Lamb Island Queensland |
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Lamb Island Pioneer Hall, 1994
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Coordinates | 27°37′30″S 153°22′45″E / 27.62500°S 153.37917°ECoordinates: 27°37′30″S 153°22′45″E / 27.62500°S 153.37917°E | ||||||||||||||
Population | 427 (2011 census) | ||||||||||||||
Postcode(s) | 4184 | ||||||||||||||
Location | 33 km (21 mi) from Brisbane GPO | ||||||||||||||
LGA(s) | Redland City | ||||||||||||||
State electorate(s) | Redlands | ||||||||||||||
Federal Division(s) | Bowman | ||||||||||||||
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Lamb Island is a small island in the southern part of Moreton Bay, near Brisbane, in Queensland, Australia. It constitutes a town and locality within the Redland City. In the 2011 census, Lamb Island had a population of 427 people.
Lamb Island has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:
Lamb Island has a rich history of food production dating back to the early 1900s. The island was made up of numerous small farms which supplied produce to the mainland Brisbane market. Due to the unique micro climate created by the islands geographic locationn 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. One of the well known attractions was Peggy Saunders' garden parties. Peggy Saunders was the wife of one of the original farmers and was well known for her beautiful garden which was located on the Western waterfront of the island.
In the late 1970s Lamb Island, like much of South East Queensland, had the misfortune of being developed into small residential allotments. The majority of the original farm land was subdivided with only a handful of small farming lots remaining. Fortunately, the island has remained largely undeveloped with the majority of the small residential lots being left as vacant land. 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. 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. Due to the strong resurgence in environmentally friendly initiatives, including alternative energy and construction materials and methods, the island has affectionately been labelled "the Green Island".