Macleay Island - Queensland
Macleay Island is only 50 minutes from Brisbane Airport and the city centre. It is the largest of the group of islands clustered together between the mainland and North Stradbroke Island. Macleay Island is 9km long and 3km wide and has a population of little over 4000 people. Access to the mainland is either by water taxi, which takes approximately 20 minutes and runs half hourly, or by vehicular barge for those wishing to transport their car across. The islands are famous for their diverse fauna and flora and parts of Macleay have been decreed areas of conservation and environmental protection by the Redland Shire. The weather is generally quite mild being 11-21 degrees in winter and 18-28 degrees in summer. Macleay Island has a second smaller island, Perulpa Island, attached to it by a causeway.
Macleay Island can be reached by passenger ferry from Banana Street, RedlandBay, (you can bring your bicycle with you on the passenger ferry). A car can be taken by Macleay Island Barge which departs from Weinam Street. There is much to see and do on Macleay Island, great beaches to walk and swim at, plenty of places to stay, excellent beach or boat fishing, sports, and many other things to see and do. Catch the ferry from RedlandBay, and walk or drive onto the island.
There are several accommodation options on Macleay Island, from Bed & Breakfast, Guesthouses, and Self Catered rentals.
Whatever your style, you'll find a great place to stay on Macleay Island
There are so many Things To See and Do on Macleay Island.
Visit the Redlands Bay Tourist Information Centre at Cleveland, where they can help you with your holiday plans.
Redlands on Moreton Bay Visitor Centre
Shop 2, Raby Bay Harbour
152 Shore St West
PO Box 8159
Cleveland
Queensland, 4163
Phone 07 38210057 or 1300 667 386
Fax 07 38213875
Email: explore@more2redlands.com.au
www.more2redlands.com.au
For more information about North Stradbroke Island visit www.straddieonline.com.au
Macleay Island is fairly quiet, but there is plenty to do making it an interesting holiday escape.
# A stroll along the beach or a walk through the small stand of native rainforest offer relaxing options for passing the time.
# Excellent Park and Beach options include:-
- Pat’s Park - Situated at the Northern end of the island, has a swimming enclosure, public toilets, BBQ and a children’s playground.
- Thompson’s Point - Situated at the end of Wharf street, is a great spot for fishing.
- Corroborree Place - A pebble beach with deep water, BBQ, a great spot for deep water mooring and has a children’s playground.
- Grants Beach - Situated at the corner of Dalpura Street and Cooroborree Drive has a sheltered white sandy beach.
- Sandpiper Beach - Situated at the end of Undine Street, this is another white sandy beach.
- Pott’s Point - Situated at the Northern tip of the island, is a perfect place to relax, have a family BBQ or go swimming at the sandy beach or swimming enclosure.
# Macleay Island Walk Trail is about 24km in length. Macleay Island Walk Map
# Macleay Island has a few beaches; the foreshore is mostly mud and mangrove, there is little public land along the foreshore. Both the Lions Park at the southern end of the island and the small park and tidal swimming enclosure close to the barge ramp and jetty at the northern end, have barbecue and toilet facilities close by. The outstanding feature of the island is its vast wetlands areas, but there are no established walking tracks or nature trails to view them. These wetlands also mean that the island has a big summer population of mosquitoes and midges. However, they are a part of a rich food chain that attracts thousands of migratory birds and crowds the waters with fish and crabs.
# Picnic at one of the parks or swim at one of the many safe sheltered beaches around the island or in the inland waterways. Options include:-
- Pat’s Park - Situated at the Northern end of the island, has a swimming enclosure, public toilets, BBQ and a children’s playground and you can enjoy panoramic bay views..
- Thompson’s Point - Situated at the end of Wharf street, is a great spot for fishing.
- Corroborree Place - A pebble beach with deep water, BBQ, a great spot for deep water mooring and has a children’s playground.
- Grants Beach - Situated at the corner of Dalpura Street and Cooroborree Drive has a sheltered white sandy beach.
- Sandpiper Beach - Situated at the end of Undine Street, this is another white sandy beach.
- Pott’s Point - Situated at the Northern tip of the island, is a perfect place to relax, have a family BBQ or go swimming at the sandy beach or swimming enclosure.
# Fishing is extremely popular on Macleay Island, from the beach, the headlands or a boat. There are four boat ramps on MacLeay Island, at Brighton Road, Dalpura Street, Kallara Street and Kooberry Street.
# Canoe on the calm, sheltered waters of Moreton Bay
# Throughout the year dolphins, turtles and dugong are also seen in Moreton Bay.
# Birdwatching on Macleay Island is very popular, both from the beach and in the inland mangroves, where migratory species gather each year.
There are several places to dine on Macleay Island, whatever your favourite foods, you'll find plenty of options on Macleay Island. Two licensed clubs provide entertainment and bistro facilities, as well there are several other eating venues.
Macleay Island's Aboriginal name is "Jencoomercha" and it was regarded as an Aboriginal meeting place with spiritual importance. There is also evidence that it was treated as a place of sanctuary between island and mainland inhabitants.
The island took its original European name from Tim O’Shea, a convict who lived alone on the island for 14 years. It was later renamed in honour of Alexander Macleay, who was the NSW Colonial Secretary from 1825 to 1837. The island was first settled by Europeans in 1866, when John Campbell was granted a lease on the northern end of the island closely followed by John Willes and his family. Farmers and oystermen were the first full-time inhabitants, but with the arrival of the Jackson family in 1906, a small village was created on the western side of the island called Jacksonville, that had a sawmill, pineapple canning factory, jetty and even a picture theatre.
Macleay Islands recent history is possibly best known for the infamous land scams of the early 1970s, when many of the islands farms were divided into over 20,000 house blocks. At the time, the island, with a population of less than 500, did not have a local authority enforcing planning regulations. Heavily advertised and sold off by unscrupulous vendors, these blocks were often not where the unwary customers thought they were buying. It all rode on the vague promise of a bridge from the National Party government at the time. Media reports exposing the scam pointed to blocks that were underwater at high tide and the lack of public land. Thousands were duped and still smart today when rates notices arrive. Privately owned properties have reduced to about 15,000 as many owners have forfeited their land back to the council. It is bitter and unwanted heritage that the islanders and the Redland Council, who were appointed to take over the island, have tried to untangle ever since.
Whatever your favourite sport, you'll find plenty of options on Macleay Island. There is a Golf Club, and
Macleay Island Bowls Club has possibly the most spectacular bay views of any Bowls Club in Queensland!
North Macleay Island Events Calendar for 2008
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