Bribie Island

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View of the Glass House Mountains from Bribie Island

Looking north-west towards Bribie Island

Bribie Island is a large sand island in the northern part of Moreton Bay, Queensland. The island is separated from the mainland by the Pumicestone Passage, named by Captain James Cook, who noted small floating pieces of pumice. Examples of pumice from ancient volcanic cones on the mainland north of the island are still frequently washed up on beaches in the passage.

Bribie Island is the only island connected to the Queensland mainland by a bridge. The bridge, over Pumicestone Passage, was completed in 1963. Bribie has a 'calm side' or 'passage side' with safe family beaches and calm water. The 'surf side' of the island is about 5 km away and boasts long sandy beaches and dunes, with a moderate surf. Most of the island is uninhabited, consisting of National Park and forestry plantations, but the southern end of the island has been intensively urbanised as part of the Moreton Bay Regional Council.

1 Transport
2 Suburbs
3 Park Status
4 Inhabitants
5 Retail and Entertainment Facilities
6 Schools
7 Demographic
8 Surrounding Area
9 Location Shooting
10 Gallery
11 External links
12 Categories

[edit] Transport

Bridge from the mainland, opened in 1963

The island is well known for its lack of traffic lights. However, there are a high number of roundabouts contained in its small inhabited area.

Bribie Island Coaches operates a bus service around the Island as well as a route which runs to Caboolture and Morayfield via Ningi and Pebble Beach. In August 2007 an alternative route, via Beachmere, was introduced. The service to Caboolture is timed to connect with trains to and from Brisbane.

In 2005 a set of traffic lights was installed where Pebble Beach exits onto Caboolture-Bribie Island Road. Late in 2006 another set was installed in Ningi.

[edit] Suburbs

A NASA Landsat image of Bribie Island

Crossing to the island from the mainland via the bridge, the first suburb to be encountered is Bellara. The other three major suburbs are Woorim (about 5 km away on the island's 'surf side'), Bongaree at the southern end of the island, on the 'calm side' or 'passage side' and Banksia Beach at the northern end of the populated area, also on the 'passage side'. Another suburb, Welsby, exists on maps; however, there is currently no development in this area.

[edit] Park Status

Buckley's Hole Environmental Park

Bribie Island National Park covers 55.8 km² of the island. There is a common misconception that the National Park covers most of the non-inhabited area, but in fact most of the centre of the island consists of conifer plantations closed to public access. Formerly leased to CSR Timber, the Queensland Government is currently re-planting around 25 km² of this area through its DPI Forestry arm. Much of the rest has been developed for housing. Buckley's Hole, at the southern tip of the island, was declared an Environmental Park in 1992. More than 250 species of birds live in or visit the area.

[edit] Inhabitants

Bribie Island the home of noted author and businessman Robert Law. The artist Ian Fairweather also lived on Bribie Island for many years in great poverty.

There are many types of wildlife present on the island. Kangaroos, wallabies, emus, various snake species, green tree frogs and dingos often can be seen venturing from the National Park into the surrounding suburbs.

[edit] Retail and Entertainment Facilities

Bribie Island Library, a branch of Caboolture Shire's library network

Aldi Store on opening day

Bribie Island's main shopping centre is at Bellara, comprising a Woolworths supermarket and a Target store, as well as a number of nationally-known companies such as Tandy Electronics, Rockmans and Gloria Jean's Coffees. In addition the island has an Aldi store and two large IGA supermarkets located at Bongaree and Banksia Beach. Traditional "strip" development of shopping facilities around the island provides a comprehensive array of retail businesses such as hardware stores, medical centres, newsagents, chemists and food outlets.

There are two large, modern hotels - The Bribie Island Hotel at Bellara and the Blue Pacific Hotel on the 'surf side' of the island at Woorim. Residents and visitors often prefer to visit local clubs such as the large and award-winning Bribie Island Citizens and RSL Club, the two bowls clubs at Bongaree, the Surf Life Saving Club at Woorim on the 'surf side', and the small Solander Lakes Bowls Club at Banksia Beach. There is a well established golf club at Woorim, with a second golf course and club house recently completed at Banksia Beach.

A small but popular twin cinema was established in 2001 on McMahon Street.

[edit] Schools

There are two primary schools: Bribie Island State School at Bongaree, and Banksia Beach State School. Prior to the opening of the Bribie Island State High School in 1989 secondary students were transported to Caboolture. The current enrolment at the high school (2006) is 954 students.

[edit] Demographic

The most recent census, held on 8 August 2006, showed that there were 15,915 persons usually resident on the island. Of these, 47.9% were males and 52.1% were females. Of the total population 1.6% were Indigenous persons, compared with 2.3% for all of Australia.

Age: 13.6% of the population on the island were children aged between 0-14 years, and 50.3% were persons aged 55 years and over. The median age of persons was 55 years, compared with 37 years for all of Australia.

Origins: 75.7% stated they were born in Australia. Other places of birth included were: England 6.6%, New Zealand 4.0%, Germany 0.9%, Netherlands 0.8% and Scotland 0.8%.

Income: The median weekly household income was $609, compared with $1,027 in Australia.

[edit] Surrounding Area

World War II Coastal defences are still visible today along the coast of Bribie Island

View from the 'surf side' across to Moreton Island

The northern tip of the island is close to Caloundra while the southern end is in the proximity of Deception Bay.

The northern end is part of Sunshine Coast Council and is undeveloped. The southern end is part of Moreton Bay Regional Council and is mostly developed. The bridge is at this end.

Heading from the Island towards Caboolture one passes by Pebble Beach on the left shortly after departing the island. One then passes through Ningi and is soon to be made into a four-lane road, a change that is unlikely to reduce passing traffic or make Ningi a safer area for children. Opposite the Shell service station there is a strawberry farm where tourists may often be seen working part-time. This farm also grows turf when strawberries are not in season.

[edit] Location Shooting

In 2004, a reality television series called The Hot House was filmed on Bribie Island. It aired on Network Ten. The show entailed 14 couples building a house together knowing that only one couple would win the house and a number of prizes, including a boat, which came with it. On the final night of filming, locals were given free tickets to enter the area which had been fenced off for filming. A crowd came to support each of the couples. The couple which finally won is still living in their house as a family who market Pacific Harbour.^{[citation needed]}

A vast amount of the footage for the movie The Great Raid was filmed on Bribie Island.

Bribie Island in popular fiction Fictional books that are set wholly or partly on Bribie include:

The Enigmatic Mr Phelps, by Canada-based English international crime writer David B. Green, was partly set in Banksia Beach during the winter of 2004 and includes many references to the island and the surrounding area. Part two of the two-part novel features an opening chapter based entirely on the island. The novel is called Berlin By Christmas. The fictional character of "Phelps" is often confused with the real life of the author.