Dunwich, Queensland

Dunwich
Queensland

Dunwich shore viewed from Peel Island, ca. 1885
Dunwich
Coordinates 27°30′0″S 153°24′0″E / 27.50000°S 153.40000°ECoordinates: 27°30′0″S 153°24′0″E / 27.50000°S 153.40000°E
Population 883 (2011 census)[1]
Established 1827
Postcode(s) 4183
Location
LGA(s) Redland City
State electorate(s) Cleveland
Federal Division(s) Bowman

Dunwich /ˈdʌnɨtʃ/ is a small town on the western side of North Stradbroke Island in the Australian state of Queensland. The town is part of the Redland City local government area, based on the mainland in the Brisbane bayside suburb of Cleveland. Dunwich is one of three towns on North Stradbroke Island - the others being Amity Point and Point Lookout. In the 2011 census, Dunwich had a population of 883 people.[1]

History

Formerly known as Green Point,[2] the first settlement at Dunwich was established in 1827 as pilot station and military post.[3] It was supposed to be a good place to discharge cargo from visiting ships that traveled through the South Passage. However cargo was lost in bad weather and local aborigines were hostile so the post was disbanded in 1831.[3] Dunwich was named by Sir Ralph Darling on 16 July 1827, in honour of the family title (Viscount Dunwich) of the Earl of Stradbroke, father of Captain Henry John Rous RN, commander of HMS Rainbow, which carried Governor Darling to Moreton Bay and surveyed the immediate Dunwich area.[4]

The settlement also acted as a leper colony before this facility was moved to nearby Peel Island. A quarantine station opened in 1850, although this was eventually moved to the more isolated St Helena Island in Moreton Bay. The station was converted into a nursing home for the elderly and infirmed, one of Queensland's first such facilities. The home was moved to Sandgate in 1946. The main cemetery on the island (Dunwich Cemetery) is found in this small town and contains the graves of over 10,000 people, most of which are unmarked. Other small cemeteries were established for the indigenous community and the leper colony.

Dunwich Post Office opened on 22 October 1896 (a receiving office had been open from 1885).[5]

Some of the remaining buildings from the Dunwich Benevolent Asylum now form part of the North Stradbroke Island Historical Museum, located in Welsby Street, Dunwich. The Dunwich Convict Causeway also remains, although it has been expanded to accommodate modern ships.[3]

Heritage listings

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

Transport

Vehicular ferries which cross Moreton Bay link the mainland with North Stradbroke Island dock at Dunwich. Mining companies have also extensive barge docking and loading facilities at Dunwich.

Demographics

In the 2011 Census the population of Dunwich is 883, 48.1% female and 51.9% male.

The median/average age of the Dunwich population is 39 years of age, 2 years above the Australian average.

86.2% of people living in Dunwich were born in Australia. The other top responses for country of birth were New Zealand 3.8%, England 2.4%, India 0.7%, France 0.6%, Germany 0.6%.

90.8% of people speak English as their first language 0.6% Indonesian, 0.5% Other Australian Indigenous Languages, nec, 0.5% German, 0.5% Yumplatok (Torres Strait Creole).


See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Dunwich (SSC)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  2. ↑ "North Stradbroke Island". Redland City Council. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Hogan, Janet (1982). Living History of Brisbane. Spring Hill, Queensland: Boolarang Publications. p. 23. ISBN 0-908175-41-8.
  4. ↑ "Place name details - Dunwich". Queensland Government. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  5. ↑ Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Premier Postal Auctions. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  6. ↑ "Dunwich Cemetery (entry 15548)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  7. ↑ "Dunwich Convict Causeway (entry 15796)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  8. ↑ "Public Reserve incorporating the Privy Pit and Site of Convict Barracks and Store (entry 16875)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  9. ↑ "St Mark's Anglican Church and Dunwich Public Hall (entry 15930)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 12 July 2013.

External links

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