Perhaps you’ve heard whispers of Griffin, a suburb north of Brisbane. It is named after Captain George Griffin. He was the first white settler to claim this land in 1843.
Griffin sits in the Moreton Bay Region. It is a coastal suburb with a unique history. The area was once at the edge of three Aboriginal tribal lands. These were the Ningi Ningi, Turrbal, and Kabi Kabi people.
Historically, the land was used for hunting and grazing. Both European and Indigenous settlers likely used it this way. They resided on higher ground nearby due to tidal inundation and storm flooding.
Now, let’s consider Dohles Rocks. It is a popular fishing spot on the Pine River. Yellowfin Bream and Dusky Flathead are commonly caught here. Even if fishing isn’t your thing, look into the river. You might spot Common Toadfish or Blue Blubber jellyfish.
The local council provides excellent facilities here. You will find picnic tables, toilets and BBQs. There are also boat ramps and fish cleaning stations. Mature Forest Red Gums offer shade.
Hays Inlet is another interesting area. Saltmarsh here retains more carbon than a forest of equal size. It also serves as a nursery for fish species. The rare Water Mouse is known to occur here. Eastern Grey Kangaroos are also easily seen. They live where the marsh meets the Forest Red Gums.
Let’s explore the Osprey House Environmental Centre. For nearly 20 years, volunteers have shown visitors the ecological significance of mangroves and mudflats. A man-made nesting platform allows visitors to observe Eastern Ospreys. A video camera streams the nest in real time on the Osprey House website. The Fred Dohle Amphitheatre is cleverly constructed. It allows for environmental talks with nature as the visual aid.
Greens Road Wetland offers shelter for waterbirds. Magpie Geese and Wandering Whistling-Ducks can be found here.
Griffin’s new residential areas have parkland corridors. These are planted with native trees. Remnant patches of swamp woodland still exist. They show what grew here before development. Lush forests of Broad-leaved Paperbarks are interspersed with Umbrella Cheese Trees.
Residential development began in the late 1990s. It started south-east of Brays Road and the Bruce Highway intersection. In 2013, the State government announced a new primary school.
Griffin is evolving. It balances residential life with natural preservation. The suburb’s history and environment create a unique place.