Who chose the site of the Moreton Bay Penal Settlement?

Join us for our next QSA Talk, with researcher, filmmaker and Harry Gentle Resource Centre, Griffith University Visiting Research Fellow, Robert Braiden.

Drawing on research from the Queensland State Archives, historical records, and sites across south-east Queensland, Robert explores one of the defining questions in Brisbane's history: who decided to relocate the Moreton Bay Penal Settlement from Redcliffe to the Brisbane River?

This talk examines why the settlement was originally established at Redcliffe, the challenges that led to its relocation less than a year later, and the reasons for selecting the area known to First Nations peoples as Meanjin and Binbilla. While many of the key figures in this story are well known, important questions remain about how the decision was made, who ultimately chose the new location, and whether that choice ever received formal approval.

Through archival evidence and historical investigation, Robert sheds new light on the decisions, personalities and enduring mysteries that shaped the beginnings of Brisbane.

Can't make it in person? The presentation will be available on our YouTube channel after the event.

About the researcher

Robert Braiden is a filmmaker, local history researcher and content creator based in south-east Queensland. After completing a Bachelor of Visual Arts (Film and Television Production) at Griffith University, he worked in television production on programs including Big Brother and The Great South East, where he developed local history content. He later received support from Screen Queensland and Screen Australia to produce award-winning short films, including True Love, and went on to direct a feature film released on 9Now, Amazon Prime and Apple TV+, titled Horizon One.