In the first eight months they built a number of structures, including a jail and Commandant’s House — but scarcity of food and water forced them to relocate along the river to Brisbane.

Since then many people have played an important role in transforming Redcliffe into the amazing community it is today.

This list was put together with help from members of History Redcliffe. We acknowledge that there are many other people, not included on this list, who have helped make Redcliffe what it is today, this is just a snapshot.

Ralph Ashby

Known as the ‘grandfather’ of Mousetrap Theatre Ralph Ashby was dedicated to the arts and theatre scene on the Peninsula. But Mr Ashby, who died on April 23, 2018 aged 60, was also a dedicated community man. He served as an Alderman on the Redcliffe City Council from 1994-1997, alongside Allan Sutherland and James Houghton. He was a prolific script writer and always helped organise the annual Murrumba Drama Festival. To honour his contribution to local theatre, a new Youth Encouragement Award named the Ralph Ashby Trophy has become part of future Murrumba Drama Festival events.

Charles Allen Webb

He moved to Redcliffe in 1944 to retire, after a long stint on the local shire council in Monto. Charles Webb bought a sizeable property at Oyster Point Esplanade with the hopes of growing vegetables and spending his days fishing. But he could not keep away from public life, running for a spot on the Redcliffe City Council. He was elected and went on to become the deputy mayor for three years and continued as an alderman until he passed in 1957. In 1940, with Mayor Bob Bradley he formed the Redcliffe Show Society. The first show was held in 1950. Mr Webb was the first president and remained on the committee until he died. The show has grown to become one of the most successful in Queensland and a highlight on Redcliffe’s entertainment calendar. Had it not been for the show’s success there is a good chance the showgrounds would have been lost long ago and developed. The Redcliffe City Council built the C.A. Webb Memorial Hall at the showgrounds in his honour.

REDCLIFFE’S MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE

Allan Sutherland

This term is Mayor Allan Sutherland’s last in the hot seat and while his career as a councillor has recently faced some scrutiny there is denying he has helped shape Redcliffe. The former electrician joined Redcliffe City Council as a councillor in 1994. He was elected as the Mayor of Redcliffe City Council 19 years ago and has been the only Mayor of the Moreton Bay Regional Council. He has helped bring many projects to fruition including Bee Gees Way, Dolphin Stadium and the Redcliffe Peninsula Train Line.

Reverend John Sutton

From Sutton St to Sutton’s Beach, you don’t end up with these things named after you unless you had an important role to play in Redcliffe’s history.

Reverend John Sutton was chosen to be a pioneer clergymen for the Anglican diocese of Moreton Bay. He left England in 1860, arriving in Australia four months later. On the voyage he met his future wife Frances Johnson. Rev Sutton was first sent to Gladstone to establish an Anglican Church. He returned to Brisbane in 1870 as the rector of St John’s Cathedral in Brisbane, which is where stayed until retiring in 1885. His connection to Redcliffe began some years earlier, in 1865, when he bought 21 acres of land on the Redcliffe foreshore.

As the years went on he bought up more and more land. In 1884 the Reverend appointed trustees for a reserve on the water frontage of some of his land, near MacDonnell Creek and land near the Redcliffe Jetty. Eventually the area was known as Sutton Reserve and now Suttons Beach. In 1886, after retiring, he ran Anglican Church services from his own home. He began fund to raise money for a church. The church was not built until 1898, — the present St Mary’s Church stands on the same site in Sutton St.

The Reverend was also active in public affairs on the Peninsula and established the Redcliffe Division Board in 1889, actively campaigning for a school in Redcliffe. He died in June 1897.