Russell Island (Moreton Bay): Difference between revisions
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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* [http://queenslandplaces.com.au/russell-and-macleay-islands University of Queensland: Queensland Places: Russell and Macleay Islands] |
* [http://queenslandplaces.com.au/russell-and-macleay-islands University of Queensland: Queensland Places: Russell and Macleay Islands] |
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*[http://www.thebayislands.com.au Russell Island on the bay] |
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*[http://www.russellisland.com.au Russell Island on the bay] |
*[http://www.russellisland.com.au Russell Island on the bay] |
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*[http://www.redlandstourism.com/ Redlands Tourism] |
*[http://www.redlandstourism.com/ Redlands Tourism] |
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Revision as of 05:03, 18 January 2011
| Russell Island Redland City, Queensland | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Location of Russell Island | |||||||||||||||
| Population | 1,779 (2006) | ||||||||||||||
| Established | 1870 | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 4184 | ||||||||||||||
| Location | 40 km (25 mi) from Brisbane GPO | ||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | Redland City | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Electoral district of Redlands | ||||||||||||||
| Federal division(s) | Division of Bowman | ||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
Russell Island in Redland City is the biggest of the Southern Moreton Bay Islands, sandwiched between the mainland and North Stradbroke Island in the state of Queensland, Australia. The island is eight kilometres long (north-to-south) and nearly three kilometres wide.
History
A basic survey of the island was conducted by Robert Dixon in 1839. He named the island after Lord John Russell the Secretary of State for the Colonies in the 1840s.[1]
The island was first settled by Europeans in 1866, when John Campbell was granted a lease on the northern end of the island closely followed by John Willes and his family.[2] Land auctions commenced in 1870.[1] Farmers and oystermen were the first full-time inhabitants, but with the arrival of the Jackson family in 1906, a small village was created on the western side of the island called Jacksonville, that had a sawmill, pineapple canning factory, jetty and even a picture theatre.[1] A small school was opened in 1916.[1]
Russell Island is known for the infamous land scams of the early 1970s, when many of the islands farms were divided into over 20,000 blocks.[2] At the time, the area, with a population of less than 500, did not have a local authority enforcing planning regulations. Heavily advertised and sold off by unscrupulous vendors, these blocks were often not where the unwary customers thought they were buying. It all rode on the vague promise of a bridge from the National Party government at the time.
Media reports exposing the scam pointed to blocks that were underwater at high tide and the lack of public land.[3] Privately owned properties have reduced to about 15,000 as many owners have forfeited their land back to the council. It is bitter and unwanted heritage that the islanders and the Redland Council, who were appointed to take over the island, have tried to untangle ever since.
Island life
Russell had 1,779 permanent residents in 2006 up 35.9% since 2001.[3] However, this changes dramatically on weekends and holidays when many of the 30% of dwellings on the island which are classified as unoccupied are visited by their owners.[citation needed] In the last five years new dwellings have grown by one a day—and more. The blocks, while still the least expensive in South East Queensland and the second cheapest in Australia, no longer "go for a song". Spots for small boat moorings around the island are running out.[citation needed] Fast ferries and scheduled barges straddle the distance to Redland Bay quickly for most of the day.
Locals describe living on the island as quiet and laid back, with the advantage of being close to the facilities of a major city just across water and being fringed by the Moreton Bay Marine Park.[citation needed].
Shopping
Russell Island has a police station, IGA supermarket, butcher, post office, service station, bottle shop, pet shop, a medical practice, pathologist, chemist, internet cafe, computer sales and service centre, web-designers, hairdresser, bakery, seafood shop, newsagency, landscape/hire centre, scooter & car hire, music store, storage sheds, video hire, lawyer, library, two licensed clubs, public pool and restaurant. Adding to the mix are two mobile businesses: a fishmonger and ice cream vendor. With so many blocks still available, four real estate offices trade well.
Community
The two licensed clubs, an RSL and the Russell Island Bowling Club, provide entertainment and bistro facilities most nights of the week.
A generously sized Council-built hall near the main wharf is available and, centrally located on Jackson Street, the Bay Islands Community Centre has rooms. Some church denominations meet at the hall but others use the historic St Peters Church Hall just up High Street. In 2009 the Kennedy Farm Community Centre was revamped with Commonwealth money and is now available for small scale community activity. Resident driven plans for the 4.5ha block include sporting facilities and a community farm.
Electricians, builders and plumbers are resident on the Island, making the island somewhat self-supportive. Services include power, phone, broadband, water and garbage collection but sewerage and tarring of the vast majority of streets is still some time away. Garbage is trucked to the mainland for disposal. Both the Rural Fire Brigade and the Ambulance service receive strong volunteer support. Several volunteer Justices of the peace live on the island. A small primary school for around 180 students has an active Parents and Citizens club. In early 2010 the Bay Islands Community Centre with generous grants from Community Service and the Council, opened a youth drop in centre on Jackson Road.
On 12 April 2008, a public 50 metre swimming pool jointly funded by the Redland City Council, the Queensland State Government, a rates levy and nearly 20 years of donations from residents was completed. Management has been contracted to the YMCA. The first bathers hit the water during that weekend but, lacking any heating, it was closed for the winter.[4]. Sufficient solar heating for spring and autumn use was installed in 2009.
Another big event for the island on Wednesday, May 7, 2008 when the $1.2m Police Station was opened by the Queensland Police Minister, bringing Senior Constable Michael Verry to the island as its first community policeman.[5] Backing up the policeman, Queensland Police make frequent visits to the island with using a high-speed barge which can carrying two police vehicles.[6]
See also
References
- ^ a b c Horton, Helen (1983). Islands of Moreton Bay. Spring Hill, Queensland: Boorarong Publications. pp. 77–80. ISBN 0908175671.
- ^ Dorrington, Wendy: The Pioneers of Russell Island, self-published, 2003, Russell Island, QLD, ISBN 1 876780 39 8
- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Russell Island (Redland Shire) (State Suburb)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 11 October 2009.
- ^ The Russell Island Land Fraud in Grabosky, Peter (ed.) Sutton, Adam (ed.): Stains on a white collar, The Federation Press, 1989, Annandale, NSW, ISBN 1-86287-009-8.
- ^ Dorrington, Wendy: The Pioneers of Russell Island, self-published, 2003, Russell Island, QLD, ISBN 1 876780 39 8.
- ^ Business Directory for Russell Island
- ^ BayJournal story on opening of pool
- ^ BayJournal story on opening of police station
- ^ BayJournal interview of first policeman
- ^ BayJournal on naming of Stewart Kerlin police barge