Redcliffe / Hays Inlet timeline

Top photo 1958
Bottom Photo 1987
( D.A.Lergessner People and the Environment Two : The Human Landscape Macmillan 1991 )

Redcliffe / Hays Inlet Timeline

Circa 38 million years ago Australia separated from Antarctica and began its northward drift. Australia is drifting northwards at the relatively fast rate of 7cms per year. At this rate Redcliffe will be north of the Tropic of Capricorn in just over 9 million years.

Circa 120000 year BP Hays Inlet would have been under water as coastline was further west.

Circa 6000 years BP Hays Inlet would have been dry as coastline was east of Moreton Island as sea levels were possibly 100-150m below present levels. Humpybong Creek would have wound across a plain to join the Brisbane River somewhere near Moreton Island. Around this time sea levels rose again to stabilise at what is the current coastline.

Circa 1000 years BP Evidence shows increased occupation of Moreton Bay coastline by aboriginal communities with the Turrbal people living on the north side of the Brisbane River.

1770 Captain James Cook sailed up the east coast of Australia.

1799 Lieutenant Matthew Flinders spent two weeks exploring Moreton Bay naming Red Cliffe Point ( now Woody Point ). It is estimated around 5000 aboriginal people lived in the Moreton Bay area at this time.

1823 Three cedar getters ( Pamphlet, Parsons and Finnegan ) made their way to Redcliffe having been shipwrecked on Moreton Island. ( June )

1823 Lieutenant John Oxley arrived in Moreton bay looking for a suitable place for a convict settlement. Found Pamphlet and Finnegan who reported good treatment by friendly natives.

1824 Oxley selected the site of Redcliffe for the penal colony.

1824 Alan Cunningham and party fell pine trees along the banks of what became known as the Pine River.

1825 Redcliffe was abandoned as the site of the penal colony in favour of Brisbane.

1860 Redcliffe’s population estimated at a couple of dozen.

1862 Redcliffe declared an agricultural reserve and land sales began.

1880s Redcliffe become popular as a seaside resort.

1888 Rail line was extended to Petrie.

1911 The steamer The Koopa begins delivering tourists to the Redcliffe Jetty.

1928 Redcliffe homes were connected to Brisbane’s electricity supply.

1935 Hornibrook Highway opened linking Redcliffe with Sandgate. The bridge was built using local timbers from the Pine region.

1941 Houses began to be connected to reticulated water supply.

1944 Discussions commenced about sewering Redcliffe homes.

1959 Sewerage Treatment plant commenced operation discharging treated water into Hays Inlet.

1959 Redcliffe’s population had grown to 18000

1970 Redcliffe’s population had grown to over 25,000

1979 Houghton Highway replaced Hornibrook Highway which remains as a pedestrian and cycle route.

1989 Redcliffe Education Centre began school tours of the Wallum ( now the Redcliffe Botanical Gardens in Henzell Street ), coastal beaches and the mangrove area fringing Deception Bay.

2005 Over 50000 people live in Redcliffe.