About the event
Little did James and Margaret Willard imagine that their small bark hut in the Birkdale bush would one day become a significant historic landmark. Settlers on land that had been lived on and utilised for centuries by the Quandamooka people, the Willards
were granted full title in 1863, the first written evidence of that portion of the farm being allocated to a European settler.
Kristianne Bucknell, Local History Advisor for Redland City Council, says that putting together the history of early white settlement is an exciting challenge.
Council purchased the property in 2016, and after years of community advocacy, it was entered into the heritage register in 2022 and is now gradually being opened to the public.
The library’s local history team will give a presentation on this fascinating site, with behind-the-scenes images and a special video walk-through of the property, on Saturday, 1 August, from 9:30am to 11:00am at Cleveland Library.
The event is free; however, bookings are required.