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Exploration of Moreton Bay
Matthew Flinders explored Moreton Bay on an expedition from Port Jackson (Sydney) to Harvey Bay. On the way he found a group of aborigines. He made the first recorded contact with the black men .Spears were thrown and guns fired. Flinders named the spot Skirmish Point after the encounter. -
Mr Thomas Bigge
Commissioner Thomas Bigge was asked to look into the affairs of New South Wales. He wrote a report that included recommendation to open penal settlements in the north of Australia at Port Curtis, Port Bowen and Moreton Bay. -
John Oxley’s Discovery
Surveyor-General John Oxley was sent out in a ship to see some land with an idea to make convict colonies. On the way he found a group of aborigines though, one was different to the rest. He turned out to be a shipwrecked white man known as Thomas Pamphlett. Oxley continued the journey with him. -
Naming of the Creeks
After meeting Pamphlett they sailed on 100km and discovered land as far as Goodna. On the journey places were named such as Breakfast Creek (named after having breakfast there), Oxley Creek and Seventeen Mile Rocks. -
The First Convict Colony
The first convict colony was established at Redcliffe Point under the command of Lieutenant Miller. The settlement was deliberately away from free people so they are safe from the bad convicts held in there. -
Moving the Penal Colony
After one year the first convict colony at Redcliffe Point have been told to move the convicts to the banks of the Brisbane River for better conditions. -
The New Commander
Captain Logan took control over the colony. He caused the amount of convicts to increase by creating stricter rules and punishments. He earned the title " Tyrant Of Brisbane Town" after enforcing these rules and creating many new punishments. -
Aborigines Rebel
The indigenous people started to stand up to the British colonies who were taking their hunting grounds.The local aborigines tried to "starve out" the colony by destroying their crops in the area we now know as South Bank. -
Smallpox
The disease known as smallpox wiped out many of the Moreton Bay Aboriginal People. Many believe it was caught from the British people in the Moreton Bay Colony. -
The Murder
Captain Logan was murdered near The Esk, it still remains a mystery who killed him but some people believe he was murdered by an Aborigine, angry about the British taking their grounds while other think he was killed by an escaped convict in revenge of the harshness Logan caused. -
Population Increases
The population of the Moreton Bay Colony had risen to a massive 1241 including 1066 convicts all men, women and children. -
Naming of Brisbane
Brisbane, now the capital city of Queensland was named in honour of Sir Thomas Brisbane, a British soldier and colonial administrator who was the Governor of New South Wales at the present time, -
Free Settlers Allowed
The land was opened for free settlers so it is not just a place for convicts. -
Preparing for greater numbers
Surveyors were sent to Moreton Bay Colony to prepare the land for greater numbers of British free settlers. -
Closing Down
The Convict Colony has finally shut down and the prisoners are moved and locked up at the Brisbane jail Petrie Terrace. -
Queensland is Created
New South Wales is separated in to two states. One state remains as New South Wales while the other is named Queensland. -
St Helena Island becomes Penal Establishment
St Helena Island was made a penal establishment by the Governor of Queensland. It was a place where the worst convicts go for their sentence of hard labour. St Helena's punishments were severe and harsh. These punishments included the dreaded underground cells, the gag and the cruel energy-sapping shot drill.
