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Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

For the 10th Anniversary in 1973 the toll was still in force, but by the 20th Anniversary in 1983 the toll had been lifted and a major celebration was held in conjunction with the “Bribie Island Festival” organised by the Lions Club, who sold “Passports” to the Island as a fundraiser.

In 1988 a “Silver Jubilee Carnival” was held for 25 years, together with a special edition of the local newspaper, and a souvenir T-shirt was produced. The 30-year anniversary in 1993 was held in conjunction with a “Bribie Aquatic Festival”.

Description source:
Bribie Island History

View the original image at Queensland State Archives:
Digital Image ID 16960

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Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

Bribie residents were outraged at the expensive toll and threatened to boycott or disrupt the opening ceremony. The opening day was however a big success, with large crowds and processions of floats, horse drawn carts, vintage cars, marching bands and hundreds of vehicles driving to the island for the first time. It was so busy that the bridge was declared “One-Way” on to Bribie in the morning, and then “One-Way” off in the afternoon.

The “Bribie Star” local newspaper of the day produced a special complimentary souvenir edition documenting some fascinating history of the island by many of the pioneer residents.

Description source:
Bribie Island History

View the original image at Queensland State Archives:
Digital Image ID 16958

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Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

There had been an expectation that Bribie residents would not have to pay the toll, and eventually they did get a small concession. Books of tickets for multiple crossings could be purchased at a small discount and there was an exemption for Ambulance, Fire Brigade, Royal mail and Government vehicles.

14,000 cars crossed the bridge in the first week it was open, paying 7000 pounds to the two toll collectors, who were each on an annual salary of 5000 pounds. Many of the new visitors were very disappointed with inadequate parking facilities and amenities on the island, and may never have returned.

In the first two years of the new bridge over 300,000 cars crossed over, but population growth was much lower than anticipated reaching just 2000 by 1975 when the toll was lifted.

Description source:
Bribie Island History

View the original image at Queensland State Archives:
Digital Image ID 16959

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Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

The Bridge was opened by Premier Frank Nicklin on 19th October 1963 and was the longest precast pre-stressed concrete bridge in Australia. The complex construction had involved driving 206 piles, weighing 12 ton each, laying 38 spans of concrete beams to span the 832-metre length.

Just weeks before the opening an expensive Toll was announced, to be paid by all vehicles coming to the island. The 10-shilling Toll was a significant cost and came as a complete surprise, people were very disappointed, and it impacted growth and development for some time. Better roads and increased car ownership had led to a population growth on both the Gold and Sunshine Coasts, but this did not immediately eventuate on Bribie Island.

In 1963 the 10 Shilling Bridge Toll would have paid the cost of petrol to drive a car from Brisbane to the Gold Coast and back, and you

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Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

Bribie Island’s position midway between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast makes it an easy stop for tourists, who can be sunning on the beach less than an hour-and-a-half after leaving the Brisbane Airport.

Bribie Island remains the only Moreton Bay Island to be connected to the mainland by road. The building of the 831m bridge to Bribie Island half a century ago took two years of work and was considered an engineering marvel at the time, being the longest pre-stressed, pre-cast concrete bridge in Australia.

Construction of the Bribie Island bridge was not without controversy. Locals feared outsiders would trample the island’s natural beauty. Today, it is fairly well accepted that Bribie Island’s attractions make it a tourist drawcard. Each New Year’s Eve, tens of thousands arrive to watch the bridge illuminated by fireworks busting over the Pumicestone Passage. The fireworks display is considered one of the

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Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

The Bribie Bridge has made it possible for everyone from day trippers to international tourists to easily explore the island and take in its still largely underrated beaches. Few would dispute, however, that Bribie Island has managed to retain its small seaside village feel and escape the glitzy, commercialisation of some parts of the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast.

Change over the decades has occurred, but has been far from radical or swift. A visitor to the island can return to the same ice-cream store for a double-scoop cone ice-cream on the beach that they did 30 years ago, eat fish and chips from the same eatery on the beach or catch a movie from the same small tin shed picture theatre. There are also plenty of new cafes and restaurants to choose from, including gourmet pizza and al fresco dining.

The opening of the bridge not

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Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

Student Fun In Procession

Brisbane, May 5. – The annual University Commemoration Day procession through the city streets to-day was one of the brightest shows the students have staged.

There were 30 floats. Crowds estimated at 30,000 gave a delighted reception to the show.

The Golden Casket Commission and the M.L.A. for Kedron, Mr. Bruce Pie, were mildly lampooned in one float. “Spruce Bruce, the loose Papoose” was shown in his bath tub.

“Flying saucer – the only one in captivity – just for Mother’s Day” was the label on a large awkward object of wood and white paper dangling from one truck.

The “Red Dean” of Canterbury (Dr. Hewlett Johnson) was represented by a gawky figure in a red flowing gown, placarded as the “Red Bean.”

Aly Khan and Rita Hayworth, Ingrid Bergman and Roberto Rosselini, and the recently proposed investigation into Hollywood’s morals were all featured. “Can you do

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