Cleveland is located on the western shores of Moreton Bay approximately 25 kilometres (16 mi) east-south-east of Brisbane, the capital of the Australian state of Queensland.

It comprises commercial, residential and industrial areas and is the location of Redland City's Council Chambers, offices and various cultural facilities.

This area of Moreton Bay is naturally shallow but the Fison Channel has been dredged to provide access for vehicular ferries which connect Cleveland to Dunwich.

[3] Toondah Harbour is situated in an area of coastal wetlands featuring sandbanks, mudflats and mangroves which provide important habitats for dugongs, turtles and many shorebird species including migratory birds such as the critically endangered[4] eastern curlew.

Brisbane was troubled by sand bars across the mouth of the Brisbane River, and Cleveland Point was closer to the southern passage (the entrance to Moreton Bay between North Stradbroke Island and Moreton Island).However, when Governor Sir George Gipps visited Cleveland in 1842, it is reported that upon disembarking his boat, he immediately sank into the mudflats up to his waist.

[9][14] A series of wreckings in the southern passage led to ships using the longer but safer northern entrance between Bribie and Moreton islands.

In 1852, the first large buildings were built in Cleveland; what is now the Grand View Hotel, and the Old Courthouse, at the time a workers cottage.

The wool store, unused because of Cleveland's failure as a port, was converted into a sawmill, which supplied timber to a shipyard built at the Point.

A rail line connecting Brisbane to Cleveland was completed in 1889, and with it tourism, residential subdivisions and farming further grew in the area.

[16] This area is included on the Redland City Council's Register of Heritage Places classified as being of local significance.

On 13 May 1961 the foundation stone was laid for a new church by Reverend Joseph Tainton, President of the Queensland Methodist Conference.

Walter Park is a large public recreation facility located on coastal foreshores north of Toondah Harbour, overlooking Cassim Island.

[44] Although initial impression were that the train's brakes had failed, the subsequent inquiry put the blame on the rails being made slippery by a combination of leaves, oil, and rain, possibly caused by a storm a few days earlier.

[45] In 2014 the Queensland Government proposed an extensive development between Toondah Harbour and Cassim Island including an 800 berth marina.

[48] He said the workshop recommended smaller developments across the city linking Raby Bay with Cleveland's CBD and the ferry terminal.

[50] On 19 March the Council decided to ask the Queensland Government to make some changes to the plan which include reducing building heights from 15 storeys to 10 and a 400-berth marina at Toondah Harbour instead of 800 berths.

[51] In April 2014, after the consultation period had ended, the Redland City Council released copies of expert reports used to prepare the proposed development scheme.