Imagine farms sprawling across an island. That’s Russell Island. Today, we explore its story. It’s the largest of the Southern Moreton Bay Islands.
Russell Island sits off Queensland’s coast. It is 43 kilometers from Brisbane. The Redland City Council administers it. In 2021, 3,698 people called it home. The island goes by another name Canaipa.
First settled by Europeans in 1866. John Campbell secured a lease on the northern end. John Willes and family soon followed. Land auctions began in 1870.
Farmers and oystermen arrived. The Jackson family’s arrival in 1906 was transformative. They created Jacksonville. It was a village on the island’s western side. Jacksonville boasted a sawmill. It had a pineapple canning factory and a jetty. There was even a picture theatre.
Russell Island State School opened in 1916. James Stodart was there. He was a member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Logan. Seventeen-year-old Miss Eileen Willes was the head teacher. The original school building came from Pine Ridge. In 1927, the school moved to its current location.
Russell Island Methodist Church opened in 1920. It stood on Jackson Road. Today, it is no longer there.
The island is eight kilometers long. It is nearly three kilometers wide. Main Channel separates it from the mainland. Canaipa Passage divides it from North Stradbroke Island.
Kibbinkibbinwa Point marks the north. Rocky Point sits to the southeast. These headlands define its geography.
The island’s name comes from Lord John Russell. He was the Secretary of State for the Colonies in the 1840s. Robert Dixon conducted a basic survey in 1839.
In the 1970s, Russell Island faced land scams. Farms were divided into over 20,000 blocks. Unscrupulous vendors sold these blocks. Many buyers were misled. Promises of a bridge never materialized. Media reports exposed blocks underwater at high tide.
The Russell Island Public Library opened in 2001. A public swimming pool opened in 2008. The YMCA manages it. Solar heating was installed in 2009.
A police station opened in 2008. Senior Constable Michael Verry became the first community policeman.
In 2015, a proposal arose. It suggested transitioning the island’s name to Canaipa. This is its traditional Aboriginal name. Canaipa is a Yugambeh-Bundjalung word. It means “place of ironbark spear/digging stick”. The Queensland Government adopted Canaipa as an alternative name.
Russell Island provides a unique lifestyle. It is surrounded by water. Islanders enjoy fishing and the natural environment. Birdlife thrives here. The island is a world-recognized sanctuary. There’s a shopping center. It includes a supermarket, pharmacy, and post office.
The island has a police station. There is also a fire station and ambulance service. A medical practice serves residents’ health needs. Electricians and builders live on the island. This makes the island self-sufficient.
As you leave Russell Island, remember its resilience. It has overcome challenges. It honors its history. It embraces its natural beauty. Its community spirit remains strong.