Bulwer, Queensland

Bulwer is a small town and locality at the north-western end of Moreton Island within the City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.[2][3]

Bulwer
Queensland
One of the scuttled ships on the beach at Bulwer, 2011
Bulwer
Coordinates27.0786°S 153.3697°E / -27.0786; 153.3697
Population49 (2016 census)[1]
 • Density98/km2 (254/sq mi)
Postcode(s)4025
Area0.5 km2 (0.2 sq mi)
LGA(s)City of Brisbane
State electorate(s)Redcliffe
Federal Division(s)Bonner
Suburbs around Bulwer:
Moreton Bay Moreton Island Moreton Island
Moreton Bay Bulwer Moreton Island
Moreton Bay Moreton Island Moreton Island

Geography

Bulwer is on the north-west coast of Moreton Island facing Moreton Bay It is 40 kilometres (25 mi) to the Brisbane central business district. It is one of the few developed areas on Moreton Island which is almost entirely national park (Moreton Island National Park). It consists of a few streets of housing and a long sandy beach. There are no formal road connections to Bulwer, but there are dirt tracks that connect it to other parts of the island.[4]

History
James Palmer, pilot station keeper at the pilot station house at Bulwer, 1908

Bulwer was probably named after Lord Edward Bulwer-Lytton (1803-1873) who was Secretary of State for the Colonies from 1858 to 1859.[3] The British Colonial Secretary separated Queensland from New South Wales in 1859 and made Sir George Bowen its first Governor.

In August 1848, the maritime pilot station on Moreton Bay was moved from Amity Point on the northerly tip of North Stradbroke Island to Bulwer.[5] In 1863 land was offered for sale at Bulwer for the first time, contesting of 36 lots each of 2 roods with 25 sold.[5][6][7]

Cricket match at Bulwer State School, Queensland, 1899. Group of children playing cricket in the grounds of Bulwer State School, on Moreton Island, in 1899. The teacher's residence is next to the school.

In November 1865 a school and teacher's residence were erected but a teacher had not been appointed. The families of the staff of the pilot station were the principal residents at that time.[8] That school opened in 1866-1867.[9][10]

In April 1875, the Queensland Government set aside 2 roods for a government school (suggesting the previous school was operated privately).[11] Moreton Island State School opened circa 1876 and was renamed Bulwer State School in 1878. In 1891 it was downgraded to a provisional school, but restored to state school status in 1895.[12]

Landing a boat at Bulwer, 1906

In November 1909 it was decided that the pilots and their families would live in Brisbane, with the pilots being based on a steamer in the Yellow Patch (the part of Moreton Bay to the north of Moreton Island near the entrance to the shipping channel to Brisbane) when on duty; the pilots approved the plan.[13][14] The state school was closed in 1909 when the pilots' families ceased to live on the island.[12]

In the 1930s, three ships were scuttled in the area to form a harbour for small boats. The first on 8 May 1933 was the 337-ton steamer Hopewell formerly owned by timber merchants Hyne & Son of Maryborough.[15] The second on 10 May 1933 was the 716-ton Mount Kembla. The third in September 1935 was the Kallatina, a 646 ton passenger and cargo ship owned by John Edward Burke which operated a route from Brisbane through to the Gulf of Carpentaria.[16][17][18] Although the intention was to provide a safe harbour, during a storm in July 1938 the 35-foot motor launch Achilles struck the half-sunken Mount Kembla and sank within 15 minutes, the 12 men on board Achilles climbed onto the Mount Kembla until they were rescued by Robert Alexander Gow in his dinghy.[19]

At the 2006 census, Bulwer had a population of 70.[20]

Transport

Bulwer is accessible from Brisbane on the mainland via the Micat Barge service. It is one of the main access points for visitors to the island, 98% of which is in the Moreton Island National Park.

Facilities

Facilities at Bulwer include a helipad and first aid station as well as holiday accommodation, a general store and public phone.

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References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Bulwer (State Suburb)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  2. "Bulwer - town in City of Brisbane (entry 5168)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  3. "Bulwer - locality in City of Brisbane (entry 49458)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  4. "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  5. "Moreton Island Timeline". Archived from the original on 24 July 2017. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  6. "LOCAL INTELLIGENCE". The Courier (Brisbane). XVII (1541). Queensland, Australia. 17 January 1863. p. 4. Retrieved 27 February 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. "COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE". The Courier (Brisbane). XVII (1573). Queensland, Australia. 26 February 1863. p. 2. Retrieved 28 February 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. "WEEKLY EPITOME". The Brisbane Courier. XX (2, 443). Queensland, Australia. 25 November 1865. p. 5. Retrieved 28 February 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. "QUEENSLAND PRIMARY SCHOOLS". Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald And General Advertiser. VI (812). Queensland, Australia. 15 August 1867. p. 3. Retrieved 28 February 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. "MORETON ISLAND.—I". The Brisbane Courier. LV (12, 807). Queensland, Australia. 28 January 1899. p. 4. Retrieved 28 February 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. "Official Notifications". The Brisbane Courier. XXIX (2, 466). Queensland, Australia. 12 April 1875. p. 3. Retrieved 28 February 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
  13. "BULWER PILOT STATION". The Brisbane Courier. LXVI (16, 167). Queensland, Australia. 4 November 1909. p. 5. Retrieved 28 February 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. "BULWER PILOT STATION". The Week. LXVIII (1, 768). Queensland, Australia. 12 November 1909. p. 14. Retrieved 28 February 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  15. "VALE! HOPEWELL". Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay And Burnett Advertiser (19, 417). Queensland, Australia. 21 January 1933. p. 12. Retrieved 28 February 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  16. "LAST OF THE KALLATINA". The Courier-mail (637). Queensland, Australia. 13 September 1935. p. 6. Retrieved 28 February 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  17. "THE KALLATINA". Townsville Daily Bulletin. LVII (221). Queensland, Australia. 16 September 1935. p. 9. Retrieved 28 February 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  18. "Port's Best Entrances". The Courier-mail (648). Queensland, Australia. 26 September 1935. p. 12. Retrieved 28 February 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  19. "LAUNCH SUNK IN BAY". The Courier-mail (1510). Queensland, Australia. 5 July 1938. p. 3. Retrieved 28 February 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  20. Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Bulwer (Brisbane City) (State Suburb)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 30 April 2011.
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