Bribie Island History: May 2016

Sunday, 22 May 2016

May 2016 guest speaker

Daniel Nomorinu - Guest Speaker at the BIHS meeting, 11 May 2016

L-R: Daniel Nomorinu, Lynne Hooper, Cheryl Thornely
with Mabel Pullen in front
Photo: Ian Hooper

Daniel Nomorinu spoke on the history of Kanakas in Queensland and at Morayfield Park.

Daniel touched on various subjects including the islands the Kanakas came from, the meaning of the word Kanaka ‘hard working boy’, how they arrived in Queensland, and where they went after being set free.

Daniel advised that some Kanakas were taken back to the wrong island and never returned to their home land.

L-R: Mary Fryer, Moana Skelton, Lyn Auger, Cheryl Thornely
with Mabel Pullen in front
Photo: Ian Hooper

Daniel’s mother, Mabel Pullen, spoke at question time of the work Daniel was doing to help the Vanuatu people in Queensland and in Vanuatu.

Monday, 9 May 2016

Q150 2009 Fish cannery

Q150 Heritage Plaque - 16 of 16 - Fish Cannery

These 16 bronze plaques set on a white concrete square record various aspects of the history of Bribie Island: Record Rainfall, South Esplanade, Campbell's Store, Camping Grounds, Bribie Island heritage quote from A. Meston, Ian Fairweather, First Shop, Bribie Island Heritage quote from Stan Tutt, First Avenue, Fishing Records, Welsby Parade, Bribie Island Wartime, First Car, Shirley Creek, Castaway Convicts and Fish Cannery.

A copy of the map for the Bongaree Waterfront Walk can be found at

http://bribieislandhistory.blogspot.com.au/2016/01/bribie-heritage-plaques-walk.html

FISH CANNERY

A Fish Canning factory operated near here from 1910 to 1914 owned by Mrs Sarah “Mum” Balls. She also had many Hotels and Refreshment Rooms in Queensland and in 1929 built “Santa Barbara”, one of Brisbane’s grandest homes.

Fish Cannery

This is the only known photograph of the fish cannery showing just the remains of the fish cannery jetty in 1920, long after the factory had been closed and removed.

No photograph of Sarah Balls has yet been found.

Why invest in Bribie in 1910?
> Perhaps Mrs Balls knew Norm Congeau, a wine merchant at Fortitude Valley, who would build a fine house built in Banya Street a few years later.
> Maybe she knew of the plans of the Brisbane Tug and Steamship Company to have the excursion steamer “Koopa” built and a jetty constructed at Bongaree.
> Perhaps she was an intelligent and courageous woman with ideas ahead of her time.

Who was Mrs Balls?
> Mrs Sarah Balls (nee Sarah Blasdale) of Hamilton was the enterprising widow of a Scottish builder and publican John Irwin Balls .
> After his death she ran hotels and was the proprietor of several railway refreshment rooms.
> In 1910 she bought a fish cannery located on the northern part of Bribie Island and transferred it to the south near the newly established settlement at Bongaree.
> She expanded her business interests by establishing a small farm just north of the cannery but crops of asparagus and pineapples were not successful.
> The fish cannery closed in 1914 due to shortage of tin, shortage of fish and increased taxes.
> Some years later the cannery was dismantled and moved to Brisbane as a jam factory.
> A few old pile holes from the jetty may still be seen in the rocks at low tide.

How did the Cannery Work?
> Mr Crouch managed the cannery. Bill Wright was the foreman. Other employees included Peter Rich (known as “Peter the Gutter” and also the “Groper King”), “Hoppy” Dixon (who had one leg shorter then the other) and “Gotch” who boiled down fish heads and bones to extract oil and gathered the residue to make fertiliser. The work was hard and the wages were low.
> The cannery building was 45m x 15m and housed an engine, boiler, retorts and storage space.
> In front of the building was a 12m jetty where fishermen delivered their catch of mullet, snapper, squire, bream and flathead. The fish were scaled, cleaned and filleted before being wheeled by trolley to the factory.
> The fish pieces were arranged in 450 gram tins and a pinch of salt added. The tops were crimped and soldered to each tin before being placed in a retort under pressure.
> Tins were checked for leaks before being labeled with the “Diver Brand”. Forty-eight tins were packed in each case and twenty-four cases were produced each day.
> There was a ready market in Brisbane for the canned fish which were transported by boat.
> The canning business was forced to close in 1914 because of a shortage of tin as World War I had started. The building was later moved to Brisbane to continue its life as a jam factory.

What happened after the Fish Cannery closed?
> Some employees stayed on Bribie Island and started the net fishing industry. They continued to buy biscuits and tinned goods from Alfred Hall, a Brisbane shopkeeper, who owned and visited his small house in Bongaree on weekends and brought supplies with him at their request. His business interests on Bribie expanded.

> In 1930 Mrs Balls had one of the most expensive homes in Brisbane “Santa Barbara” built at New Farm. She lived at “Santa Barbara” and maintained her keen interest in business until her death in 1932.

"Santa Barbara" in 2009, the house Sarah Balls had built
at New Farm, Brisbane in 1930.

Q150 2009 Castaways

Q150 Heritage Plaque - 15 of 16 - Castaway Convicts

A copy of the map for the Bongaree Waterfront Walk can be found at

http://bribieislandhistory.blogspot.com.au/2016/01/bribie-heritage-plaques-walk.html

CASTAWAY CONVICTS

In 1823 three Sydney convicts in a small boat were caught in a hugh storm which dumped them close to death on Moreton Island. They walked around Moreton Bay, thinking Sydney was nearby, and were the first white men to live on Bribie Island, being there for many months before recapture.

From "Through the Eyes of Thomas Pamphlett"
Chris Pearce, 1993.

The Three Castaways

The 3 castaways of Bribie Island were convict James Finnegan and two ticket-of-leave convicts, Thomas Pamphlett and Richard Parsons.

These three convicts, and another ticket-of-leave man, John Thompson, sailed south from Sydney on 21st March 1823 in an open boat to cut cedar from the Illawarra District.

A most severe storm blew them far out to sea on a northerly course. After 21 days at sea, Thompson died and was pushed overboard.

After three and a half weeks as sea, on 15th April 1823, Pamphlett, Finnegan and Parsons landed on the northern end of Moreton Island naked, starving and almost dead from thirst. Their boat was dashed to pieces and only Finnegan’s jacket, some flour, a keg, a tin pot, an axe and scissors were rescued.

Castaways on Bribie Island

Helped and fed by the Aborigines, the weak castaways struggled down Moreton Island to Stradbroke Island, crossed Moreton Bay and landed near Cleveland. Still thinking they were south of Sydney, the three castaways headed north and reached the mouth of a large river, later called the Brisbane River. They followed this river upstream to what is now Oxley Creek, crossed over and continued north up the coastline.

Finally, in late September 1823, they crossed Pumicestone Passage and arrived at (now)

From "Through the Eyes of Thomas Pamphlett"
Chris Pearce, 1993.

Bribie Island. Here the three castaways lived with the Joondoobarrie Aboriginal people .

They continued to search for Sydney on trips with the tribe and Aboriginal fights between clans were witnessed by Finnegan in the north and south. Parsons traveled to a Bunya Feast held every three years, in the Blackall Range.

Pamphlett and Finnegan were lucky to be rescued after a few months and Parsons more than a year later.

Rescue of Pamphlett and Finnegan

In 1823 Governor Brisbane sent John Oxley in the “Mermaid” to find a new outpost for convict re-offenders.

On 29th November 1823, on looking through his telescope at Pumicestone Passage towards Bribie Island, he saw what appeared to be a white man among the Aborigines, calling out in haulting English. This was Pamphlett.

The next day Finnegan, who was returning from Kippa Ring, was rescued at Toorbul Point (now Sandstone Point).

Now the castaways found out how far north of Sydney they were.

Other information

The Brisbane River: Oxley was told of a large river and he was accompanied by Finnegan in a boat to “discover” this river. John Uniacke wrote Pamphlet’s account of the castaways’ story. Later, on the voyage back to Sydney, Finnegan would add to the story and much information about Aboriginal culture was included. Indeed, the castaways would never have survived without Aboriginal help. On 3rd December 1824, Oxley named the river he had “discovered” the Brisbane River, after Governor Brisbane, Governor of NSW. Little mention was made of the contribution by the three castaways.

Message in a Bottle: As Parsons’ whereabouts was unknown, (he was still at the Bunya Feast), a bottle was left with an explanatory note when the ”Mermaid” sailed on 6th December 1823 with Pamphlett and Finnegan back to Sydney. On his return Parsons found the message in a bottle. However, Parsons was illiterate!

Rescue of Parsons: Parsons was rescued by John Oxley the next year in the “Amity” on 11 September 1824, when he returned again to Moreton Bay to establish the Convict Settlement at what is now Redcliffe. Later the convict settlement was moved to the present site of Brisbane, on the Brisbane River. In late September 1824 Parsons sailed with Oxley back to Sydney.

Pamphlett Returns as a Convict: Pamphlett re-offended and was sent to serve time at Moreton Bay (Brisbane) 1826-1833.

Sources: “White Specks on a Dark Shore” James Lergessner, 1993.

“Through the Eyes of Thomas Phamplett” Chris Pearce, 1993.
“The Explorers of the Moreton Bay District 12770-1830” JG Steele, 1972.

Remembering the Castaways

Streets named after the castaways: are at Deception Bay, Rothwell, Dunwich and Yawalpah.

Pamphlett: Pamphlett Bridge over Oxley Creek, Pamphlett Sea Scouts Hall nearby, Pamphlett House and Place in Brisbane.

Finnegan: Finnegan Bridge, railway bridge at Indooroopilly. “Finnegans”, a restaurant at Brookside Shopping Centre, Mitchelton.

The Castaways After Rescue

RICHARD PARSONS: In Australia’s first census November 1828 Richard Parsons was living at Illawarra as a bullock team driver 40 years old. He was granted an absolute pardon.

JAMES FINNEGAN: He became a trusted government guide exploring the Brisbane River area and was a Moreton Bay pilot.

Acknowledgements:

Sources: “White Specks on a Dark Shore” James Lergessner, 1993.

“Through the Eyes of Thomas Phamplett” Chris Pearce, 1993.
“The Explorers of the Moreton Bay District 12770-1830” JG Steele, 1972.

Q150 2009 Shirley Creek

Q150 Heritage Plaque - 14 of 16 - Shirley Creek

The following excerpt is from the 2009 booklet produced prior to the plaques placement. The Heritage Plaques Waterfront Walk Bongaree project was a Q150 Community Funded Program, initiated by the Rotary Club of Bribie Island and supported by Moreton Bay Regional Council in conjunction with Bribie Island U3A and Bribie Island Historical Society.

A copy of the map for the Bongaree Waterfront Walk can be found at

http://bribieislandhistory.blogspot.com.au/2016/01/bribie-heritage-plaques-walk.html

SHIRLEY CREEK

Bill Shirley built the first road from the jetty to Ocean Beach in 1923. He ran a bus service and a Guest House and became Bribie’s first Councillor. A wooden bridge replaced a single plank walkway here in 1935 as his first Council works.

The original Single Plank Walkway over Shirley Creek
in 1920s.

Opening of the new bridge over Shirley Creek in 1935.

In the early days the creek separated the little village of Bongaree from the few pioneers who had chosen to live further north up the Passage.

It was crossed by a single plank walkway. As more houses were built further from Bongaree jetty, a safer and more substantial way of crossing the creek was needed.

The first car arrived on Bribie Island in 1918, when there were no real roads, but by 1923 a road suitable for buses was build to Woorim.

The traffic needs of the island increased as more motor cars arrived and a proper timber road bridge was built by the Council in 1935.

As the population has grown the bridge has been reconstructed many times since.

Bill Shirley

Bill Shirley was originally from Ireland and came as the engineer supervisor for the Brisbane Tug and Steamship Company in 1923, to build a road from the jetty at Bongaree to Ocean Beach. The work was hard, hot and difficult as they worked through the soft sand.

In 1927 he brought his family from Brisbane to live on the island. He built more roads and small cottages and acquired various properties. He was a supporter of the Church of England and provided valuable assistance in the construction of their first church.

Bill Shirley represented the Brisbane Tug and Steamship Company and acted as land agent, toll collector and transporter.

With only about 50 permanent residents on Bribie Island in the 1920’s, excursion steamers brought thousands of visitors and the island became a flourishing tourist destination and Bill Shirley quickly saw the needs and opportunities.

He ran a “bus service” from the jetty to Ocean Beach and his family operated a large guest house at Ocean Beach, near the surf club.

Ocean Beach Guesthouse 1940s

Bill Shirley was the first person to be elected to represent the growing population of Bribie Island as an honorary Councillor in 1933.

To attend meetings of the Caboolture Council required three days of travel. First to Brisbane by boat for an overnight stay there, a train trip to Caboolture for the meeting and then the journey back to Brisbane to stay, before catching the boat back to Bribie the next day. He remained an honorary Councillor until 1939 receiving only travel expenses to attend meetings.

His first achievement as a Councillor was to replace the plank walkway with a substantial wooden bridge, providing vehicular access to the growing settlement of the Island.

From 1923 to 1941 Bill Shirley did so much for the growing community that he was often regarded as the uncrowned “King of Bribie Island”.

Q150 2009 First Car

Q150 Heritage Plaque - 13 of 16 - First Car

FIRST CAR

In 1918 A.H. “Artie” Bestmann drove the first car, a 1914 Talbot, to Bongaree. With a young Ian Hall as his passenger, they did the 2 day drive from Brisbane along beach and bush tracks, and then by barge from Godwin Beach across the Passage.

First Car at Bongaree

Arthur (Artie) Bestmann driving a 1914 model Talbot.

The first car to come to Bongaree was owned by Arthur Bestmann and Alfred Hall.

Bringing the First Car to Bongaree

Artie Bestmann's first residence on Bribie

> Did you ever wonder about the first car trip made to Bribie Island? It was, of course, done 45 years before the bridge was built and when there were no roads at all on the Island.

> In 1918 Artie Bestmann and Ian Hall drove a 1914 Talbot motor car from Brisbane to Bribie Island , the trip taking 2 days. A raft, which was used to bring cattle from Toorbul Point to Bribie Island was used to transport the car across the Passage.

> It was appropriate that Artie Bestmann was the first to drive across the new bridge when it opened in 1963.

Artie Bestmann in later years.

The hard working Talbot in 1922.

History of the Sunbeam Talbot Motor Car

> The car has an interesting history since its first trip across Pumicestone Passage.

> After many active years travelling the beach and sand tracks on the Island the car was burnt when the shed in which it was housed caught fire.

> The engine was salvaged and used to power a boat where it served for many more reliable years.

> That particular motor boat was used to carry the soil for the first bowling green at Bribie Island Bowls Club.

Q150 2009 Bribie Wartime

Q150 Heritage Plaque - 12 of 16 - Bribie Island Wartime

The Bribie Island Heritage Plaques Waterfront Walk Bongaree consists of 16 bronze plaques located on the "Heritage Walk" along the walking path beside the Bongaree beach from the southern point of South Esplanade and finishes just north of Kangaroo Avenue.
These 16 bronze plaques set on a white concrete square record various aspects of the history of Bribie Island: Record Rainfall, South Esplanade, Campbell's Store, Camping Grounds, Bribie Island heritage quote from A. Meston, Ian Fairweather, First Shop, Bribie Island Heritage quote from Stan Tutt, First Avenue, Fishing Records, Welsby Parade, Bribie Island Wartime, First Car, Shirley Creek, Castaway Convicts and Fish Cannery.
The following excerpt is from the 2009 booklet produced prior to the plaques placement. The Heritage Plaques Waterfront Walk Bongaree project was a Q150 Community Funded Program, initiated by the Rotary Club of Bribie Island and supported by Moreton Bay Regional Council in conjunction with Bribie Island U3A and Bribie Island Historical Society.

A copy of the map for the Bongaree Waterfront Walk can be found at

http://bribieislandhistory.blogspot.com.au/2016/01/bribie-heritage-plaques-walk.html

BRIBIE ISLAND WARTIME

Bribie Island and Toorbul point (now Sandstone Point) were major training bases for Navy and Army forces during World War 2. Many military structures are still visible along the Ocean beach, and a small Arms Store can be seen across this road.

The Brisbane Line & Fort Bribie

> In the critical days of World War II the Australian Government had decided that an imaginary line would be drawn north of Brisbane across to the West Australian coastline. This line was the northern most limit Australian was prepared to defend and was known as “The Brisbane Line”.

> Sites for the construction of a Fort to guard Brisbane had to be considered. The two major options were Caloundra or North Bribie Island.

> Bribie Island had many disadvantages: * No drinking water could be found. Bores

Intact military store in Caravan Park, Bongaree, 2009.

realized only salt water. Transporting water would be expensive. * There was no infrastructure on Bribie Island and all materials and equipment would need to be transported by barge. * Underground structures would be difficult because of the sand and water table. * Telephone links would need to be connected across Pumicestone Passage.

> In spite of the disadvantages Bribie Island became the chosen site in February, 1940. The advantages for the Fort Bribie site was that both major shipping channels could be covered by guns on Fort Bribie, whereas guns in Caloundra could not.

> The building of the North Bribie Island Army Camp commenced in 1941.

Fort Bribie Buildings

All buildings at the North Bribie Island Army Camp were constructed on sand hills because during high tides, underground water rose. All concrete used for buildings and other structures was mixed by hand.

Daily Roster Board at No. 1 gun emplacement, Fort Bribie.

> FORT BRIBIE. There were two gun emplacements at North Bribie Army Camp.The Number One Gun had to be available 24 hours a day. Number Two Gun was on standby. The Daily Roster Board consisted of a blackboard painted on the concrete wall, with lines and duties painted on, then soldiers names were marked in chalk for each shift. The remains of the roster board can still be seen.

Remains of No. 1 gun emplacement, Fort Bribie
on northern end of Bribie Island, 2009.

> MORTAR POSITIONS. To protect the back of the fort, mortar and machine guns were placed 45 metres apart at the edge of the tree line, and ran the full length of the 1.2 kilometre camp.

> SEARCH LIGHT. The northern search light was situated behind sand hills. Today, because of beach erosion the remains are on the beach.

> TOILET BLOCKS. Four separate toilet blocks—officers, sergeants, male soldiers and female soldiers. Remains of the mens toilet block can be seen today.

2/4th Australian Armoured Brigade during training exercises at Toorbul Point, 1943.

Water Supply

> Initially the only water was a muddy water hole, which had to be filtered and carted by truck to the camp each day. It was decided to pump water from Bulcock Beach Caloundra with a windmill and pipe it across Pumicestone Passage, where it was collected by truck and transported to the Fort daily.

> After much searching fresh water was identified in an underground spring south of the camp.

> The soldiers dug the soil above the spring to make a catchment for rain water. This trench is still there.

> Every building had a rain water tank. Soldiers were told by the medical officer to bathe in the ocean each day to help with tinea and other fungal diseases.

Mines in Moreton Bay

> The mines were underwater explosives anchored to the sea bed and linked by cables that went to the Mine Control Rooms located at north and south end of Bribie Island.

> Induction loop cables were laid on the seabed east of Bribie Island. They were very sensitive and any passing vessel would be indicated by a signal sent back to the No. 4 Naval Control Station at the northern end of Woorim Beach. Operators could detonate appropriate mines to destroy enemy ships.

> The No. 4 Naval Control Station at Woorim still stands today.

Acknowledgement:

Information from: John Groves “North Bribie Island during World War II” 2006, John and Janice Groves “Digging Deeper into North Bribie Island during World War II” 2007.

Q150 2009 Welsby Parade

Q150 Heritage Plaque - 11 of 16 - Welsby Parade

A copy of the map for the Bongaree Waterfront Walk can be found at

http://bribieislandhistory.blogspot.com.au/2016/01/bribie-heritage-plaques-walk.html

WELSBY PARADE

This road named for Thomas Welsby, Brisbane businessman, Historian, Sportsman and Author, who in 1937 at the age of 80, wrote the book “Bribie the Basket Maker” and thus created a legend about the Island and its name.

Thomas Welsby

> Born on 29th November 1858, Ipswich, Queensland, fourth child of William Welsby. Died on 3rd February 1941, New Farm, Brisbane, Queensland.

> Educated at John Scott’s School, North Ipswich State School and Ipswich Boys’ Grammar Schools.

> Joined the Bank of New South Wales in Brisbane in 1874, resigned as ledger keeper in 1879 to join the Australian Joint Stock Bank in Brisbane and in 1884 left there to practice as a public accountant, trustee and auditor and became a member of the Brisbane Stock Exchange.

> Chairman of Directors of Queensland Brewery Ltd, 1907—1919. Stood for Parliament unsuccessfully in 1899, 1902 and 1909, but was successful in North Brisbane in 1911 and was Member for Merthyr from 1912 to 1915.

Thomas Welsby's motor launch "Amity"

Welsby — Historian, Writer

* Published Works: He wrote seven books about the history of the Moreton Bay region:- Schnappering (1905), Early Moreton Bay (1907), The Discoverers of the Brisbane River (1913), The History of the Royal Queensland Yacht Club (1918), Memories of Amity (1922), Sport and Pastimes in Moreton Bay (1931).

* His last book written at the age of 80 was titled “Bribie the Basket Maker”. Welsby had a home on Bribie Island and in 1937, following the Great Depression, he wrote a romantic legend about a convict who fell in love with a native Princess on the island. This helped to regenerate interest and promote tourism prior to World War 2.

* Thomas Welsby loved history and was Foundation Honorary Treasurer of the Historical Society of Queensland: in 1913, he served as Vice– President for 23 years from 1917 until his death in 1941, and had a year as President in 1936-37.

Welsby—Sporting Activities

. Welsby was a keen sportsman and was manager and half-back for Queensland’s first intercolonial Rugby Union team which played in Sydney in 1882. He helped to revive the code in 1928, was a life member of the Queensland Rugby Union, President 1929-1939 and donated the Welsby Cup.

. Welsby was Foundation Secretary of the Brisbane Gymnasium in 1882, sponsored boxing matches and formed the Queensland Amateur Boxing and Wrestling Union in 1909.

. Welsby was a Founding Vice-President of the Amateur Fishermen’s Association from 1904, which established a base on Bribie Island. He was Founding Member of the Royal Queensland Yacht Club in 1885 and Commodore in 1903-1919.

Personal Tragedy

Thomas Welsby had much sadness in his life. His father and two brothers had died by 1879.

His wife Margaret Gilchrist, nee Kingston, whom he married on 21st February 1893 at East Brisbane, died ten years later.
His only son died in childhood. Survived by two daughters, he died on 3rd February 1941 at New farm, Brisbane.

Welsby built a home which he called “Amity” in 1892, near the River at New Farm. He moved into the house in December 1892 and in February 1893 endured the disastrous floods, which came within inches of the verandah.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Information from: Ruth S. Kerr, “Welsby, Thomas (1858-1941)”, “Australian Dictionary of Biography”, Volume 12, Melbourne University Press, 1990, p.441.

[Viewed at http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/welsby-thomas-9044]

Q150 2009 Fishing Records

Q150 Heritage Plaque - 10 of 16 - Fishing Records

A copy of the map for the Bongaree Waterfront Walk can be found at

http://bribieislandhistory.blogspot.com.au/2016/01/bribie-heritage-plaques-walk.html

FISHING RECORDS

“Bribie jetty and its environs must be the most remarkable fishing place in Australia. More black Groper have been caught here than any other spot in Australia. A man known as the “Groper King” caught many over 500 lbs”.

Ted Shields (1947) - Fisherman and Barge owner.

Fishing Haven

The waters off Bribie Island, Pumicestone Passage and Moreton Bay have long been renowned for the abundance and variety of seafood found there. Indeed, before European settlement, the local aboriginal people enjoyed a healthy diet which included fish, shellfish, turtle and dugong. The annual mullet migration continues to this day.

In the 1890s Queensland’s major industry was the oystering operations in this area. The oyster industry was decimated when worms infected the oyster beds, contributing to the growth of a commercial fishing industry.

As a few families settled on Bribie Island in the early 1900’s, it wasn’t long before fishing and crabbing was enjoyed by an increasing number of visitors to the Pumicestone Passage.

When steamships transported passengers from Brisbane to Bongaree, fishing weekends and holidays at Bribie became very popular. The Amateur Fishermen’s Association of Queensland (AFA) build its members cottage at South Esplanade, and great catches and competitions were enjoyed by members.

Groper caught at Bongaree jetty.

The AFA created a unique collection of preserved fish specimens from this area in the 1920s and 1930’s, many of which can no longer be found today. Bribie Island built a reputation as a place where the fishing was always good.

Bribie Island Fishing Club. White Patch 1929.

Bribie Jetty

The Bribie jetty had always featured in the “great” fishing stories. It deserves this special mention, as the waters here at the jetty have produced a record number of Groper (or Black Cod) to be caught in Australia.

Peter Rich, known as “The Groper King”, is said to have caught over 200 of the species at this spot from 1911.

Displaying photos of catches by the "Groper King"

The weight of these fish caught was between 60 and 500 lbs, the average weight being around 200 lbs. Groper were caught on huge hooks suspended from a wire trace off the jetty at Bongaree.

Many a story has been told of the deep caverns under the coffee rock, which forms a shelf beneath the beach on the passage side of Bribie. It was here under the rock shelves by the jetty the Groper lurked in the deep, dark water.

Stories have been told of children being swallowed whole by giant Groper!

Ted Shields fishing at Bribie

Fishing is still the most popular holiday recreation on Bribie Island and anglers can be seen at the waters edge all over the island. Unfortunately, catches today are nothing like those of the past.

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Sunday, 22 May 2016

Monday, 9 May 2016