Lamb Island Queensland

This photo was taken approx. in 1935 . It shows the old Lamb Island jetty.
Jim Fischer is sitting on the front of the boat. The boat is for loading fruit from Lamb Island.
Lamb Island has a rich history of food production dating back to the early 1900s. The island consisted of numerous small farms which supplied produce to the mainland Brisbane market. Due to the unique micro climate created by the islands geographic location its extremely fertile volcanic soil and the pure sand aquifers that run beneath it, the farmers were able to supply superior produce to the mainland market earlier than their mainland competitors. Lamb Island was originally called Ngudooroo.

State Library of Queensland

View from Lamb Island across to Macleay Island and Karragarra Island.

Lamb Island has a rich history of food production dating back to the early 1900s. The island consisted of numerous small farms which supplied produce to the mainland Brisbane market. Due to the unique micro climate created by the islands geographic location its extremely fertile volcanic soil and the pure sand aquifers that run beneath it, the farmers were able to supply superior produce to the mainland market earlier than their mainland competitors. There were several boats (including the well known historic vessels “Roo” and “Amazon”) which travelled from the upper reaches of the Brisbane river out to the island to transport the produce. The Roo would also transport supplies from Brisbane for the island’s residents and weekend trippers who would visit the island. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamb_Island,_Queensland

In the late 1970s Lamb Island, like much of South East Queensland, was developed into small residential allotments. The majority of the original farm land was subdivided with only a handful of small farming lots remaining. The island has remained largely undeveloped with the majority of the small residential lots being left as vacant land. Residential development has been limited largely due to transport costs of materials and additionally many waterfront lots suffer from erosion, especially those on the high South Eastern end of the island. In recent years, with the popularity and resurgence of organic food, the island is gaining a reputation for its unique micro climate and organically grown produce. Of note was the 2016 Gold Medal recipient in the National Delicious Produce Awards by an island business, “Pretty Produce” which specializes in and supplies edible flowers to leading chefs in many of Australia’s best restaurants.^[8] In addition to commercial organic growing ventures on the island, there are a number of small community garden groups engaged in organic food and ornamental plant production. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamb_Island,_Queensland