Cribb Island was once a lively and unique suburb nestled 16 km north-east of Brisbane’s central business district. Now a distant memory, the island was last listed in Brisbane street directories in 1981, but its history is rich with stories of early settlement, tourism, and the rise of a famous musical family.
Read: Did You Know that the Bee Gees Went to Northgate State School?
The story of Cribb Island begins with John George Cribb, who purchased 150 acres of land there in 1863, primarily for farming purposes.
In 1885, Cribb sold 65 acres of this land to James Jackson, who transformed it into a banana farm. Jackson’s banana plantation flourished, and the area soon became widely known as Jackson’s Estate.
In addition to the banana farm, the remaining land not used by Jackson for cultivation was leased out to livestock farmers. Over time, Jackson’s Estate grew as a key part of the Cribb Island region. Its proximity to the shores of Moreton Bay and its fertile land made it an ideal location for farming.
Though the name suggests an island, Cribb Island was never a true island. It was instead encircled by Jacksons and Serpentine Creeks and was divided into two areas of settlement, connected by Cribb Island Road, which traversed the swampy mudflats of the region.
The first settlement, on the shores of Moreton Bay, was home to a post office (established in 1920) and a Methodist church, while the second, located further inland, housed a primary school (opened in 1919) and recreational reserves.
Despite its somewhat isolated location, Cribb Island was part of a broader area once known as The Serpentine, a vast swamp between the mouths of the Brisbane River and Kedron Brook. This swamp was home to a small Indigenous community of about 50 people, who traded locally caught fish and mud crabs with the early European settlers for bread and potatoes.
Access to the suburb was limited for many years. The only road leading into the area was a floating structure atop logs, which often became impassable due to flooding. In 1914, a more permanent road was built, making the island accessible to standard motor vehicles. By the 1920s, Cribb Island and the neighbouring Jackson’s Estate became popular with tourists, drawn to its proximity to Brisbane and its idyllic seaside setting.
During the 1930s, the population swelled as the suburb became a haven for those struggling during the Great Depression. The island’s low-cost housing and the fishing opportunities in Moreton Bay made it an attractive option for many. By the 1920s, over 250 people called Cribb Island home, and its beach, reminiscent of Nudgee Beach, was a popular spot for locals.
The Gibb Family: From Cribb Island to Global Stardom
Perhaps the most notable chapter in Cribb Island’s history is its connection to the Gibb brothers, better known as the Bee Gees. Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb lived on the island in the early 1960s, enrolling at Cribb Island State School. Barry left in 1960, followed by Robin and Maurice in 1961.
The Gibb family had moved from England to Australia in 1958, settling in Redcliffe then in Cribb Island. The brothers later became famous for their music career, with many of their childhood memories tied to the island’s shores. The family is believed to have lived on Elmslie Street, which today is a place of nostalgia for the residents of the lost suburb.
A Modern Tribute: Remembering Cribb Island at Brisbane Airport
Today, the legacy of Cribb Island is not only preserved in the memories of its former residents but also celebrated in contemporary tributes. The ibis Brisbane Airport hotel, situated on land that once formed part of Cribb Island, embraces this heritage in a unique way. Upon entering the lobby, visitors are greeted by a display of historical images that capture the vibrant past of Cribb Island, offering a visual journey through its storied history. In addition, the hotel’s restaurant—named the Cribb Island Beach Club—serves as a living tribute to the community, keeping its memory alive amidst the modern developments of Brisbane Airport. Read more about the Cribb Island Beach Club here.
However, Cribb Island’s days as a suburban community were numbered. In 1970, the Australian Government began the process of resuming land on the island to make way for the expansion of Brisbane Airport.
At the time, the population was around 900, but over the following decade, the government acquired the land, and most of the residents were forced to leave. The last holdout, a woman who had lived on the island for years, left in 1980, marking the end of Cribb Island as a populated suburb.
In 1986, the Queensland Government officially erased Cribb Island and Lower Nudgee from the map, declaring that no trace of either suburb remained. Today, the area is part of the sprawling Brisbane Airport precinct, and the memory of the suburb lives on only in the stories of those who once called it home.
For many former residents, a Facebook group named “Cribb Island” serves as a virtual meeting place, allowing them to reconnect and share memories of the place that was once their home. The group is a testament to the lasting impact of Cribb Island’s history, even though the suburb itself no longer exists.
Read: Brisbane Airport to Host Australia’s First Hydrogen-Powered Commercial Flights
As Brisbane Airport continues to expand, Cribb Island remains a part of the city’s forgotten history—its beaches, its schools, and its community a memory for those who lived there, including the Bee Gees, who would go on to become global superstars. Cribb Island, though no longer marked on the map, will forever remain in the hearts of those who remember it as a small, close-knit bayside community.
Published 17-February-2025