Epic adventure to bring motor car to Bribie Island

THE ISOLATED nature of Bribie Island in the early 1900s played a part in the area’s early adoption of the motor car. We take a look back in time.

A procession of vintage cars at Bribie Bridge opening. Picture: Queensland State Archives

THE ISOLATED nature of Bribie Island in the early 1900s played a part in the area’s early adoption of the motor car.

Arthur Bestmann, who was raised at Beachmere by his German immigrant parents, became one of the island’s first residents when he established a dairy cattle property and farmed native bees.

Research by the Bribie Island Historical Society shows Mr Bestmann became friends with Brisbane grocer and keen fisherman Alfred Hall, and they opened the first local shop at a home in Bongaree.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of an epic two-day bush trip which saw the businessmen float a 1914 Talbot car over to the island, using a raft usually reserved for cattle transportation.

1956 - Cars aboard the old Bribie Island Barge. Picture: Ross/TREVOR

Local legend has it that the trusty Talbot rattled across the island’s bush tracks, carting supplies and holiday-makers from Brisbane, for decades — until it rusted beyond repair due to the salty sea air.

By 1947, when general car ownership had increased, local residents and tourists from Brisbane were able to access Bribie using a popular ferry service after the military built a road from Caboolture.

But drivers finally had an easier passage to the island getaway when the bridge opened in 1963 — 55 years ago this month.

Spanning 835m, it was the longest pre-stressed concrete bridge in Australia.

And, fittingly, Mr Bestmann was the first to drive across the new bridge when it opened on October 19.