Raby Bay facts for kids
Raby Bay is a beautiful bay located within Moreton Bay in Queensland, Australia. It was formed by the Cleveland Point headland. The bay creates the coastline for the towns of Cleveland and Ormiston, both found in the City of Redland.
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History of Raby Bay
Raby Bay got its name on July 1, 1841. A surveyor named James Warner chose the name after the Duke of Cleveland, who was also known as Baron Raby.
In 1864, Queensland's very first lighthouse was built on Cleveland Point. This important building, called the Cleveland Point Light, is now a heritage site. It helped guide ships until 1974.
In October 1885, some land south of Raby Bay was sold. This area was known as the Raby Bay Estate. Sixteen pieces of land were sold at an auction.
Building the Canal Estate
In June 1979, the Queensland Government approved a big project for Raby Bay. This project was to build a canal estate. This meant expanding the town of Cleveland into the bay. Workers used land reclamation, which is like adding new land, to create waterfront spots. These spots were for fancy homes and businesses. They also had canals so boats could easily get to Raby Bay.
Construction started in 1983. The first part of the project officially opened on November 23, 1984. At that time, 158 land blocks were ready to be sold. Prices for these blocks ranged from $53,000 to $96,000.
This new area was called Raby Bay. People still use this name to talk about this special part of Cleveland.
Maintaining the Canals
Today, the Redland City Council faces a challenge with these canals. The company that first built them no longer exists. This means the council is now responsible for keeping the canals in good shape.
In 2014, it was estimated that about 23 kilometers of canal walls needed repairs. There has been a discussion about who should pay for these repairs. Some homeowners in the canal estate believe the council should pay, just like they maintain roads. However, other residents in Redland City feel that their taxes should not be used to pay for the canals in this special estate.
Environment of Raby Bay
Raby Bay is well-known for its seagrass meadows. These underwater "grasslands" are very important. They provide food and shelter for many sea creatures, including the local dugong population. Dugongs are gentle, plant-eating sea mammals.
The building of the canal estate caused some damage to the environment. It destroyed some of the seagrass meadows, mangrove forests, and places where migratory birds rested.
However, there are signs that the seagrass in Raby Bay is starting to grow back. Some people have even seen dugongs swimming within the canals. Larger groups of dugongs can be found in the Ormiston parts of the bay. These areas have not been as affected by building projects.
