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Southern Moreton Bay Islands

Nickname: SMBI, Bay Islands, or RKLM
A satellite view from the southwest of south Moreton Bay, Queensland. Labelled are the many islands created from the outflow of the Logan River behind the barrier of North and South Stradbroke Islands.
SMBILocation of the Bay Islands in Queensland
Geography
Location	Moreton Bay
Coordinates	27°38′S 153°23′E / 27.633°S 153.383°E / -27.633; 153.383
Major islands	Karragarra Island Lamb Island Russell Island Macleay Island
Administration
Australia
State	Queensland
Region	South East Queensland
Local government area	Redland City
Demographics
Population	6,153 (2016 census)

The Southern Moreton Bay Islands, abbreviated as SMBI, also known as the Bay Islands, are the four inhabited southern Moreton Bay islands located in South East Queensland, Australia. The group is part of the Redland City with a permanent population of 7,635 as of the 2021 census (up from 6,153 in the 2016 census). However, nearly one-third of all dwellings on the islands were unoccupied, suggesting a high proportion of "second homes" that are owned by people who were elsewhere on the night of the census.

Geography

Tiny Perulpa Island is joined by a causeway to Macleay and is generally regarded as part of Macleay.

The inhabited Southern Moreton Bay Islands are mostly surrounded by the Southern Moreton Bay Islands National Park, which is also located within Redland City.

History

The population of the four inhabited Bay Islands in 2006:

• Karragarra, 125
• Lamb, 373
• Russell, 1,776
• Macleay, population 1,957

The population of the four inhabited Bay Islands in 2016:

• Karragarra, 204
• Lamb, 432
• Russell, 2,836
• Macleay, population 2,681

The population of the four inhabited Bay Islands in 2021:

• Karragarra, 240
• Lamb, 504
• Russell, 3,698
• Macleay, population 3,193

Originally subdivided in the early 1970s, a bridge was promised by the then government. This never eventuated and residents are now feeling the pressure of transport to the mainland for some shopping trips, as mainland parking has become very scarce.

Heritage listings

Lamb Island has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

• Lamb Island Pioneer Hall, Lucas Drive
• Mango Trees planted over 100 years ago, Tina Avenue
• Jetty Shed which has been restored by the local island community group and was used for loading local produce onto the merchant boats

Macleay Island has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

• Industrial Ruins, Macleay Island, Cliff Terrace

Transportation

The islands have a frequent scheduled vehicle barge provided by Stradbroke Ferries and fast passenger ferries services provided by Bay Islands Transit, leaving from Redland Bay. Passenger services from Redland Bay to the islands were added to the Translink network in 2013, allowing passengers to use go cards to ride the ferries.

Telecommunications

The National Broadband Network became available on the islands in June 2020, in both fibre to the curb and fibre to the node, depending on the street.

See also

• List of islands of Queensland

References

1. "Russell, Karragarra, Lamb and Macleay". Australian Bureau of Census. 2006. Archived from the original on 28 May 2022. Retrieved 28 November 2008.
2. "Redland (C)" (PDF). Queensland Local Government Areas (LGA), 2011. Queensland Government. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 28 October 2013.
3. "Search Census data | Australian Bureau of Statistics". www.abs.gov.au. Archived from the original on 15 April 2023. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
4. "A population boom is changing these islands, but locals say there is no long-term plan". ABC News. 11 August 2022. Archived from the original on 22 October 2023. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
5. "Lamb Island Pioneer Hall (entry 601493)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
6. ^ "Schedule 4 - Heritage Places Register". Redland City Council. Archived from the original on 4 February 2015. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
7. "Lamb Island". Archived from the original on 4 February 2015. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
8. "Industrial Ruins, south end of Macleay Island (entry 601062)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
9. Kerr, Judith (17 December 2012). "Bay islands added to Translink network". Brisbane Times. Archived from the original on 29 February 2020. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
10. Whitlock, Stacey (30 June 2020). "National broadband network switched on for Coochiemudlo, North Stradbroke and Southern Moreton Bay islands". Redland City Bulletin. Archived from the original on 9 July 2020. Retrieved 9 July 2020.

External links

• Community information regarding SMBI
• Redland City Council Homepage
• Russell Island Wetlands

• Islands of Moreton Bay
• Redland City