By Staff Writer Mozza
Toorbul is a coastal town 34 kilometres from Bribie Island taking about half an hour to visit for a day or half day trip. It is a quaint fishing town that has seen some considerable homes built there of late. It has excellent council foreshore facilities and playgrounds and sandy narrow beaches on the water’s edge. In the 2016 census, Toorbul had a population of 930 people.
Toorbul is bounded on the east by Pumicestone Channel which separates mainland Queensland from Bribie Island. It is bounded to the north by Elimbah Creek and to the south by Ningi Creek, both which flow into the Pumicestone Channel. There are a number of low flat islands immediately off the coast which are included within the locality including Parrot Island and Shag Island.
Pumicestone Road connects the entire locality running from the Bruce through to the town on the eastern coast. Bribie and surrounds residents can join Pumicestone Road from Old Toorbul Road off Bribie Island Road.
The town contains a shorebird sanctuary which is an important habitat for up to 50000 birds. Many of these birds travel 25000 kms each year travelling from the Arctic, Siberia and Alaska via Japan and China to Australia and New Zealand. The intertidal zones adjacent to Toorbul are the richest feeding grounds in the Pumicestone Passage for these birds recuperating from their voyage.
Species include the Pied Oystercatcher, Godwit, Eastern Curlew, Plover, Tattler and Red Necked Stint.
The town takes its name from Toorbul Point, which is believed to be a Yuggera language word referring to a specific Aboriginal people associated with the Ninghi area. However, Toorbul Point is not within the present day boundaries of the locality of Toorbul but in Sandstone Point to the south-east.
Toorbul Provisional School opened circa 1891. On 1 January 1909 it became Toorbul State School. It experienced some temporary closures most likely due to low student numbers and closed permanently circa 1935.
In 1944 during World War II, RAAF 210 Radar Station was established at 1295 Pumicestone Road. It was a British-designed Advanced Chain Overseas (ACO) radar stations, one of four constructed in Queensland.
There is a boat ramp, shop and pub at Toorbul as well as a caravan park and petrol station. Donnybrook is 13 kms away for a change of scenery.
Take a picnic blanket and the kids for a fun and safe day on the water at Toorbul and enjoy a place not known by many but loved by those who do.
