Southern Moreton Bay Islands (Redland City) facts for kids
|
Nickname: SMBI, Bay Islands, or RKLM
|
|
|---|---|
A satellite view from the southwest of south Moreton Bay, Queensland. Labelled are the many islands created from the outflow of the Logan River behind the barrier of North and South Stradbroke Islands.
|
|
 Southern Moreton Bay Islands
Location in Queensland
Location of the Bay Islands in Queensland
|
|
| Geography | |
| Location | Moreton Bay |
| Coordinates | 27°38′S 153°23′E / 27.633°S 153.383°E |
| Major islands | |
| Administration | |
|
Australia
|
|
| State | Queensland |
| Region | South East Queensland |
| Local government area | Redland City |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 6,153 (2016 census) |
The Southern Moreton Bay Islands, often called the SMBI or Bay Islands, are a group of four islands in Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia. These islands are Karragarra, Lamb, Russell, and Macleay Island. They are part of Redland City. In 2021, about 7,635 people lived on these islands. However, many homes there are "second homes" or holiday houses, meaning they are not lived in all the time.
Contents
Geography of the Islands
The Southern Moreton Bay Islands are located in the southern part of Moreton Bay. A very small island called Perulpa Island is connected to Macleay Island by a road. Most people think of Perulpa as part of Macleay Island.
The islands are surrounded by the Southern Moreton Bay Islands National Park. This park helps protect the natural environment around the islands.
History of the Bay Islands
The population of these islands has grown quite a bit over the years. Here's how many people lived on each island at different times:
Island Populations Over Time
- 2006:
- Karragarra: 125 people
- Lamb: 373 people
- Russell: 1,776 people
- Macleay: 1,957 people
- 2016:
- Karragarra: 204 people
- Lamb: 432 people
- Russell: 2,836 people
- Macleay: 2,681 people
- 2021:
- Karragarra: 240 people
- Lamb: 504 people
- Russell: 3,698 people
- Macleay: 3,193 people
In 2007, a TV show made the islands famous for having very affordable land. This brought a lot of attention to the area. The islands were first divided into smaller blocks of land in the early 1970s. At that time, the government promised to build a bridge to the mainland, but this never happened. Because of this, residents still need to use ferries to travel to the mainland for shopping and other needs. Parking on the mainland has become quite difficult.
The Bay Islands offer a quiet and relaxed way of life. Many older people live there, and more recently, younger families have moved to the islands. They are looking for a safe and peaceful place away from the busy mainland.
Special Places and Buildings
Some places on the islands are considered important because of their history. These are called heritage-listed sites.
Lamb Island's Heritage Sites
- Lamb Island Pioneer Hall: Located on Lucas Drive, this hall has a long history.
- Mango Trees: These trees on Tina Avenue are over 100 years old.
- Jetty Shed: This shed was used to load local farm products onto boats. A local community group has fixed it up.
Macleay Island's Heritage Sites
- Industrial Ruins: On Cliff Terrace, you can find the remains of old industrial buildings.
What's Available on the Islands?
Russell and Macleay Islands have most of the basic services people need. This includes:
- supermarkets for groceries
- restaurants for eating out
- primary schools for education
- doctors for health care
- police and ambulance services for emergencies
- fire brigade and SES for safety
- clubs and pubs for social activities
Lamb Island has a small kiosk where you can buy basic supplies and convenience items.
Getting Around the Islands
The islands are connected to the mainland by ferries.
Ferry Services
- Vehicle Barges: Stradbroke Ferries provides regular services for cars and other vehicles.
- Passenger Ferries: Bay Islands Transit offers fast passenger ferry services.
Both types of ferries leave from Redland Bay. Since 2013, you can use a go card (like a public transport card) to ride the passenger ferries, as they are part of the Translink network. The ferries also have space for bicycles, making cycling a good way to get around the islands.
Ferry Routes and Schedule
The Translink ferry follows two main routes: "clockwise" and "counter-clockwise".
- Clockwise Route:
- Redland Bay (mainland)
- Karragarra (most ferries stop here)
- Macleay
- Lamb (most ferries stop here)
- Russell
When the ferry reaches Russell Island, it then starts the "counter-clockwise" route, going back through the same stops in reverse order.
- Ferry Times:
- First ferry from Redland Bay: 4:45 AM on weekdays, 5:30 AM on weekends.
- Last ferry from Redland Bay: 7:15 PM on weekdays, 4:45 PM on weekends.
The full trip from Redland Bay to Russell Island (or vice versa) takes about one hour.
Boating
The beautiful Canaipa Passage, located between North Stradbroke Island and Russell Island, is a popular spot for private boats.
Staying Connected (Telecommunications)
The four islands have two main telephone exchanges. Macleay and Lamb Islands use the Macleay Island Exchange, while Karragarra and Russell Islands use the Russell Island Exchange.
Internet and Phone Services
These exchanges do not connect directly to the mainland. Instead, they use microwave relay to connect to larger exchanges. Phone calls are handled by the Woolloongabba Exchange.
ADSL Internet has been available on the islands since 2004/2005, offering speeds up to ADSL2+. Wireless broadband is also available, but some people in "bushy" areas have reported poor signal. On Macleay Island, this was improved by making the radio masts taller.
Some residents on Russell and Karragarra Islands cannot get ADSL internet. This is because their copper phone lines are too long (over 5 kilometers) to receive a good signal. This mostly affects people living off Centre Road and Canaipa Road in the northeast of Russell Island. These residents often have to use wireless broadband or even satellite internet. The same issue can happen on Macleay and Lamb Islands.
Foxtel Digital PayTV is available through satellite.
The National Broadband Network (NBN) became available on the islands in June 2020. Depending on the street, homes can get either fibre to the curb or fibre to the node internet connections.
