Cook saw them and named them more than 150 years ago. At Maleny, the heart of the dairy country, we stopped to see the show. Ten years ago, when I rode through the fruit country, a stretcher case had to be carried over the roughest of tracks 13 miles to the railhead. Now Maleny has a modern hospital, and patients are brought by ambulance on a metalled road. Next day we were passing through the most heavily timbered country in Southern Queensland. We met teams of 18 to 26 bullocks dragging the huge logs. In one place a man had just been killed: he had misjudged the fall of a tree. In the late afternoon we were descending the range into Conondale. With no warning my guide plunged down a deep slope, exactly like Italian cavalry in the films. The grade there was one in two; there was no track, only an occasional wallaby trail. Feeling thankful about my will I urged Mystery to get it over. He at once began to tack. Presently my haversack with a week's supplies, was brushed from the saddle by a tree. It could have stayed up there as far as I was concerned. But the bush girl was magnificent: she came back at the double and retrieved it for me.

Five minutes more and we were trotting across newly cleared country, with wood smoke rising here and there in the quiet air. Long lines of white ash marked the place of many fallen trees. The last rays of the sun threw a welcoming gleam on the windows of the bush girl’s studio high up on iron capped logs, and set upon a hill. The night was full of the noises of the bush – the eerie call of the curlew, the cry of an opossum or a disturbed plover the howl of the dingo, the scamper of a drove of wallabies at dawn. We rested our horses for a day and went wallaby shooting in the scrub. The bush girl got one with her first shot. The air was already hot, though it was easily spring: a family of bellbirds was chiming overhead, and we rested at a little green pool on the banks of the River Mary which flows to Maryborough. Over the range we went, with wonderful views of great extent, and in to Woodford. The pioneers must have faced difficulties in this countryside, for some houses were without front windows. One man had a primitive sawmill made by taking an engine from a Dodge car and coupling the saw spindle directly to the universal of the tail-shaft. The next day's ride to Beerwah was a lovely stretch of 30 miles. There were jungle gullies, lunch at a lily pool, and a well-graded road down the range, with Crooked Neck, one of the Glass Houses, rimmed in trees, looking like an ancient castle.

At Beewah we went over the Government forestry reserve, where, for five years, experiments have been made and where 500 acres have been planted with pinus caribacea.

Bribie Island

We crossed to Bribie Island by a ford called the Shallows, and galloped down the surf beach. We were met by some aborigines, who grilled fish for us on pronged sticks. They took us to the nets on the other side of the island, in the passage, and showed us baby sharks and the dreaded stingray. We saw "oysters growing on trees”; there were pelicans, ibis, and hawks. Lulu, with the quick eyes of the native, saw bees about a tree, which, when cut down, gave a kerosene tin of honey. A large iguana was up one tree, and a recently discarded snakeskin hung from another. As we swam our horses across the channel to the mainland, the soldier crabs were swarming in millions on the sandbanks, maneuvering, with human ardour their miniature armies. Moreton Bay was still blue, even in moonlight, when we gained the beautiful headland which was the end of our journey, the lovely length of Bribie's beach was still golden and I waved good-bye to my Bush Girl with the surf breaking lazily below pandanus trees.

REFERENCE
Over the Blackalls. Riding in Queensland. By Helena Cass. The Argus (Melbourne) 7.1.1933 p. 9 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4518239

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Helena Cass (nee Holmes) was born in 1887 in Toronto, Canada and was a serving army nurse when she married Australian Major Walter Edmund Hutchinson Cass in October 1916 in London, England. Their only child Angelia was born in 1926. Brigadier General W.E.H. Cass died in 1931 and he was given a full military funeral service. In her widowhood Helena established a career in Melbourne as a freelance journalist.

This story is one of 27 stories presented in Describing Bribie Island 1865-1965: historical first-hand accounts of visiting Bribie Island produced by the Bribie Island Historical Society in 2017.  

PHOTO: Description: Earth observation views taken from shuttle orbiter Endeavour during STS-67 mission. Date taken: 3.5.1995 Source: The U.S. National Archives sts067-730-010-sts-067

FURTHER READING
State Library of Victoria appeals for funds to conserve Walter and Helena Cass collection. By James Hancock. ABC Online, Wed 16 May 2018. 

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-05-16/state-library-victoria-walter-helena-cass-collection-appeal/9763720

Walter and Helena Cass Collection appeal - State Library of Victoria.
https://www.slv.vic.gov.au/cass-appeal

1925 Social outing to Bribie

The following description of a social outing for members of two Brisbane timber associations is illustrated with the programme from the day which was printed on "Stanply" wooden tablets. This memento of the day, kept by Mr James Schroder Campbell, was recently donated to BIHS. 

Timber Trade. Annual outing to Bribie. 1925  

The annual outing of the members of the Brisbane Timber Merchants' Association and Brisbane and District Joinery Association and their wives and guests took place to Bribie Island on Wednesday.  

Doomba at the Bongaree Jetty (1924)
Photo: Caboolture Shire Council
Repository: Moreton Bay Libraries 

Luncheon was served on the Doomba, presided over by the respective presidents of the Brisbane Timber Merchants' Association (Mr. Wm. Patterson), and the Brisbane and District Joinery Association (Mr. W. Blackband). 

Programme of Social Outing to Bribie Island 25 November 1925
printed on "Stanply"wooden tablets 
Courtesy James Schroder Campbell collection

In proposing the toast of “The Day We Celebrate,” Mr Patterson said that they would like to see the association taking a more practical interest, in matters pertaining to afforestation, by an effort to promote a scheme for growing softwoods within a reasonable distance of the cities, so that future generations would be able to draw their supplied from areas handy to railways, in proximity to good roads. They had come through a strenuous and eventful period. During the early part of the year trade was slack, causing very keen competition, and on the other hand, they had increased costs to contend with, which made it very difficult to carry on their business successfully. As the year advanced there was a slight improvement in the volume of business but the extra overhead costs and shortage of pine supplies had added to their difficulties. 

The question of pine supplies was a very urgent one, as the industry was dependent upon the Forestry Department to a great extent. The shortage might be relieved by opening up more timber areas either by tramlines, or by making good, serviceable roads. ... During the year they were faced with the proposed Child Endowment Scheme, which would not have come into force before the middle of next year. Members were favourably inclined towards the principle of this form of assistance to workers, provided that the added cost could be recovered. Unfortunately, owing to force of circumstances, the Government had to abandon this Bill, and, instead, granted an increase of the basic wage at a moment’s notice, which did not give members any chance of providing against the added burden. 

Menu and Toast List
printed on "Stanply"wooden tablets 
Courtesy James Schroder Campbell collection

Responses made by Mr George Brown and Mr C.H. Bromily (country sawmillers), Mr W. Blackband, the vice-chairman, proposed the toast of "Our Guests," coupling with his toast the names of Mr F.J. Morrgan (National Bank of Australia, Ltd.), F.H.F. Swain (chairman, Provision Forestry Board), J.V.D. Coutts (Queensland Institute of Architects), M. Doggett (Queensland Master Builders’ Association), and Mr J. Hood (Suburban Master Builders’ Association), Mr F.J. Morgan, of the National Banks of Australasia, Ltd., responded.  

Mr E.H.F. Swain responded on behalf of the Provisional Forestry Board. The representatives of the Queensland Master Builders’ Association (Mr Doggett) and Suburban Master Builders’ (Mr Hood)... .

The toast of the ladies, proposed by Mr J.F. Brett, was acknowledged by Mrs J. Henry Hancock, on behalf of the ladies present.

In proposing the toast of the "newly-elected presidents of the respective associations," Mr. C.W. Campbell paid a tribute to Mr. Wm. Patterson and Mr. W. Blackband, two gentlemen who were held in very high esteem, both for their personal worth and for their devotion to the welfare of the timber industry in general, and the members of the association in particular.  

The toast of the Press was proposed by Mr F.O. Nixon, and acknowledged by Mr J.V.D. Coutts and Mr McCorquodale, on behalf of their respective journals.

On the return of the Doomba to Circular Quay, about 8 p.m., expressions on all sides testified to a very pleasant day's outing having been spent. 

REFERENCES

Timber Trade. Annual outing to Bribie.
The Brisbane Courier 28.11.1925 p. 9  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article20981480

Photo - Doomba at the Bongaree Jetty (1924) 
Moreton Bay Our Story, accessed 20/10/2024, https://ourstory.moretonbay.qld.gov.au/nodes/view/30551

Programme of Social Outing to Bribie Island 25 November 1925.
four leaves printed on "Stanply" wooden tablets.
Courtesy of James Schroder Campbell collection, BIHS. 

1942 Troops train on Island

The following article, written in 1942, has a description of the military activities at Toorbul Point and Bribie Island, though neither place is mentioned as was the practice during wartime to keep information, about military training operations, restricted. 

Troops Train for Offensive Landings (1942)
by M.C. Warren, "Telegraph" War Correspondent. 
The Telegraph 2.12.1942 p. 4

An island off the Australian coast a popular holiday resort in peacetime - now is the centre of the most intensive amphibious training ever given to troops in this country.

Thousands of Australian and American soldiers have learnt there a new technique - seamanship - at an Australian Army Combined Operations School. There is a very good reason why our military leaders want to make troops amphibious-minded. 

War in the Pacific made many of our earlier training methods obsolete overnight. It meant a substitution of jungle methods of combat in place of open fighting in which 'block' formations and weight of armour counted. Our troops mastered jungle tactics and beat the Japs back in New Guinea. 

Now our military strategy is no longer defensive, it is offensive. It is not a case of 'hold what we have', but 'take back from the Jap'. This means carrying the war over the sea to the islands of the Pacific. Troops must be trained to lose any fear of moving over water, to handle small boats and to embark and debark swiftly and efficiently. They must learn about tides, currents, and winds. They are shown how the tide can be used to reduce the fatigue of paddling. They must become 'mud minded' - a tactical surprise can be achieved by a landing in swampy mangroves. Defence of small watercraft from hostile aircraft also is a phase of training. 

Already large numbers of troops have mastered these and other lessons at the island close to the coast.

Troops train on island
photo source: BI Surf Club book, 1988, p. 95

The Navy and the Air Force combine with the Army in making the course as tough and as thorough as training could be. All three services have a part in the operations, just as they would have in actual battle. All of the Army instructional staff are AIF personnel with practical experience in this war. Three American officers are attached to the school. Naval officers give lectures on seamanship and kindred subjects and the Navy also provides and runs the watercraft. 

An Army Co-operation Squadron joins in the exercises, either as friendly or hostile aircraft as required by the situation. Both Navy and Army officers make air flights as part of their training.

Embarkation

A first-hand picture of the wide scope of the school's activities was given to visiting war correspondents. They saw an American combat unit in action. Their mission was to land and attack a hostile beach position on the island off the coast. Primarily, they were required to take an airfield from the 'enemy.' Live ammunition and bombs are used in the exercise. The presence of aircraft gives realism to the task. Shortly before zero hour for the beach landing, Allied aircraft raided the 'enemy' airfield on the island, diving in concentric attack upon dummy planes, installations and troops. They dropped live bombs ranging from 112 lbs to 250 lbs. A smoke screen was laid down by fast motor boats for the landing. The assault troops fixed bayonets. Towing ropes were cast off and the first wave of infantry was paddling vigorously towards shore through the smoke.

Realism

Mines blew up in the water around them showering the troops with gushers of water. Hostile aircraft dive bombed the landing boats, simulating machine gun fire. The troops responded with fierce ack-ack bursts from Tommy guns and rifles. Friendly aircraft beat off the air attackers and formed a protective umbrella. The boats grounded on the sand. With a quick rush, the troops were across the beach, engaging the defenders. More mines blew up around them, giving the impression of heavy 'enemy' shelling. 

By infiltration, the first wave of troops ashore routed the shore defenders and pushed inland. Second, third, and fourth waves of infantry went ashore in quick succession and consolidated the beachhead. Parties were sent out to protect the flanks. A motor propelled barge came in sight, bringing jeeps and mobile anti-tank guns. The barge stood in close to the beach, a ramp was lowered and the jeeps splashed through the shallow water on to dry sand, hauling the anti-tank guns. The 'enemy' had blocked the only cleared ground leading from the beach with huge fallen trees. Engineers tackled the problem and within a few minutes a track was ready for the jeeps to bring the anti-tank guns up the rise.

Encirclement

They enveloped the airfield so successfully that a wallaby, caught on the landing strip was unable to escape through the ring of attackers. The word 'withdrawal' is not in the vocabulary of our military training school nowadays. When this unit had to return to their camp they did not merely withdraw, but performed another training operation. Main training at the school is in movement by night. Beach landings in hours of darkness are considered essential for surprise tactics.

Dispersement

The school does not put troops immediately into water manoeuvres. They practice beach assault first from dummy boats at the waters edge. Special tactics taught at this stage are dispersement, speed, silence and method of moving the craft.

Despite the element of risk associated with the rigorous training methods at the school and the many thousands of soldiers who have passed through it, not one serious accident has occurred.

REFERENCE
Troops Train for Offensive Landings by M.C. Warren, "Telegraph" War Correspondent. The Telegraph 2.12.1942 p. 4 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article172598227

Photo source: Bribie Island Surf Club Book, 1988, page 95.

FURTHER READING
Merv Warren (1914-2013) War Correspondent: As I saw World War II. 1993. 106p. ISBN 0646149652 

1961 Water Supply Switching On ceremony

 On 4 November 1961, a "Switching On" ceremony for Bribie Island's water supply was held at Bongaree. The following article describes the day's events.

Switching on Ceremony [water supply] 

Vice-Regal Triumph at Bribie

In clear ringing tones came the final words of His Excellency Sir Henry Abel Smith K.C.M.G., K.C.V.O., D.S.O., as he concluded his speech at the opening of the Bribie Island water scheme on Saturday: “It is now my privilege to switch on the fresh water supply to Bribie Island”.  And then the irrepressible, effervescent humanity of the Vice-Regal visitor broke through. Sir Henry, with a twinkling smile, a mercurial flick of the hands, and a whimsical chuckle, turned and said: “I don’t know where the switch is – someone will have to show me!”

The crowd loved it. It cheered and then it chuckled too, as the chairman of the Caboolture Shire (Cr. S.A. Clayton), piloted His Excellency down the gentle incline to where the switch stood.  A pause, a twitch to the switch, and then another chuckle came as three jets of water sprayed dramatically to a height of thirty feet to proclaim the official reticulation of water to Bribie Island. Again the crowd roared but it had eyes only for the Governor. He had won their hearts as he has wherever he has “performed” in any part of the State.

"Three jets of water sprayed dramatically to a height of thirty feet
to proclaim the official reticulation of water to Bribie Island"
Photo: Caboolture Shire Council
Repository: QSA id 305320

Sir Henry’s humanity had asserted itself early in the piece when he chatted informally with the Guard of Honour provided by the Bribie Island Surf Life-saving Club headed by President Les Boyland, and again when he stepped away from the official party to congratulate Kathie Eliasson, drum-major of the Caboolture State School’s Drum and Fife Band on their playing. 

BRIBIE CELEBRATES ITS GREATEST DAY
And so the day wore on – with the Governor winning more and more hearts, stopping to chat with old Bribie identifies on his way to the Bongaree Bowling Club pavilion; and again, while there, mixing informally with as many persons as he could and making himself completely at home.  It was a great day for Bribie – and the Shire of Caboolture – for it was the first occasion on which His Excellency had paid an official visit to the Shire and it was the first occasion on which a Governor of Queensland had officiated at any ceremony on historic Bribie Island.

The island did itself proud for the day – and so did the weather despite a threat of rain earlier in the morning.  The day was radiant, the waters of the Passage sparkled in the sunshine; the spectacular plum-shaded masses of the Glasshouse Mountains beckoned to the north; the ladies wore their gayest frocks and the Marching Girls and the school-children from both Bribie Island and Caboolture in their colourful attire bedecked the sylvan scenes with freshness and warmth.

DISPLAYS
Mr. D. McNaught, head-teacher of the Bribie Island School, had charge of the pre-ceremony programme and his pupils gave a note-worthy display of folk-dancing in between programmes of recorded music which kept the crowd in good humour.  The Caboolture Marching Girls, marshalled by Mr. H. Shew and Mr. C.Duffy, instructor of the senior team, gave several displays of marching which amply demonstrated the excellent progress the girls are making.  Their eye-catching uniforms of blue and vieux rose, and lemon and green, gave added zest to their demonstrations.  The Caboolture Drum and Fife Band, in white uniforms with olive-green forage caps and green sashes, marched seventy strong prior to the official ceremony giving a number of tuneful selections which were true crowd-pleasers, too.  With the arrival of His Excellency, they “piped him in” with “Advance Australia Fair”.

To all these people a vote of thanks was carried by acclamation at the conclusion of the ceremony on the call of Cr. E. Bateman, (deputy chairman of the Shire of Caboolture). Apologies for non-attendance were announced from the Premier (Hon. G.F.R. Nicklin), Mr. D. Low, M.H.R. (Maroochy) and Mr. Sewell (Director of Local Government). The Shire chairman (Cr. S.A. Clayton) was ably assisted by Mrs. Clayton with the reception of the guests both at the official enclosure and at the Bongaree Bowling Clubhouse.

Governor Sir Henry Abel Smith chatting informally with the
Guard of Honour provided by the Bribie Island Surf Life-saving
Club headed by President Les Boyland.
Photo: Caboolture Shire Council
Repository: QSA id 305320

CHAIRMAN’S WELCOME
The chairman of the Shire of Caboolture, Cr. S.A. Clayton, extended a very hearty welcome to His Excellency and expressed their pleasure at having him with them that day to turn on the water supply to Bribie Island. “It is, I believe”, said Cr. Clayton, “the first time that a Governor of Queensland has been the guest of the Caboolture Shire Council and the number of people assembled here today shows how much your visit is appreciated.

The turning on of the water supply to the island, said Cr. Clayton, marked the completion of another stage in his Council’s progressive water supply policy.  It meant that the towns of Caboolture, Bongaree, and Woorim now had treated water supplies reticulated to each house. Construction work was in progress for supplying treated water to Woodford and plans had also been completed and approved by the council for a similar supply to Deception Bay.

GREAT PROGRESS
With the completion of the bridge across Pumicestone Passage both Bongaree and Woorim would grow rapidly, added Cr. Clayton, and he knew of one development company that would have 200 blocks for sale when the bridge went across.  There were others, too, no doubt, that would also have large quantities of land for sale.  This would inevitably mean that the size of the water treatment plant would have to be increased and more bores connected to the system. “To this end”, said Cr. Clayton, “the council is having comprehensive records kept which will show the drawn down and recovery rates of each bore which will give the necessary information for the extension of the scheme.

COUNCIL’S THANKS

The extensive works that were required to provide the water supply for Bribie Island were carried out for the council by various contractors supervised by Messrs. John Wilson and Partners to whom his fellow councilors and he were very grateful.  While he was diffident about singling out anyone for special thanks, he felt that he had to voice the council’s appreciation of the yeoman work done by Mr. Derek Stringfellow during the period that the works were in progress.

UNIQUE SCHEME

Some added information on the unique nature of the Bribie Island water scheme were given in a short address by Mr. R.D. King-Scott, Chief Engineer to the Local Government Department, who said that 650 acres of land had actually been resumed for water supply purposes but to date only 135 acres had been utilised.  The bores which provided the supply were each 8-inch tubes surrounded by 15-inches of gravel and spaced 700-ft. apart. The system of collection of water was in use nowhere else in Queensland. Bundaberg and Mackay, although they too drew their supply from underground, actually tapped river sources, where Bribie Island’s scheme derived from a great saucer or sponge which retained the great mass of rainfall which accrued on the island.  This rainwater, despite losses from evaporation and from other causes, was retained in the sand to the extent of between 20 and 30 percent of the yearly fall (which, in the case of Bribie was about 45 inches) and thus provided the bores with an adequacy of water for all the needs of the island.

BIG RETENTION

Pointing out that one inch of rain on one acre yielded 22,000 gallons of water, Mr. King-Scott said that the figures for complete yield very quickly went into more than the million-gallon mark on the resumed area.  The accumulated water was pumped from the six bores 30-ft. below ground level to the treatment works at Woorim and from there, after treatment, it was pumped into the two towers at Woorim and Bongaree and then into the reticulation system.  Mr. King-Scott congratulated the council on their enterprise in undertaking the scheme to supply the island and on their successful achievement in bringing it to the stage where the water could be turned on that day.

SIR HENRY SPOKE OF ISLAND PRIDE AND THE QUAINT HISTORY OF BRIBIE
The peculiar pride that resides in the hearts of Island people and a colourful resume of the quaint history of Bribie Island were features of the official speech by His Excellency at the opening of the Water Scheme.  “It is indeed a pleasant task which you have given me to perform this afternoon”, said Sir Henry in opening his address.  “What is there about an island which makes its inhabitants regard it with a peculiar pride?  “It has always been so in history from the time of the ancient Greeks, who placed their earthly paradise not on any mainland but in what they called the Fortunate Islands – somewhere out in the western ocean. “What is it that gives an island the special charm? I think the main reason is that an island has its clear physical limits and the mind is able to grasp it and make a picture of the whole.  Our imagination may be kindled by big things – the vastness of Australia – but it is on little things that our affections lay hold.

“Your island is historic in the annals of Australian history.  Only eleven years had elapsed after Governor Philip landed at Botany Bay, when Flinders set foot on these shores whilst he was looking for the entrance to the Brisbane River. An affray took place with the local aborigines, Flinders named the location Skirmish Point.  “Accompanying Flinders on this voyage of discovery was his devoted and loyal servant Bongaree – King and Supreme Chief of the Sydney Tribe.  Such was Flinders’ regard for Bongaree that he took him on all his navigating and exploring voyages.

“I pray that the historic island of Bribie will bring health, happiness, and recreation to many thousands of our people in Queensland and that when its noble forests have grown up they, too, will bring work to many thousands of other people”.

REFERENCES

Governor Wins All Bribie Hearts. Switching on Ceremony [water supply]. Vice-Regal Triumph.
North Coast & Stanley District News, Thur 9 Nov 1961, p. 1 & p. 4.

Photos. Caboolture Shire Council Scrapbook 1924-1965.
Queensland State Archives ID 305320

Toorbul Days 3 : Early Events

Roy Bliss (1922-2015) was a boat builder of Moreton Bay and owned the bay cruiser Ardarth. In the following poem, Roy mentions his grandmother's brother Charlie Brown (1874-1953) who was a jeweller in Brisbane before moving to Toorbul in 1919 to work as an oysterman. Roy writes Charlie "engraved pictures on pearl shell, mainly depicting a yacht". Later in the late 1940s and early 1950s Charlie Brown lived on Bribie Island.

If you have one of Charlie Brown's engraved pearl shells or any other information about Charlie's life at Toorbul or Bribie Island, please send BIHS an email so we can record the details.

 Toorbul Days 3 : Early Events

By Roy W. Bliss

(Reproduced with the kind permission of the family)

I arrived at Toorbul when only three weeks old,

I was a cranky little B-aby, so I've been told.

We rented Bill Freeman's house up towards Elimbah Creek,

About half a mile north from Dad's parents, so meek.

Toorbul Days Sketch by Roy W. Bliss (c)

In a hut near the beach lived Grandma's brother Charlie Brown,

A talented person who just could not live in town,

He engraved pictures on pearl shells, mainly depicting a yacht.

Made a one-string fiddle, which he played quite a lot.

Charlie helped farm the oysters and on us kids he would dote.

A few years later on, he built his own boat.

Grandpa nurtured his oysters, he worked really hard,

Grew passionfruit, grapes and vegies in his half acre backyard.

His work boat was flat-bottomed and eighteen feet long,

He rowed standing up as he sang his best song.

Grandma was so gentle, us kids she would mind,

Hard times she was having, she was a saint and so kind,

Mum had her hands full with my brother and me,

Dad ran his launch to Bribie, to take fishing parties to sea.

There's no future in oysters, my Dad came to see,

So we moved back to Brisbane, Mum, Dad, Ossie and me.

Dad sold the boat's engine and pushed the hull up the creek,

So that she wouldn't sink far because of her leak.

It was about 1925 that decision was made,

And Dad got the chance to go back to his trade.

Back at old Toorbul, Grandpa looked ahead,

Whilst rowing his boat to his old oyster bed.

With his snake stick in hand along the foreshore he hiked,

Not much money in oysters but it's the lifestyle he liked.

Ned Bishop, two miles south, jovial and rash,

He was plump and pleasant and wore a walrus moustache.

We took the train to Caboolture, to co-ordinate with Old Ned.

He loaded groceries for Toorbul and charged us two bob a head.

He drove his old Essex, knew every bump on the track,

And if he missed one, he would sometimes go back.

His lovely daughter Adie, a real farm girl of course.

Would deliver the milk, riding bareback on her horse.

The bird life at Toorbul, spoonbills, osprey, cormorants and swans,

Cranes, seagulls, butcherbirds, parrots and wild ducks in their ponds.

Dark green foliage, white beaches, blue waters and sky.

Magnificent Glasshouse Mountains, to the northwest they lie.

I have crammed in these things as they came to my mind,

I would never have wanted to leave them behind.

I could appreciate the beauty in this place by the sea.

The view from our Brisbane home was the Toowong Cemetery.

In July 1929 when I was aged seven,

My sister Dorothy arrived directly from heaven.

My grandparents stayed on at Toorbul until the war years,

A bit late in their lives to start new careers.

It's now many years since they both passed away,

One fails to think properly until one's old and grey

I hope I said, "Thankyou," for all they had done,

It helped me through life, and I had so much fun.

(c) Roy W. Bliss

Poem is accompanied by sketches of a house with stairs and tank on the side of the house (copy above), a man named Ned and a car, a man standing up rowing a small dinghy with four of the Glasshouse Mountains in the background.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We acknowledge the kind permission of the Bliss family allowing BIHS to reproduce Roy Bliss' poem and one of his sketches on this blog. 

Further reading

Poem: Glimpses of the sea by Roy W. Bliss
https://woodenboat.org.au/wp-content/uploads/file_uploads/The-Log/2018/18-02_The_Log_February_2018.pdf

Vale - Roy Bliss
The Log (Wooden Boat Association of Queensland Inc) Feb 2015, p. 4-5.
https://woodenboat.org.au/wp-content/uploads/file_uploads/The-Log/2015/15-02-The-Log-FEBRUARY-2015.pdf

1947 Road to Toorbul Point jetty

An article about the road to Toorbul Point covered with felled trees and beehives in February 1947.

Bees and Trees Bar Toorbul Point Road

Courier Mail 21.2.1947 page 5

These felled trees completely blocked a road leading from Caboolture to Toorbul Point, 40 miles north of Brisbane.

Trees bar Toorbul Point Road - February 1947
Photo: Courier Mail 21.2.1947 p. 5

The road, which was constructed by the army during the war, runs partly through private property and partly through council land at this point.

Leading through to a jetty from which mail is shipped over to Bribie Island, this section of the road is at present by-passed by a rough track twisting through trees.

The Caboolture Shire Council has plans before the Lands Department for the resumption of the land which includes the road.

Beehives On Way

On the approach to the road from the jetty these bee hives (below) owned by Mr. O. Bestman, through whose property the road passes at this point, bar the way.

Beehives bar Toorbul Point road - Feburary 1947.
Photo: Courier Mail 21.2.1947 p. 5

Mr. J. C. Clark, through whose property the road also passes near this point, said last night that he could not comment on either the block or the proposed resumption at this stage.

The Caboolture Shire Clerk (Mr. S. Lang) said yesterday that a survey of the road from Caboolture to Toorbul Point had been made. It had been found that the military road was the most suitable and most practical route to the point.

A great deal of the council's money would also be saved.

REFERENCE

Bees and Trees Bar Toorbul Pt Road. Courier Mail 21.2.1947 p. 5
[Via Trove]: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49362320

Road to Toorbul Point

 The following letter to the editor dated Sep 1926 was sent by James Clark (1857-1933) regarding the question of a road to run through his property at Toorbul Point thus allowing public access to the Bribie Passage and at the same time not interfere with his business at Toorbul Point.
In his letter to the editor James Clark refers to a sketch of the road on a map of the district which accompanied his letter dated 28 July 1926 to the Caboolture Shire Council.

Road to Bribie.

Letter dated Sep 1926 by James Clark
to the editor of the Daily Mail (Brisbane)

Sir, - For some time past the question of a road to Toorbul Point to give access to Bribie Island has been under consideration by the Caboolture Shire Council. For the information of those interested I may state that the following letter offering a road was sent by me to the Caboolture Shire Council on July 28:

“Re Toorbul Point road: Some time ago a deputation waited on the council and petitioned that a road be opened through my property at Toorbul Point. After various visits to the Point by the council and inspections by the council engineer, it was decided by the council to let the matter rest in abeyance.

Building on James Clark's property, Toorbul Point.
Daily Mail 16.12.1924 p.16

“Since then I have been approached by several residents and people interested in Bribie Island, and have promised to write to the council with the object of having a road made available that would give access to Bribie Passage and at the same time not interfere with my business at Toorbul Point. With the object, therefore, of obtaining the council’s assistance in the matter, I enclose portion of a map of the district under discussion with a proposed road sketched on it that I think would be satisfactory to all concerned. I would erect at my own cost the fence shown on the map. I would lease the land on the northern side of the fence to the council for road purposes for say 29 years, at a nominal rental. I would donate £100 towards the expense of making the road. I retain all rights of the land, with the exception of the easement for road purposes granted to your council.

“No buildings, with the exception of a shed at or near the proposed jetty to be erected without my permission.

“The public telephone at present at my cottage at Toorbul Point to be removed and placed in the shed at the proposed jetty. The council to clearly mark the new road to Bribie Passage with suitable signposts so as to avoid any mistake being made and also to assist me in closing the present private track.

“I would also ask your council to definitely accept or refuse this offer within three months from the present date, and, should the council accept, to be prepared to start the work on the road immediately. Should the council wish to discuss the matter with me, I would be pleased to attend a council meeting.”

No doubt those interested will perceive that I do not wish to prevent the public from getting access to Bribie Passage provided my business and valuable oyster leases at Toorbul Point are not interfered with. The road proposed by me leads to the passage at Ninghi Creek Point, where there is the deepest water to be obtained anywhere around the property, and where the expense of erecting a suitable jetty would be very little. I may say that up to the present no reply has been received by me from the Caboolture Shire Council,

Yours, etc., JAMES CLARK (per J.C. Clark).

Source: Letter to the editor "Road to Bribie" by James Clark (per J.C. Clark). The Daily Mail (Brisbane) Wed 22 Sep 1926 p. 3 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article218338906 

Further Reading

Patricia Mercer, 'Clark, James (1857–1933)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/clark-james-5664 published first in hardcopy 1981, accessed online 30 June 2024.