Sharing history through pictures

A growing interest in local history has prompted Duane Hart to publish his second book, The Pictorial History of Redcliffe and the Moreton Bay Region.

The hardcover coffee table book includes aerial photos, maps, streetscapes and a record of life from the 1950s-80s on the Redcliffe peninsula and in Deception Bay, Mango Hill and North Lakes.

Duane says this book is the logical next step, following the success of his first which focused on the Redcliffe peninsula’s early history from 1824-1949 and was published in 2017.

He believes this edition will be more popular that the last, with many people still living on the peninsula remembering how Redcliffe was in those days.

“It brings back a lot of happy memories for people,” Duane says.

Aerial photos are at the heart of the book but so too are photos of iconic places, major events and attractions that made the peninsula a popular place to live and visit.

It starts with a 1950s tourism brochure for ‘Redcliffe, Queensland’s Pleasure-packed Peninsula’ before displaying an aerial photo of the peninsula put together using 120 photos, taken at low altitude, which have been joined together.

There are also Refidex maps, a feature on the Gibb family (Bee Gees) including photos, the original contract and a Humpybong State School register with their names listed.

Child star and Bee Gees drummer Colin Petersen is also featured.

There are photos of the Houghton Highway being built and officially opened, and the development of Kippa-Ring, Deception Bay, Mango Hill and North Lakes with aerial photos showing large swathes of bushland.

Redcliffe Dolphins Rugby League Football Club history and photos, including the historic 1965 Grand Final win and the development of Dolphin Oval, are also brought to life across several pages.

The book also features historic events such as the 1977 tornado which ripped through Margate and the opening of Kentucky Fried Chicken in Margate in 1969.

The Redcliffe Show, Redcliffe Trotting Club, Suttons Beach at its peak during the Sun Girl Quest, Luna Park, the Rollerdome, shops and streetscapes, and well-known hotels are remembered using a vast collection of photos.

Creative compilation

Duane says many families donated slides and scrapbooks with newspaper clippings for him to use and he’s also grateful for assistance from Kelly Ashford from Moreton Bay Regional Council libraries, The State Library of Queensland and John Oxley Library, History Redcliffe and John Fullagar.

Duane says his partner Casey Thompson edited and sponsored the book.

“Without her, there would be no book,” he says.

Duane says there is a growing interest in local history, with new people moving to the area.

“People want to know the history of their houses and what their street was called,” he says.

For others, it’s a trip down memory lane.

“People said they have great memories, which the book has brought back, especially having the advertisements in there,” Duane says.

“It’s all quite positive. People remember how it was and some places haven’t changed.”

The Pictorial History of Redcliffe and the Moreton Bay Region was launched about two months ago and sold so well, author Duane Hart ordered more.

The books are now available from The Old Fire Station gallery, Redcliffe Museum, Scarborough Food Market corner store and his business at Shop 17, Cominos Arcade, 133 Redcliffe Pde.

For more information, visit the website