Redcliffe, Queensland

Redcliffe is situated in the east north-east of the Redcliffe Peninsula on the western shore of the Moreton Bay. It approximately 28 kilometres (17 mi) north-north-east of the Brisbane CBD. It serves as the Central Business District for the Redcliffe Peninsula and its surrounding suburbs.

Portwood Estate map, 1878, showing the Redcliffe railway line and railway station

Before European settlement, the Redcliffe Peninsula was occupied by the indigenous Ningy Ningy people. The native name is Kau-in-Kau-in, which means Blood-Blood (red-like blood).[3]

The town's name originates from "Red Cliff Point" named by the explorer Matthew Flinders, referring to the red cliffs at Woody Point.[4] Redcliffe became Queensland's first colony in 1824; however, it was soon abandoned for Brisbane.

Redcliffe holds the distinction of being the first European settlement in Queensland, first visited by Matthew Flinders on 17 July 1799.[5] Explorer John Oxley recommended "Red Cliff Point" – named after the red-coloured cliffs visible from Moreton Bay – to the Governor Thomas Brisbane for the new Moreton Bay penal colony, reporting that ships could land at any tide and easily get close to the shore.[6]

The penal colony was established at Redcliffe on 13 September 1824, under the command of Lieutenant Henry Miller with 14 soldiers, some with wives and children, and 29 convicts. However, this settlement was abandoned after one year and the colony was moved south to a site on the Brisbane River at North Quay, 28 km (17 mi) south, that offered a more reliable water supply. This settlement lead to the establishment of Brisbane, now Queensland's capital city.

Crowds at the beach, 1937

Redcliffe became a pastoral district in the 1860s and in the 1880s boomed as a seaside resort town. In 1878, a suburban subdivision called Portwood Estate (around the present day Portwood Street, Sheehan Street, and Sylvin Street) was offered for sale, with the lots described as "large, elevated, picturesque, salubrious, with rare perspective" in Humpy Bong which was to be "the fashionable watering place of the future!". The estate map shows the Redcliffe railway line terminating at a railway station just to the north-east of the estate (in the area of present-day Macnaughton Street).[7] However, the Redcliffe Peninsula railway line was not opened until October 2016 (138 years later) and the terminus was located in neighbouring Kippa-Ring.[7]

Beachside path, 1906

In October 1881, approximately 60 allotments of "Ramsgate Estate" were advertised to be auctioned for sale by Arthur Martin & Co, being subdivisions 1 to 60, of portion 205 in the Parish of Redcliffe.[8][9]

From 1911 the twin screw excursion steamer Koopa made regular trips to Redcliffe jetty. The principal route for passengers was a steamer from Sandgate pier to Woody Point Pier. The Hornibrook Bridge connecting Clontarf in the Town of Redcliffe to Brighton in City of Brisbane was completed in 1935 and allowed easy access to and from Brisbane by motor car leading the way to rapid suburban development.[10] That led to the cessation of the Sandgate to Woody Point steamers.

A famous Ningy Ningy Bora ring structure, consisting of two separate rings, large and small, joined by a ritual pathway, once existed between Kippa Ring and Anzac Avenue. Aboriginals as far away as Noosa would travel there to perform initiation ceremonies. It was razed by the Council around 1950.[11]

In 1958, the Gibb family from Manchester, England emigrated to this area and called it home for a period. Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb went on to form the highly successful music group, The Bee Gees. In 1959, Brisbane based Speedcar driver Bill Goode, the promoter of the Redcliffe Speedway (located at the Redcliffe Showgrounds) hired the brothers to entertain the crowds at the speedway from the back of a truck during the interval. This was the first ever public performance by the trio.[12] In a letter to the Redcliffe Museum in 1999, Barry Gibb wrote "The smell of the oil, the noise and the atmosphere was incredible. This was the first public appearance Robin, Maurice and I ever made in Australia. We sang through the PA system and people threw money onto the track, and we met Brisbane's leading DJ and racing car driver Bill Gates, who suggested we call ourselves the BG's and even played our songs on his radio show, "Swinging' Gates' Platter Chatter". Hence Redcliffe became the birthplace of the Bee Gees."

The former Redcliffe Town Council Chambers, 2016

The first high-rise apartment building was constructed along Marine Parade in 1974.[13] For decades the interest for similar development was limited – until 2000 there were only four apartment buildings higher than 6 stories across the entire Peninsula. Renewed interest in Redcliffe as a seaside lifestyle precinct occurred in the 2000s and 2010s and as a result high rise and mix use development is found in all areas of Redcliffe along the coastline.

In 1975, the toll on the Hornibrook Highway was removed.[13]

The current Redcliffe Library opened in 2000.[14]

In the 2011 census, the population of Redcliffe was 9,201; 52% female and 48% male.[15]

Redcliffe has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

• Anzac Memorial Avenue[16]
• 395 Oxley Avenue: Redcliffe Fire Station[17]
• 133-137 Redcliffe Parade: Comino's Arcade[18]
• 185 Redcliffe Parade: former Redcliffe Town Council Chambers[19]

Settlement Cove Lagoon, 2016

Suttons Beach

Redcliffe Jetty

Attractions such as Suttons Beach(location of Luna Park Redcliffe (1944 to 1966)[20][21]), Redcliffe Jetty, Settlement Cove Lagoon, Redcliffe Museum, Redcliffe Botanic Gardens and Redcliffe Showgrounds are all within the suburb of Redcliffe. The entire Redcliffe Parade precinct is home to an abundance of restaurants and eateries including the award-winning Rustic Olive Italian restaurant and the Mon Komo hotel. On Sundays, the Redcliffe Markets take place along Redcliffe Parade and in recent years have been a significant event for local businesses with crowds of thousands taking part.[22]

Aside from smaller events, in September each year, Redcliffe celebrates its history as Queensland's first European settlement location with the Redcliffe festival event. This festival is chiefly held in the Redcliffe CBD with Redcliffe Parade being closed off to traffic for most of the day. Other attractions as part of this festival include the KiteFest, The Jetty Fiesta, KiteFest Live and Spring Break Beach Party with ongoing interest from local community groups and sponsors to create larger and more attractive events each year.

A statue and walkway in honour of the Bee Gees was unveiled by Barry Gibb on 14 February 2013. Barry returned to open the second stage of the walkway on 9 September 2015.[23]

The Moreton Bay Regional Council operates a public library at 476 Oxley Avenue.[24]

• Southern Cross Catholic College
• Redcliffe State High School opened in 1958[25]
• Redcliffe Special School opened in 1964[25]

A number of well-known sporting teams represent the local area. Some of them are the well known Sandgate-Redcliffe Gators, Redcliffe Dolphins, Redcliffe Tigers, Peninsula Power FC and Redcliffe Padres. Redcliffe hosts the only harness racing in Queensland that is North of Brisbane at the Redcliffe Harness Racing & Sporting Club.[26]

Redcliffe is served by a small general aviation airfield, Redcliffe Airport (ICAO: YRED), located 2.5 nautical miles (4.6 km; 2.9 mi) northwest of Redcliffe in the suburb of Rothwell.

A few bus lines operate in Redcliffe and are run by TransLink.

In the 2011 census, the population of Redcliffe was 9,201; 52% female and 48% male.[15] The median age of the Redcliffe population was 44 years of age, 7 years above the Australian median. Children aged under 15 years made up 15.5% of the population and people aged 65 years and over made up 20.7% of the population. 68.4% of people living in Redcliffe were born in Australia, compared to the national average of 69.8%; the next most common countries of birth were England 7%, New Zealand 6.3%, Scotland 1%, Philippines 0.8%, Netherlands 0.7%. 86.8% of people spoke only English at home; the next most popular languages were 0.5% Italian, 0.4% Tagalog, 0.4% German, 0.3% Dutch, 0.3% Samoan.[15]

• Steele, John Gladstone (1984). Aboriginal Pathways: in Southeast Queensland and the Richmond River. University of Queensland Press. ISBN 978-0-702-25742-1.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Redcliffe, Queensland.

• University of Queensland: Queensland Places: Redcliffe