Richlands

History of Brisbane's Richlands

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Richland's history has been compiled by local historian, Mary Howell, as a part of the BRISbites community history project.

Aboriginal history

This region was the home of the Yerongpan clan of Oxley Creek who spoke the Yaggera dialect of the Turrbal language. Lost cedar cutters, Pamphlet, Finnegan and Parsons were the first white men to make observations these people in 1823. They found two aboriginal canoes tied at the mouth of Oxley Creek (which they named Canoe Creek) for use by those wishing to cross the creek when travelling along the south bank of the Brisbane River.

In 1828 Cunningham and Fraser noted huts in the vicinity of Oxley or Inala. The only evidence of a bora ring is at the end of Kertes Road Camira on the banks of Sandy Creek, which is just outside this study area.

By 1839 it was noted that an aboriginal living near Oxley Creek dying of chronic pulmonary consumption. Tuberculosis and other diseases were rapidly reducing the Aboriginal population of the region. Smallpox had also taken its toll from as early as 1831.

The establishment of the penal colony’s cattle station at Cowper’s (Coopers) Plains from 1824 probably led to the local aboriginals either moving away or tolerating the intrusion as it was reported in 1840, that there had been no animals lost to aboriginal destruction since the time of the establishment of grazing for the penal settlement in the areas from Limestone (Ipswich) Redbank and Coopers Plains.
Dr Stephen Simpson, who was Commissioner for Crown Lands from 1842-1855 was responsible for ensuring that the Aboriginals were treated on an equal basis as the white population. He established a base at Woogaroo where he later built Wolston House. After about 1842 more evidence of Aboriginal resistance to the white invaders was evident. By 1843, Dr Simpson reported that there were only about 40 Aboriginals living in the vicinity of Woogaroo, although the population in the Moreton Bay region was estimated to be about 5000. Interestingly, an escaped convict Bracefield, who had lived with the aboriginals in the Wide Bay area, was assigned to Dr Simpson after his return to Moreton Bay in 1842. Other convicts assisted in the construction of a police post, house, stables and outbuildings. Bracefield later died on the Woogaroo property.

Aboriginal population declined over the next century due to diseases, relocation and other factors. Many were moved to mission stations well away from the city and children continued to be removed from their families until the 1960s. However many aboriginal people moved back into the city after WWII and lived in the old Negro servicemen’s area of South Brisbane. By the early 1960s many had moved to the new housing areas of Acacia Ridge and Inala. 160 families were interviewed in 1961 in this region, and many were found to be living in poor conditions. From 1963 the OPAL hostel was established which assisted with short-term accommodation, meals and welfare issues generally. By 1971 the census revealed that there were 3,200 Aboriginals in the Brisbane region; much less than in the 1840s.

Urban development

While there is no firm evidence of the origins of the name of Richlands, it is likely that the flourishing vineyards and small crops of the region led to the choice of this name.

Notable residents

Sicilians and Italians who came to Australia during the 1920s later settled Richlands. Many had family connections in the sugar industry in North Queensland or in the fruit-growing region of Stanthorpe. Some settled in Richlands prior to World War II and a tightly knit community developed. A number of individuals were interned during the war, but afterwards more families joined them. Some managed to work at places such as Queensland Cement and Lime or the brickworks while they were establishing their properties.

The first major crop was grapes, followed by small crops, strawberries, and poultry. During the 1960s the Richlands District Grape Growers Association was formed with Mac Pola as president. Dutch families also settled here after the war.

Landmarks

The Richlands School is the oldest of all the schools in the Inala district and was established on 12 June 1934. The five-acre (10.1-hectare) lot where the school now stands was once a flourishing vineyard.

Reference: Mary Howell, BRISbites, 2000

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