Early Brisbane
Although Maiwar played a significant role in the initial establishment of the penal settlement in Meanjin, thirty years would pass before settlers moved into the area.
Through the convict period, the European footprint in the area was minimal.
The penal settlement in Meanjin was the hub. Farmland across the river in South Brisbane and downstream at New Farm and Eagle Farm kept the workforce occupied. Outstations like Limestone (later, Ipswich) provided other resources the settlement needed.
In the meantime, the indigenous population went about their business as usual, moving around rather than through Meanjin. It seems that pattern continued well after the penal settlement closed down.
The authorities in Sydney took their time opening Moreton Bay to free settlers. When they did, three-way tussles kept the settlers occupied as they sorted out the pecking order.
For a start, there was a tussle over locations for the port and the district's capital. Brisbane Town's population fancied their chances for both roles. The region's squatters favoured Ipswich as the capital and bayside Cleveland as the port. After Cleveland was eliminated, the rivalry between Brisbane and Ipswich continued.
Meanwhile, within Brisbane, a second three-way tussle developed between the former penal settlement, South Brisbane and Kangaroo Point.
The areas that later became Milton and Auchenflower remained unsurveyed until after the former Meanjin emerged victorious from the ruck.
Once the surveyors completed the task and settlement began to spread westwards, Toowong and Moggill were the favoured locations.
At the same time, a handful of well-off Brisbaneites took up parcels of semi-rural acreage closer in.
