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Interesting history
South Stradbroke was up until around 1870 inhabited by at least three different tribes of aborigines, the Keonpal, the Tchunda and Yoocum. All were nomadic and used South Stradbroke Island as part of their yearly migratory route. The island boasted plentiful food such as fish, shellfish, turtles, wallabies, snakes, lizards, spiny anteaters, bandicoots, as well as fruits, roots and native honey. After the separation of North Stradbroke and South Stradbroke islands through the Jumpin Pin Bar, the nomadic progress of the aborigines to South Stradbroke was halted. Their contact with whites as well as an outbreak of smallpox and consumption contributed to the extinction of these tribes from South Stradbroke Island around 1887 to 1900. When South Stradbroke was first settled by Europeans, it's use was very unlike that of today. Rather than recreation, the island was, from around 1889 until 1970, used and settled for the purpose of commerce. The islands riches were exploited by industries such as tree felling, fishing, oysters, rearing of cattle and sheep and even sand mining. We may be thankful to groups of concerned local citizens that South Stradbroke will and has since 1971 remained a place for us and our families to enjoy. Shipwrecks of South Stradbroke Island Two large ships were wrecked in the waters of South Stradbroke in the 19th Century, though many lesser tragedies have occurred on the hazardous Southport and Jumpin Pin bars. The first was that of the Scottish Prince, a barque of 950 tonnes which ran aground on the Southport Bar without loss of life. The scene described and published by one onlooker was that of a bargain fete; sewing machines, cases of beer, whisky, cornflour, mousetraps, sweets, enough blankets to have clothed about half of Brisbane were washed up on shore. Looters arrived by the boatload and it is said that even today, with the ever shifting sands, that many a case of whisky is still buried along the beach. The second notable wreck was of the barque Cambus Wallace, wrecked on 3rd September, 1894. Although she was wrecked only two hundred yards offshore, five men perished in the wild waters. Her cargo included a quantity of explosives, which was later ignited. The explosion is thought to have had some effect on weakening the narrow sand spit at Tulbeen, which gave way four years later. Other mystery wrecks have surfaced over the years, but most were proven to be only local cargo hulls.
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South
Stradbroke Island Resort
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Until 1898,
South Stradbroke and North Stradbroke Islands were one.
