Founding of Brisbane as a penal settlement

Background. The Moreton Bay Penal Settlement was established in September 1824 on the Redcliffe Peninsula under instructions from John Oxley, who required a location easy of access, difficult to escape from, hard to attack, near fresh water, and containing three hundred acres for cultivation. After less than a year, the inadequacy of Redcliffe's water supply became apparent, and in May 1825 the commandant decided to relocate the settlement to the north bank of the Brisbane River, now the heart of Brisbane.

Early Development. Following the relocation, construction began at the new site. The Commandant's cottage and the first military barracks were built in 1825, while a hospital was completed in 1827 after much government bungling over plans and approvals. The King's Wharf, initially known as the King's Jetty, was constructed by 1827. Between 1826 and 1829 the prisoner population rose from 200 to 1000, and the plight of the convicts whose labour established the settlement was dire.

Indigenous Context. The Brisbane River valley had been a cultural landscape for the Yagara, Turrbal, and Quandamooka peoples for over 22,000 years. The original inhabitants named the Redcliffe area 'Humpybong' when the settlers moved to the Brisbane River. Conflict between the penal settlement and Indigenous groups occurred during 1827–1828, notably involving the Corn Field Raids.