Dunwich Convict Causeway facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dunwich Convict Causeway |
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Dunwich Convict Causeway, 2009
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| Location | Junner Street, Dunwich, North Stradbroke Island, City of Redland, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1824 - 1841 (convict settlement) |
| Built | 1827 |
| Official name: Dunwich Convict Causeway | |
| Type | state heritage (archaeological, built) |
| Designated | 22 October 1999 |
| Reference no. | 601021 |
| Significant period | 1820s (fabric) 1827-1831 (convict period historical use) |
| Builders | convict labour |
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The Dunwich Convict Causeway is a special historical structure located on North Stradbroke Island in Queensland, Australia. It was built in 1827 by prisoners (convicts) as part of the Moreton Bay penal settlement. This causeway is now listed on the Queensland Heritage Register because it's an important part of Queensland's past.
Contents
History of the Causeway
The Dunwich convict causeway was built in 1827. It was a key part of a military and supply base. This base helped the new Moreton Bay penal settlement. Large ships could not sail directly into the Brisbane River. This was because of a sandbar at the river's mouth. So, big ships unloaded their goods at Dunwich. Smaller boats then carried these goods over the sandbar to the settlement.
The causeway was used for many years. After the penal settlement closed in 1831, it served other purposes. It was used by a Catholic mission from 1843 to 1847. Later, it became part of a quarantine station from 1850 to 1864. This is where people arriving by ship had to stay to prevent diseases from spreading. From 1864 to 1947, it was part of the Dunwich Benevolent Asylum. Today, the causeway is still used. It helps barges and water taxis land. This makes Dunwich the main entry point to North Stradbroke Island.
Why Dunwich Was Chosen
In 1823, John Oxley found the Brisbane River. He suggested a settlement be built there. At first, Redcliffe was chosen for the first settlement. But it was not a safe place for ships to anchor. A strong storm almost pushed a ship ashore there.
So, in October 1824, Governor Thomas Brisbane visited. He agreed that the Brisbane River was a better spot. The settlement moved from Redcliffe to Brisbane. But large ships still had trouble reaching Brisbane. A sandbar blocked the river mouth. This meant ships had to unload at Amity Point on Stradbroke Island. Smaller boats then took the cargo to Brisbane.
In 1827, Governor Ralph Darling visited. He was unhappy that big ships couldn't reach Brisbane. Captain Patrick Logan, who was in charge of Brisbane, suggested a new plan. He thought a small settlement at Dunwich would help. This way, large ships could unload there. Then, smaller boats could take supplies to Brisbane. This would save time and make things easier.
Building the Causeway
On November 29, 1827, Governor Darling ordered Captain Logan to build a military post and supply depot at Dunwich. Plans and materials were sent from Sydney. They built a warehouse and homes for convicts, boatmen, and soldiers. By May 1828, the buildings were almost finished.
The stone for the causeway likely came from a nearby place called Doctor's Hill. The earth used to fill the causeway also came from nearby. The causeway was built by hand. Workers used building methods common in the early 1800s.
The Dunwich outpost only operated for a few years. It seems the causeway was made longer around 1839. This made the water deeper at the end of the causeway. In 1831, the settlement was closed. Cargo was still being lost in bad weather. Also, local Aboriginal people were sometimes hostile. A small guard stayed to protect the buildings. Timber continued to be loaded there until about 1837.
Later Uses of the Causeway
The site was briefly a Catholic mission for Aboriginal people. This was from 1843 to 1847. But the mission was not successful.
From 1850 to 1864, the site became a quarantine station. All immigrants arriving in Brisbane had to stop here first. This helped prevent diseases from spreading. One sad event was when the ship Emigrant (ship), Emigrant arrived. Many people on board were sick.
In 1866, the Dunwich Benevolent Asylum opened. This was a home for elderly, sick, or disabled people. A government steamer called the Otter brought supplies twice a week. To help the steamer dock, a wooden jetty was built at the end of the causeway in 1886. A horse-drawn tramline was also laid. It ran along the causeway to help unload goods.
In 1947, the asylum closed. The causeway area then became open for land sales and sand mining. Passenger ferries used the causeway area. In 1964, the first car ferry started running. It used the beach as a ramp. Later, a deep-water car ferry ramp was needed. Land was reclaimed next to the causeway for this. Today, this reclaimed land is where barges and water taxis land.
The causeway has seen many changes. It shows how Dunwich has grown. It also highlights the causeway's ongoing importance as the main entry to North Stradbroke Island. Even with new additions, the original causeway structure is still there.
What the Causeway Looks Like Today
The Dunwich convict causeway is at the end of Junner Street. When you arrive, it's not immediately obvious. It forms the northern edge of the landing area. But if you look closely, you'll see it's still a key part of the barge and water taxi facilities. People walk along the causeway to catch their boats. Cars use the reclaimed land next to it. New plants have been added to separate the old causeway from the new car area.
Looking towards Dunwich, Junner Street cuts through a raised area of land. The lower, tree-covered part on the north side of Junner Street was once the military post. This was built at the same time as the causeway. On the other side of Junner Street is Doctor's Hill. Even with all the changes, the causeway has stayed important. It helped make Dunwich the main entry to North Stradbroke Island. It also shaped how the town grew.
It's hard to see the whole causeway now. The southern side has been covered by new land. This new land was added to make the barge landing area bigger. The top of the causeway is now covered with concrete. But it was originally just packed earth. The eastern end of the causeway disappears into a new rock wall. This wall helps protect the shoreline. At the water's edge, the causeway goes into a modern boat ramp. This ramp is made of rocks and concrete. The old wooden jetty from the asylum days is gone. A new jetty now angles away from the causeway. Some old, weathered wooden posts are still visible. These are all that's left of the protective frame built long ago.
The causeway is about 90 meters long and 7 meters wide. It's built from rough, reddish stones. These stones are laid in straight rows without mortar. People believe the stone came from the beach or Doctor's Hill. Some parts of the wall are damaged. Other parts have been repaired. The repaired areas have different, sandy-colored stones. Where the wall is damaged, you can see how it was built. You can also see bits of the old tram tracks. These were laid when the Benevolent Asylum was using the causeway. This shows that even buried sections are likely still there.
Why the Causeway is Important (Heritage Listing)
The Dunwich Convict Causeway was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on October 22, 1999. This means it's a very important historical site.
- It shows how Queensland's history changed.
The causeway was built by convicts. It was the main landing spot for ships coming to Moreton Bay and Brisbane. It played a big role in the early days of Queensland. After the convict settlement closed, it continued to be important for other developments in Dunwich.
- It's a rare and special part of history.
The Dunwich causeway is a very important and rare historical structure in Queensland. It's one of only three known convict-built structures left in southeast Queensland. It might be the only example of a convict-built structure related to the sea in the whole state.
- We can learn a lot from it.
The causeway can help us understand Queensland's history better. This small structure played a huge part in the development of the Moreton Bay penal settlement. This, in turn, helped shape the city of Brisbane and the state of Queensland.
- It shows how things were built back then.
The causeway clearly shows how Europeans built things in the early 1800s. It also shows the building methods used by convicts for this type of structure.
- It was a clever piece of engineering.
Building the causeway showed a good level of technical skill for its time.
- It's important to many people.
The causeway has social importance for groups linked to the Catholic Mission, Quarantine Station, and Benevolent Asylum. It's also important to residents and tourists as the main landing point on North Stradbroke Island.
