With sadness we left the Gold Coast early on Saturday morning, we all agreed that we could have spent another week there relaxing and holidaying. We did not even manage to get to a theme park while we were there, such as Movie World, Sea World, Wet N Wild, some of the areas main attractions.

We headed North through Brisbane to the Redcliffe Peninsular about 20km North East of the City looking out over Moreton Bay to Moreton Island. This area is probably not that well known with most travellers although people from Brisbane do come to the area for fishing, boating and the beach. We came here because in 1957 my Dad and Grandparents actually emigrated to Australia and lived in Woody Point a small suburb of Redcliffe. They only stayed for about 2 years and as my Dad was so young he doesn't remember all that much, so we thought we should have a look around seeing as it was a home from home 50 years ago.

We arrived at bramble bay over the Horton Highway bridge which ran parallel to the now disused Hornibrook highway bridge. Our first stop was at the visitor centre to see if we could find any information on the area and to get some maps to help us along the way. We were told that there was a museum in Redcliffe, but before we headed there we stopped for lunch in Woody Point centre. We sat outside at a cafe as it was boiling hot, the area was part of a larger building. It was a hotel with bar, cafe, where we were, restaurant and a buffet restaurant. The other shops in the street consisted of a newsagents and bakery, that was pretty much the lot. We looked out over Woody Point beach, but the tide was way out so it did not look all that spectacular, the area also looked down towards the industrial area of the Port of Brisbane again a bit of an eye-sore. The jetty was also closed as there was some building work being completed, a monster apartment block right on the Point. When we arrived my Dad said that there was a shipwreck here that he remembered as a child, we all looked a bit confused as he had never mentioned this before. Sure enough as we turned the corner we saw a sign for the Gayundah wreck, 250m ahead. We were all amazed including Dad who said it had just come to him. We stopped the car and got out to have a look. Lying out on the beach just below us was a ship that had obviously come aground, it was half in the water and was just a rusting shell. Dad said it was as he remembered except it had been pounded by the sea and was smaller than it had been.

We drove on in search of Humpybong Primary School where my Uncle had gone, my Dad was too young. From Woody Point the road went along the shore past the Gayundah coastal arboretum and down a hill towards the Scotts Point and the beach. We shot straight past the school, so decided to carry on to the Museum and take a look at the school on the way back. In the museum we were directed to see a short video first, which explained the history of the area and how is was one of the first areas to be settled by Europeans and how the aboriginal community that had lived there for thousands of years suffered after the settlement. It was not long though and the Settlers found a better place to settle, Brisbane and they just left the area, which is why the aboriginals named it humpybong - deserted buildings. The displays showed the growth of the area and explained that much of the land was owned by a local minister, who then sold the land off as plots. It was not until the 1960's (just after my family left the area) that it started to have growth spurt and become a bustling area. Some famous people have also come from Redcliffe, the Bee Gees moved to the area when they were young and Redcliffe has also produced a number of athletes. One of the displays caught Dads eye when we were there, this was on Blue Care, formerly Blue Nursing. The cabinet has a photograph in it of some nurses in uniforms and with hats on, it looked as if they were standing outside a building. My Dad said that he had seen a photograph like that at home, with my Grandad in and a row of nurses with similar uniforms. So we read on Blue Nursing was established in 1953 out of Christian concern for people in the community, who were aged, frail or had a disability.

It went on to say that there were little funds and the nurses had to use public transport to get around until later that year a car was donated, this was later traded in and through generosity the fleet grew. This then all started to click, my Granddads' job while they lived in Woody Point was as an ambulance driver for the disabled, so we are again assuming he worked for Blue Nursing. When we left the museum it was very weird, I think that we had been expecting to see some proof that they had actually been there, perhaps a photo or some information on emigrating £10 POMS!! We drove in to Redcliffe Centre which is right on the beach and has a pier out into Moreton Bay. We stopped at the Visitor Centre in search of somewhere to stay for the evening, we found out that is was a bank holiday weekend and also that there was a country music festival in a town a bit further North called Caboulture, so accommodation options were slim. We were given a B&B to have a look at. As we made our way back down the parade to Woody Point, we stopped at Ella Street so that I could have my photo taken with the sign post! Then on to Humpybong School, which was closed as it was the weekend, but we had a look around the outside, it was pretty big and had a few buildings. Dad remembers a courtyard, but we couldn't get in to the grounds to have a proper look.

My Dad remembers that there were steep roads that led down to the beach and that the house that he lived in was wooden and raised off of the ground on wooden stilts. These type of houses are called Queenslanders and are found all over the state and there are still a lot that remain in the Woody Point suburb. South from the School there are about 3 roads that lead down to the beach that have quite a steep dip to them, so we assume that it is one of these streets that Dad remembers and that Margate beach is where he used to play and my Grandad fished from with his home made fishing rod.

We went to the B&B, which backed on to Hays Inlet, the rooms were fine for the night so we booked in and watched some TV in the communal lounge/kitchen area. Another English couple were there so we had a chat to them about emigrating as they had just packed up and left home. they were travelling around until they decided on a place to settle or return home. We were all quite worn out so decided that we would get a takeaway for dinner. The shops we close by and there was lots of choice, including an Indian, but we all strongly disagreed with that choice after the disaster in the Gold Coast. Mum and I got a Pizza Hut Pizza to share and Wayne and Dad had Noodle boxes, we grabbed some beer and wine and went back to eat, drink and watch TV.

My Dad remembers that there were steep roads that led down to the beach and that the house that he lived in was wooden and raised off of the ground on wooden stilts. These type of houses are called Queenslanders and are found all over the state and there are still a lot that remain in the Woody Point suburb. South from the School there are about 3 roads that lead down to the beach that have quite a steep dip to them, so we assume that it is one of these streets that Dad remembers and that Margate beach is where he used to play and my Grandad fished from with his home made fishing rod.

We went to the B&B, which backed on to Hays Inlet, the rooms were fine for the night so we booked in and watched some TV in the communal lounge/kitchen area. Another English couple were there so we had a chat to them about emigrating as they had just packed up and left home. they were travelling around until they decided on a place to settle or return home. We were all quite worn out so decided that we would get a takeaway for dinner. The shops we close by and there was lots of choice, including an Indian, but we all strongly disagreed with that choice after the disaster in the Gold Coast. Mum and I got a Pizza Hut Pizza to share and Wayne and Dad had Noodle boxes, we grabbed some beer and wine and went back to eat, drink and watch TV.