Fig Tree Pocket

History of Brisbane's Fig Tree Pocket

Fig Tree Pocket's history has been compiled by local historian, Lesley Jenkins, as part of the BRISbites community history project.

Aboriginal history

The Jagera and Turrbal groups occupied land in the Brisbane and Ipswich areas. The exact boundaries are not known, however, the Turrbal generally occupied the area north of the Brisbane River. Both groups had closely related languages, which are classified as belonging to the larger Yaggera language group.

The rich plant and aquatic life in Fig Tree Pocket's creeks and rivers provided the area's Aboriginal people with abundant resources. Food sources included fish and ducks, which were trapped at Cubberla Creek using nets, and wallabies and kangaroos. Grassed areas were regularly burnt - this attracted wallabies and kangaroos to the new plant growth.

Urban development

The logs in the Fig Tree Pocket area were removed by timbergetters, who used the Brisbane River to transport logs downstream to the sawmills. This opened up the area allowing settlers to move in.

The settlers began farming and soon developed a community. Bananas, grapes, corn, potatoes, maize and arrowroot were grown on small farms in the area. Sugar cane was also planted, but proved to be unsuccessful due to heavy frost in 1870. In 1871 a public school was built to service the growing community.

However growth in the area was limited until land subdivision occurred in the 1950s. Better roads and greater vehicle ownership made access to the suburb easier and the suburb became a highly desirable one.

Notable residents

The O'Brien family has a long association with Fig Tree Pocket. Three O'Brien brothers migrated from Ireland in 1863 and James and William settled in Fig Tree Pocket.

James became the keeper of the lights that marked the dangerous shoals at Seventeen Mile Rocks. His son, Felix, took over his father's light keeping duties in 1922 and remained in the job until 1961. The rocks were blasted away in 1968.

Kenny Street is named after the Kenny family. James Kenny provided sand taken from the lower end of his property which was channeled with sand pits. Various members of the family worked for Hayles Cruises and the cement barges travelling downstream from the Darra Cement Plant.

Landmarks

The Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary opened in 1927. Dedicated to the preservation of Australian wildlife , it is the first, and the largest, koala sanctuary in the world.

The Brisbane Montessori School is located on seven hectares of land at Fig Tree pocket. It is Australia's largest Montessori School, with 260 pupils.

A local family founded the Fig Tree Pocket Pony Club in 1974. Initially, the club used a paddock belonging to the Lone Pine Sanctuary, before moving to their present location in Fig Tree Pocket Road.

Fig Tree Pocket was named for the large fig tree that grew in the area. It was said to be so large that it could shelter a herd of cattle. A 1.6 hectares reserve was created around the fig tree, but it died in the 1890s. Reasons for the tree's death have been attributed to the 1893 flood, excavation for sand, a grass fire and housing developments. The reserve is now used for recreational purposes.

Reference: Lesley Jenkins, BRISbites, 2000

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