Redland City

History

The area now known as the Redlands was initially inhabited by the Jagera, Turrbal, and Quandamooka people. Some locations derive their names from Aboriginal languages, and known historic sites within the area include a bora ring at Mount Cotton. The Quandamooka are recognised as the traditional custodians of North Stradbroke Island, and more recently applied for native title over much of the Redlands' surrounding islands and mainland. Jandai (also known as Janday, Jandewal, Djendewal, Jundai, Goenpul and Jandawal), is one of the Aboriginal languages used on Stradbroke Island. Europeans first entered the Redlands in the late 18th century while mapping Moreton Bay: James Cook made observations of the then-undivided Stradbroke Island; Matthew Flinders landed on Coochiemudlo Island in 1799; and Robert Dixon later surveyed and named much of the area. By the 1840s, the coastal township of Cleveland was in contention to become a major port replacing Brisbane, but was ultimately not chosen due to the region's existing sandbars and shipwrecks, and an unfavourable review from Governor George Gipps during his 1842 visit. Louis Hope and other land purchasers began to develop significant infrastructure at this time. On 11 November 1879, under the Divisional Boards Act 1879, the Tingalpa Division was created to govern the area to the east of metropolitan Brisbane. The area around Cleveland split away to form the Cleveland Division on 30 May 1885. Under the Local Authorities Act 1902, both became Shires on 31 March 1903. The Tingalpa council met at Mount Cotton. On 1 October 1925, a sizeable portion of the Shire of Tingalpa (suburbs west of Tingalpa Creek, including Upper Mount Gravatt and Rochedale) became part of the new City of Brisbane along with 20 other local governments.…

Geography

Although most of the population resides on the main urban conglomeration based around the centres of Capalaba, Cleveland and Victoria Point, over 6,000 people live on islands in Moreton Bay that are part of the city. These are North Stradbroke, Coochiemudlo and the Southern Moreton Bay Islands of Karragarra, Lamb, Russell and Macleay. Tingalpa Creek rises on Mount Cotton, forming Leslie Harrison Dam, and marking the majority of the area's western boundary.

Most-observed species

• Noisy Miner

  Manorina melanocephala (Latham, 1801) · Aves
  17,403
• Torresian Crow

  Corvus orru Bonaparte, 1850 · Aves
  17,135
• Rainbow Lorikeet

  Trichoglossus haematodus (Linnaeus, 1771) · Aves
  16,609
• Australian Magpie

  Gymnorhina tibicen (Latham, 1802) · Aves
  15,964
• Australian Ibis

  Threskiornis molucca (Cuvier, 1829) · Aves
  15,784
• Welcome Swallow

  Hirundo neoxena Gould, 1842 · Aves
  13,336
• koala

  Phascolarctos cinereus (Goldfuss, 1817) · Mammalia
  12,501
• Magpie-lark

  Grallina cyanoleuca (Latham, 1802) · Aves
  12,455