Tribute to Redcliffe’s history

An event that’s been 10 years in the making will commemorate Redcliffe’s role in paving the way for Queensland to become a state.

A week of activities marking the bicentenary of the establishment of the Moreton Bay penal colony will culminate in the Redcliffe Remembers 1824-2024 Picnic in the Park on September 14.

History Redcliffe (Redcliffe Historical Society Inc) President Janet Franklin says the commemorations will acknowledge the area’s heritage, from the first inhabitants to the first Europeans to settle and establish a penal colony.

“We really want this to be a about community and multiculturalism and acknowledge our First Nations heritage,” Janet says.

“September 2024 commemorates 200 years of European settlement.

“We would not have Queensland if we hadn’t had that settlement next to Humpybong Creek.”

Commemorative medallions

History Redcliffe secretary Rae Frawley says planning for bicentennial started as early as 2014, when the organisation launched the first of 10 designs in a collection of commemorative silver medallions depicting significant points in Redcliffe’s history.

“We decided to create something to make us sustainable financially and we wanted it to be iconic,” Rae says.

“We purchased blank silver medallions from the Perth Mint and we went to the public and our members to find 10 iconic images we could use leading up to the bicentenary, so this year we’re releasing our final medallion.

“That project was the beginning of our planning 10 years ago.”

Coming together as a community

The week of activities begins with Wunya Ngulum Welcome Everyone: The Moreton Bay Bicentennial Commemoration Conference hosted by The Royal Historical Society of Queensland, History Redcliffe (Redcliffe Historical Society Inc) and the Bribie Island Historical Society on September 7 and includes guided tours and an afternoon tea with historian Pat Gee speaking about Sarah Phoebe Tubbs.

The Redcliffe Remembers Picnic in the Park will be held on September 14 from 10am-3pm in the Redcliffe Museum precinct.

It’s a free family friendly event bringing the community together.

Songwoman Maroochy Barambah will deliver a Welcome to Country and there will be roving entertainment, displays from more than a dozen community groups, pipe bands, and a children’s entertainment zone including arts and crafts and facepainting. 

Food trucks will also be on-site. 

Special sponsors

Traders in Purple are major sponsors, while History Redcliffe and the former Redcliffe City Rotary are gold sponsors. Bendigo Bank Margate is a silver sponsor and WD Surveys and MP Luke Howarth are sponsors.

Click here to find out more.