Monday, 29 July 2013

TOURIST TUESDAY: BRIBIE ISLAND

How do I talk about a place that holds so many memories for me? My Grandparents moved there in 1972 and my family stayed there for every single school holiday. I remember the outcry, the outrage as the bridge had a 50 cent fee to cross.


Among the facts of Bribie Island…
The only Morten Bay Island that you can drive to.
Bribie Island is connected to the mainland by bridge and is only 45 minutes from Brisbane airport.
The island is 34 kilometres long and 8 kilometres at its widest.
A bridge from Sandstone Point on the mainland was completed in 1963.
The ocean side of the island is somewhat sheltered from prevailing winds by Moreton Island and associated sand banks and has only a small surf break. What we called the Surf Side.
The lee side is calm, with white sandy beaches in the south. Known as the calm side.
Most of the island is uninhabited national park (55.8 square kilometres) and forestry plantations.
The artist Ian Fairweather lived on Bribie Island for many years in self-inflicted poverty

However to me Bribie Island is a place so intertwined and connected to my childhood, I cannot separate the two. My childhood is Bribie. Then, when I left home, I got my first job on the island and lived with my Grandmother; so Bribie is also the place I started to grow up on.

For other people Bribie is a beautiful beach escape, close enough to Brisbane doing a day trip is easy. A gorgeous island escape that is popular with nature lovers, water sport enthusiasts and families.

This was a visit for Mum's birthday, so Jarvis and I only went to the calm side, however there is so much more to the island,

Crossing the bridge always makes me feel like a child again.

Dale Marsh Painting on a billboard.

The Jetty

Red Beach
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11 comments:

  1. Unknown29 July 2013 at 17:04

    Looks like an amazing place, would love to go one day!

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    1. Iliska Dreams29 July 2013 at 18:25

      I am more of a fan of old Bribie. But I still love the place.

      Delete
  2. Sew Lonnie29 July 2013 at 18:17

    Beautiful Bribie, a lot of my friends went to school here and my partner spent his childhood here, that is one of my best friends Megan (with the long brown hair) in the Dale Marsh painting, crazy, huh?

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    1. Iliska Dreams29 July 2013 at 18:27

      Really? Wow! My Grandmother was good friends with Dale. I wonder if your friends/partner know any of my family. Bribie is such a small place.

      Delete
    2. Iliska Dreams1 August 2013 at 21:51

      Just found out my cousin is friend with both of the girls in the image. I wonder if you know her?

      Delete
  3. Unknown29 July 2013 at 19:03

    I adore Bribie! Sam & I have spent many a holiday & long weekend there with my cousins (they live at Bongaree)& we have so many beautiful memories. I imagine is would have been a beautiful place to grow up.

    xx

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    Replies
    1. Iliska Dreams29 July 2013 at 22:03

      I love how Bribie is so quiet and sleepy, yet so many people have been there and loved it. My Grandmother lived at Woorim.

      Delete
  4. Anonymous29 July 2013 at 21:34

    One of my best friends lives there it's very pretty there.

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    1. Iliska Dreams29 July 2013 at 22:04

      It is a very pretty island. My only hope is that they no not 'modernise' it too much.

      Delete
  5. Emily 1 August 2013 at 20:06

    The whole driving on the other side of the road thing is throwing me off! LOL ;) This place looks amazing, how wonderful to have spent a childhood here.

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    1. Iliska Dreams1 August 2013 at 21:50

      Driving on the wrong side of the road! Ha you should have seen me trying to manage LA traffic on the wrong side. Did my head in.

      Bribie was a quite, and beautiful place to grow up.

      Delete

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