Cribb Island, Queensland
Encyclopedia
Cribb Island is a former suburb of Brisbane, Queensland Australia
which is now part of the site of Brisbane Airport
.
'Cribbie' as it was known by the locals consisted of two areas which were made up of Cribb Island and Jackson's Estate. The entire area of Cribb Island which was about 5 km long and 400 metres wide was built on essentially a mud flat that faced Moreton Bay
. In the 1970s, the land was resumed by the Federal Government to expand the Brisbane Airport's capability for the larger jets ('Heavies') used in international flights.
Cribb Island also gave its name to a local variety of marine worm (probably Onuphis sp. Fam. Eunicidae
), popular with fishermen as bait.
who bartered their locally caught fish and mud crabs for bread and potatoes from the early European settlers.
Cribb Island received its name from J.G. Cribb, the son of Brisbane Council
Alderman
, Robert Cribb. 150 acre (0.607029 km²) of land was bought from the Queensland Government
in 1863. In 1885, Cribb sold 65 of those acres to James Jackson for the purpose of growing bananas. This area became known as Jackson's Estate. The land that wasn't used by Jackson was leased out to livestock farmers.
There was only one road into Cribb Island. At first, as this road was floated on top of logs across the mud-flat, it was susceptible to flooding and brief periods of inaccessibility. This changed in 1914 when a better road was built. The area was then accessible for standard motor vehicles.
Later on through the 1920s, the Cribb Island and Jackson's Estate areas became a tourist destination and a seaside resort area due to their close proximity to Brisbane's town centre. In 1925, Cribb Island had its first bus service which was privately owned and ferried passengers to and from the city.
Going into the 1930s the town had many essential services including a school, general store, cafes etc. The resident population fluctuated around 400.
The 1930s however saw a change in the area's fortunes as it was at the mercy of a severe economic downturn. House owners were forced to sell their houses in the Cribb Island area to make ends meet and sold them for next to nothing. The poor bought these homes and the area became a haven for those struggling to get by. Although more local business moved in to provide basic services, this demographic remained the status quo until the end of the suburb's existence.
In 1970, the Commonwealth Government
proceeded to resume land on the island for the purpose of upgrading the airport. The population at that time was about 900 people. Over the next decade, people slowly moved out of the area as the Government took control of the land. The last resident unwillingly left her home in 1980.
Many former residents are keeping memories of Cribb Island alive on various websites and writer Tracy Burton has written a book "On the Flats: On the Road to Cribb Island", about childhood experiences growing up in this remote peaceful community.
27°21′25"S 153°07′42"E
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
which is now part of the site of Brisbane Airport
Brisbane Airport
Brisbane Airport is the sole passenger airport serving Brisbane and the third busiest in Australia, after Melbourne and Sydney Airports. Brisbane Airport has won many awards. Located in the suburb with the same name, the airport serves the city of Brisbane and the surrounding metropolitan area...
.
'Cribbie' as it was known by the locals consisted of two areas which were made up of Cribb Island and Jackson's Estate. The entire area of Cribb Island which was about 5 km long and 400 metres wide was built on essentially a mud flat that faced Moreton Bay
Moreton Bay
Moreton Bay is a bay on the eastern coast of Australia 45 km from Brisbane, Queensland. It is one of Queensland's most important coastal resources...
. In the 1970s, the land was resumed by the Federal Government to expand the Brisbane Airport's capability for the larger jets ('Heavies') used in international flights.
Cribb Island also gave its name to a local variety of marine worm (probably Onuphis sp. Fam. Eunicidae
Eunicidae
Eunicidae is a family of polychaetes. Many eunicids reach a considerable size. Their jaws are known from Ordovician sediments. They live throughout the seas; a few species are parasitic....
), popular with fishermen as bait.
History
The original area of Cribb Island was populated in 1884 by a tribe of approximately 50 AboriginesIndigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
who bartered their locally caught fish and mud crabs for bread and potatoes from the early European settlers.
Cribb Island received its name from J.G. Cribb, the son of Brisbane Council
City of Brisbane
The City of Brisbane is the Local Government Area that has jurisdiction over the inner portion of the metropolitan area of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia...
Alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
, Robert Cribb. 150 acre (0.607029 km²) of land was bought from the Queensland Government
Government of Queensland
The Government of Queensland is commonly known as the "Queensland Government".The form of the Government of Queensland is prescribed in its Constitution, which dates from 1859, although it has been amended many times since then...
in 1863. In 1885, Cribb sold 65 of those acres to James Jackson for the purpose of growing bananas. This area became known as Jackson's Estate. The land that wasn't used by Jackson was leased out to livestock farmers.
There was only one road into Cribb Island. At first, as this road was floated on top of logs across the mud-flat, it was susceptible to flooding and brief periods of inaccessibility. This changed in 1914 when a better road was built. The area was then accessible for standard motor vehicles.
Later on through the 1920s, the Cribb Island and Jackson's Estate areas became a tourist destination and a seaside resort area due to their close proximity to Brisbane's town centre. In 1925, Cribb Island had its first bus service which was privately owned and ferried passengers to and from the city.
Going into the 1930s the town had many essential services including a school, general store, cafes etc. The resident population fluctuated around 400.
The 1930s however saw a change in the area's fortunes as it was at the mercy of a severe economic downturn. House owners were forced to sell their houses in the Cribb Island area to make ends meet and sold them for next to nothing. The poor bought these homes and the area became a haven for those struggling to get by. Although more local business moved in to provide basic services, this demographic remained the status quo until the end of the suburb's existence.
In 1970, the Commonwealth Government
Government of Australia
The Commonwealth of Australia is a federal constitutional monarchy under a parliamentary democracy. The Commonwealth of Australia was formed in 1901 as a result of an agreement among six self-governing British colonies, which became the six states...
proceeded to resume land on the island for the purpose of upgrading the airport. The population at that time was about 900 people. Over the next decade, people slowly moved out of the area as the Government took control of the land. The last resident unwillingly left her home in 1980.
Many former residents are keeping memories of Cribb Island alive on various websites and writer Tracy Burton has written a book "On the Flats: On the Road to Cribb Island", about childhood experiences growing up in this remote peaceful community.
External links
27°21′25"S 153°07′42"E