Brisbane

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History

The Brisbane region has been inhabited for more than 22,000 years by the Yagara (Yuggera), Turrbal and Quandamooka peoples. The Brisbane River (Maiwar) formed the heart of cultural, economic and ceremonial life, with major camps at Barambin (York's Hollow), Woolloon-cappem (Kurilpa) and Musgrave Park. The central city peninsula was traditionally known as Meeanjin. Matthew Flinders charted parts of Moreton Bay in 1799, followed by John Oxley in 1823, who located the Brisbane River with the help of castaways and recommended the area for a penal settlement. The first outpost was founded at Redcliffe in 1824 before relocating to North Quay in 1825. Under Captain Patrick Logan, the penal station gained a reputation as one of the harshest in New South Wales. The 1820s and 1830s saw the settlement experience recurrent conflict with neighbouring Indigenous tribes, including organised maize-field raids and the wider Moreton Bay Islands conflict. The settlement closed in 1842, opening the district to free colonisation. Free settlement and pastoralists expanded along the river and surrounding valleys throughout the mid-19th century. The Brisbane district became a major front of the War of Southern Queensland (1843–1855), involving coordinated resistance from Yuggera and Turrbal groups, with support from neighbouring Ningy Ningy people, under leaders such as Dundalli, Yilbung and the Duke of York. Raids and ambushes were carried out across the developing settlement, including at Breakfast Creek, South Brisbane, the Sandgate district and the Pine Rivers. In response, British forces, including detachments of the 99th and later 11th regiment launched several armed operations through York's Hollow between 1846 and 1848. Brisbane grew as a river port serving pastoral districts…

Most-observed species

• Noisy Miner

  Manorina melanocephala (Latham, 1801) · Aves
  56,566
• Torresian Crow

  Corvus orru Bonaparte, 1850 · Aves
  55,794
• Rainbow Lorikeet

  Trichoglossus haematodus (Linnaeus, 1771) · Aves
  51,033
• Australian Magpie

  Gymnorhina tibicen (Latham, 1802) · Aves
  47,105
• Welcome Swallow

  Hirundo neoxena Gould, 1842 · Aves
  38,565
• Australian Ibis

  Threskiornis molucca (Cuvier, 1829) · Aves
  36,989
• Magpie-lark

  Grallina cyanoleuca (Latham, 1802) · Aves
  33,868
• Gray Butcherbird

  Cracticus torquatus (Latham, 1802) · Aves
  33,574