Woody Point

On the shores of shimmering Moreton Bay, Woody Point has always been a place of gathering. Long before European settlers arrived, the Gubbi Gubbi and Ningy Ningy clans met here. They held corroborees and hunted dugong and turtle. Woody Point was also the site of their fierce defense against a proposed penal colony in 1824. This resistance led to the establishment of the colony in Brisbane instead. Imagine the scene in 1883. The Great Western Hotel, later known as St Leonard’s Hotel, opened its doors. Excursionists arrived by steamer from Sandgate, drawn by the promise of elegant accommodation and a “first-class lunch.” The hotel boasted 12 bedrooms and three sitting rooms, offering respite to weary travelers. But disaster struck in 1907 when the hotel was consumed by fire, its grandeur reduced to ashes. Yet, from those ashes rose The Palace Hotel in 1908. This new establishment, under the watchful eye of publican Albert Goodwin, became a hub of activity. It was here that a young band, the Bee Gees, played their first paid gig in 1959. Fuelled by Coca-Cola and their parents’ encouragement, the Gibb brothers entertained patrons, marking the beginning of their legendary musical journey. Today, while The Palace Hotel is gone, the echoes of laughter, music and shared stories linger. Woody Point continues to be a place where memories are made, a testament to its enduring appeal.