About

History

Russell Island is the largest island within Moreton Bay and spanning 8.5 kilometres, north to south, in length and 3 kilometres wide. Known to the natives as Canaipa - meaning an ironbark spear, the island was first settled by Europeans in 1866 and became a prolific farming area, due to its rich red soil and clean quality fresh water for producing quality fruit and vegetables, as well as oyster leases, fishing and commercial mud crabbing.

Today the resident population is estimated around 2,500 people, plus many more part time residents, as many of the homes are owned as holiday homes. Russell Island with ongoing road improvements and island services continues to grow in population as people discover the affordable value and lifestyle advantages.

The Early 70's Land Subdivisions.
During the 1970’s all the Islands reputations suffered as no local authority controlled development on the islands and unscrupulous land developers commenced promoting and selling off some land lots that were drainage affected or subject to by high tides inundation. The Redland Shire Council has since stepped in, acquired the low lying land and set it aside under conservation purposes. This has reduced the amount of premium island land and no further land sub-division will become available under current zoning – which means that once sold, and with continuing demand, fuelled by both the affordability of island land and the population increase into S. E. Queensland, Russell Island land will become a precious and sought after commodity. Testament to this is the growth of land values recently experienced in island land sales during the last two years.

Please Note: Our company maintains current council “Zoning Maps” for your perusal.

If you wish to buy land or before you buy any land call us first for qualified information. Nobody knows Russell Island like we do - and we intend to protect and maintain integrity of the Island's quality image and lifestyle values.

Location

Moreton Bay is a vast Marine Park with some 365 islands dotted throughout and is regarded as the ‘Whitsundays’ of South Eastern Queensland.

Situated between Brisbane and the Gold Coast and located within southern Moreton Bay, between the mainland city of Redland Bay and beautiful North Stradbroke Island, Russell Island gives stunning views overlooking the Caniapa passage which at its closest is just 300 metres away.

The Caniapa Passage waterway was the original thoroughfare for sailing vessels and steamboats travelling from north to south of the Bay. Nowadays it's a favoured protected anchorage for sailing craft and motor boats of all sizes.

Russell Island has to be one of South East Queensland's best kept secrets. A 20 minute ferry ride (runs every half hour) across protected waters to Redland Bay township on the mainland, and just 40 minutes by road to Brisbane CBD; with the ever-expanding cosmopolitan city of the Gold Coast 45 minutes drive away, and is within 15 - 20 minutes by boat from the island to the northern Gold Coast, Tipplers and Jumpinpin Bar.

Island Services & Facilities:

The Best Water Taxi Service in Queensland

Importantly transport to Russell Island and adjacent Bay Islands is excellent. Running from early morning to late into the evening. Modern passenger ferries, that seat up to 180 and run up to 38 times a day from Redland Bay, and vehicle ferries service the islands around 15 times per day from Redland Bay. - There is also a proposed, future ferry service for the Bay Islands linking to the centre of Brisbane city. *See the links below for current Ferry & Vehicle Ferry timetables and information.

Russell Island is virtually self-sufficient...
In addition to ferries and water taxis there is also a taxi service and helipad on the island, and mooring and anchorage facilities are available for boats.

The island has lovely picnic areas, playgrounds and parks, sports oval and swimming areas and market gardens. A tennis court is for hire, a Community Centre for island activities, including Girl Guides and Playgroup. The licensed Bowls Club and RSL Club both have a courtesy bus. (A Golf Club, a Resort and Hotel are proposed for future development.)

Russell Island boasts a new Police Station (The rate of crime on the island is well below that of equivalent suburbs on the mainland) There is an Ambulance Station and volunteer rescue and Rural Fire Brigade Station, a new 25 metre public Swimming Pool and new Supa IGA Supermarket and specialty shops. On the Island most trades and services and retailers are represented including Post Office, Library, Broadband & Computer services, Service Station & Garage, Motel, an historic Church Hall, a Gym & Sports instruction, a Primary School (a State High School is also coming) Medical Centre & Chemist, Hairdresser, Bakery, Café & Take-away, Grocery & General / Convenience stores and Russell Island Liquor Store.

All land approved for building homes on Russell Island is zoned Residential ‘A’. Having council services for rubbish collection, town water and electricity supplied. The quality of the island roads varies from island roads to gravel and sealed bitumen and concrete. Council has a works programme in place to upgrade them to sealed roads as the take up of housing demands. As no sewerage is yet connected to the island all waste disposal is via septic or environmental systems installed at the time of building.

Lifestyle Features & Benefits:

Russell Island boasts a sub-tropical climate, an idyllic island lifestyle that allows year-round swimming and cooling sea breezes in summer, the average winter temperature ranges from 11 to 21 degrees and in summer 18 to 28 degrees Celsius. This is truly one of South East Queensland’s best kept secrets.

Enjoy fishing and crabbing, boating, sailing and kayaking – You can go island hoping in a kayak and swim with the local dolphins! The Island’s surrounding waterways teem with fish life (prized for its mud-crabs) dolphins, turtles and dugong. Also impressive is the birdlife population that includes black swans and thousands of other migratory birds. Russell Island has its own National park, environmental protected areas, wetlands and parklands where native flora and fauna abounds, a favourite for nature walks, cycling and picnicking.

Living the Island life boasts panoramic views across Moreton Bay, Stradbroke Island to the east and south towards the Gold Coast skyline. Located just 17 minutes by ferry from the mainland and twenty minutes by boat to the Gold Coast Shire, Russell Island provides a safe haven, whilst allowing the best of both worlds at your doorstep.

If you love fishing speak to our staff for some inside information on OUR secret fishing spots.

Growth & Opportunity:

Within the following list of website links you will find impressive information on the real growth, planned and future potential developments and services of this wonderful area. And if you consider Russell Island is only 20 kilometres by water to the northern Gold Coast - what of the future growth and investment potential?

We can proudly predict that Russell Island’s future will be a prosperous one.  And we welcome you to experience Russell Island for yourself.

Please contact us for further information click here.

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