History and heritage | Redland City Council
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History and heritage

Wellington Point cropped
Wellington Point Beach, 1915

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Becoming Redland City

Becoming Redland City - Local Government

Photo of the marina at Cleveland

When Moreton Bay was opened to settlement from 1842, free settlers began to move to the Redlands Coast. At first all the land from Ormiston south through Mount Cotton and Redland Bay to the Logan River was leased to grazier Joseph Clark, who ran cattle on the land. The first land sales in the region were held in 1851, and Clark soon relinquished the lease.  New land owners had to clear their land, so timber and saw-milling was a major early industry. Crops gradually replaced grazing. And for the next 100 years, most people who lived in the Redlands Coast region were farmers or fishermen on the mainland and Islands.

In 1885 the Cleveland Divisional Board, later renamed Cleveland Shire Council, was formed, and soon built its new office on a site that was by then surrounded by farmland, which had curtailed the traditional Quandamooka ways of life in the area. For countless years the site had been a hub for corroborees, trading and celebrations on the shores of Raby Bay (Doobawah) with hundreds of people meeting there. This old Shire Hall building was still in use in 1949 when Cleveland Shire Council merged with parts of Tingalpa Shire Council to form the Redland Shire Council.  A wing was added at that time, then in 1969 it was replaced by a new brick building.  In 2008 the Shire was granted City status, and today its extended building is still an important meeting place, continuing the age-old use of the land upon which it sits.

Our crest and logo

The Council Crest

RCC Crest

The Council Crest was commissioned in 1976, when then Shire Chairman EG Wood wrote to the Duke of Norfolk. He in turn ordered its preparation by the representatives of the Garter, Clarenceaux and Norroy and Ulster Kings of Arms, who sealed the design as belonging exclusively to Redland Shire Council (sic) on July 8, 1977.

Each section of the crest has a meaning: 

  • the tree at the top - represents the Poinciana trees which grow in the area
  • the ship - represents Matthew Flinders' Sloop, the 'Norfolk', in which he explored the southern part of Moreton Bay in 1799
  • the lighthouse - is the old Cleveland Lighthouse, which was a landmark and a working light until it was replaced in February, 1976. Redland City Council has preserved this lighthouse at Cleveland Point. The old light from the top is now housed at the Council Chambers. The lens was made in England by Chance Brothers and Company, near Birmingham, England, in 1875
  • the island in the background - represents North Stradbroke Island
  • Gladiolus spikes in the lower portion - represent the Shire's strong horticultural base and the cornucopia is discharging a colourful array of fruit and vegetables which have been traditionally grown in the Redlands
  • Latin inscription at the foot of the crest - means 'Crescat' May it Grow - 'Floreat' May it Flourish.

Redland City Council logo

Redland City Council Logo

This council logo was adopted in 1995 as part of Vision 2005, a community consultation process which developed a blueprint for the future growth of the Redlands.

The logo showcases the aspects of our area that Redlanders say they treasure most:

  • clean air
  • islands
  • foreshore
  • bushland
  • sailboats to celebrate the bayside lifestyle.

The Redlands' rich wildlife is depicted by the koala - cleverly formed from the other design elements.

Corporate colours

The logo colours have great meaning to the local community:

  • red for the red soil and Poinciana blossoms.
  • green for our abundant bushland
  • blue for beautiful Moreton Bay
  • yellow for our extensive foreshores.

Our visual identity presents a progressive and forward-looking organisation through the use of striking colours and clean, contemporary lines.

Heritage trails

Take a walk or drive along our local heritage trails to discover our city's rich historic locations.

Take a walk or drive through Cleveland and Ormiston and visit over 35 historic locations, including:

  • Ormiston House
  • Black Swamp Wetlands
  • Cleveland Cemetery
  • Redland Museum
  • Cleveland Rifle Range
  • Grand View Hotel
  • Norfolk Island Pines
  • Fig trees
  • Court House Restaurant
  • Cleveland Point
  • and more.

Map of the Cleveland and Ormiston heritage trail [PDF, 882KB]

Please note: In July 2017 the Station Master's House was relocated from 204 Middle Street to Linear Park at 120 Shore Street North (beside the Redland City Lions Hall and Old Schoolhouse Gallery).

The North Stradbroke Island heritage trail covers 30 historic locations within the island suburbs of Dunwich, Amity Point and Point Lookout.

Along the trail you'll discover sites including:

  • Convict causeway
  • Anzac Park
  • North Stradbroke Island Historical Museum
  • Benevolent Asylum cottages
  • Polka Point Midden and draughts board
  • Dunwich Cemetery
  • Former Aboriginal Mission (Terra Bulla Leumeah Conservation area)
  • Myora Springs (Capembah)
  • Cook's seat
  • Point Lookout Lighthouse
  • and more.

Map of the North Stradbroke Island heritage trail [PDF, 2.7MB]

Visit the 11 locations along the Coochiemudlo Island heritage trail to take in:

  • Island transport
  • Pioneer Park
  • Scar trees
  • Norfolk Beach
  • Melaleuca wetlands
  • Morwong Beach
  • Track and observation lookout
  • Morton's steps and jetty
  • Flinders Lookout
  • Coochimudlo Island Community Hall
  • Golf Course.

Map of the Coochiemudlo Island heritage trail [PDF, 801KB]

The Lamb Island heritage trail covers the following historic locations:

  • Lamb Island jetty shed
  • Thomas Lucas grave
  • Mango trees and farmhouse
  • Lamb Island Pioneer Hall
  • Harry Brook Reserve, house and farm buildings.

Map of the Lamb Island heritage trail [PDF, 801KB]

The Macleay Island heritage trail covers 11 historic locations, including:

  • Ron Field Marine Facility
  • Progress Hall
  • Campbell's saltworks
  • Arboretum
  • Perrebinpa Point
  • Tim Shea's waterhole
  • Thompson's Point
  • Pat's Park
  • Cow Bay
  • Lovell's house
  • Corroboree Place and Lions Park.

Map of the Macleay Island heritage trail [PDF, 801KB]

The Russell Island heritage trail covers 12 historic locations, including:

  • Russell Island jetty
  • St Peter's Parish Hall
  • Jock Kennedy Park
  • Farm
  • Russell Island State School 
  • Laurel Street
  • Bowls club, fire station, Hans Shcultz Green
  • Jackson ville
  • RSL
  • Canaipa Point
  • Mrs Fischer's grave
  • Rocky Point
  • Lions Park.

Map of the Russell Island heritage trail [PDF, 801KB]

Local heritage places

Redland City Council has formally identified a range of historic heritage places that represent important themes and phases relevant to Redlands' post-European settlement history, which are considered to have local or regional importance. These places are entered onto Council's Local Heritage Register (Schedule 7 – Heritage schedule) in City Plan. You can access the City Plan and its accompanying documents to see what places are currently included.

To assist community members, and property owners of a heritage place, to understand how places of local heritage significance contribute to the identity of Redlands Coast, a series of fact sheets have been prepared:

Any person or organisation may nominate a place for inclusion in Council's Local Heritage Register. Read Entering a local heritage place into a local heritage register [PDF, 0.3MB] to find more about the nomination process and how to request an amendment or removal of a place from the Local Heritage Register.  

General Exemption Certificate - Local Heritage Places

The Chief Executive Officer of Redland City Council has issued a General Exemption Certificate - Local Heritage Place (the GEC).  The GEC is designed to authorise specific types of work that will not have an impact on the significance of a local heritage place, eliminating the need for an approval application.  In addition, the GEC also outlines other common maintenance activities that are not classified as development but must be carried out in a manner that does not impact the cultural heritage significance of a place.  

Typical work captured by the GEC includes (but is not limited to):

  • Minor repairs to damaged or deteriorated building material that can no longer be conserved.
  • Installation of new or replacement water tanks.
  • Installation of solar panels.
  • Painting.
  • Cleaning and maintenance.

All work must be conducted in compliance with the conditions specified in the GEC.  If you are uncertain whether the proposed works are covered by the GEC, please contact Council on (07) 3829 8999.

The GEC can be accessed here.  

Local Heritage Incentive Scheme

Redland City Council has developed a local heritage incentives package designed to provide financial and advisory support to impacted landholders.  The purpose of the incentives package is to encourage and support landholders of local heritage places to undertake works that will protect, conserve and enhance the heritage significant aspects of these places.  The incentives package includes the following key features:

Local heritage grants

Funding up to $5,000 is available to successful applicants.  Grants are available in two categories:

  • Funds towards works that serve to protect, restore or reinstate local heritage values; and
  • Funds towards professional heritage consultancy services (20% financial cash contribution up to $1,000 required).

Application forms are completed via Council's online portal SmartyGrants.  You can locate further details on eligibility requirements, application requirements and the application form here.  Application rounds will remain open unless funds have been exhausted.

Heritage advisory service

Council offers owners of local heritage places across Redlands Coast free access to a heritage advisor. The heritage advisor can assist with specialist conservation advice to help affected landowners understand the approval process and the obligations for making and managing changes to a local heritage place.

If you would like to request an appointment with Council’s heritage advisor, please contact the Strategic Planning Unit on rcc@redland.qld.gov.au or by telephone (07) 3829 8999.

Related links

  • Redlands Coast history - Find online images, stories and timelines that will help you to discover the rich and sometimes surprising history of the Redlands Coast.
  • Our Quandamooka Origins - About our region's rich Indigenous heritage
  • Place names - Our towns and suburbs, our islands, creeks, parks, streets and homes all have a story to tell.