The convicts were from varied backgrounds including quarrymen, lime burners, bricklayers, marble polishers, stone cutters, brick makers, plasterers and labourers.

[1] On 10 September 1824 the "Amity" arrived in Moreton Bay and following an inspection of St Helena Island, Redcliffe was selected as the site for settlement as originally recommended by John Oxley in 1823.

In late September 1824, the Amity was nearly driven ashore by a fierce storm, prompting Oxley to declare the site an unsafe place to anchor.

Lieutenant Miller established the settlement on the high ground overlooking the Brisbane River, near the current Victoria Bridge location.

[1] Before the move from Redcliffe to Brisbane, John Gray, Pilot of Port Jackson, received orders to survey and buoy the south passage as discovered by Oxley.

[1] In 1827, Governor Ralph Darling visited the settlement and amongst other concerns, expressed a dissatisfaction with the inability of large ships to navigate the sandbar at the mouth of the Brisbane River.

On 29 November 1827, Governor Darling directed Captain Logan to establish a military post and stores depot at Dunwich, formerly known as Green Point.

Clunie confirmed cargoes were still being lost over board during unloading in rough weather, local Aborigines were proving hostile and had killed a convict in the garden and the issue of smuggling had not been eliminated.

As the quarantine station had only just opened there had been no time to establish adequate buildings or staff and as such the ketch "Aurora" was sent from Brisbane to Dunwich with tents and supplies.

The development has quite obviously expanded the original quarantine station layout and has been established on the high ground in a "u" shape around a lower lying open space (now the public reserve) which fronts the beach.

It is reported that the area was used as a community green space for asylum residents and visitors to the establishment and included a beach swimming enclosure in a similar position to the current facility.

[1] The development of North Stradbroke island as a popular holiday retreat and rich mineral sand mining resource has meant the barge landing facilities and surrounding area at Dunwich have undergone continual change since 1947.

Whilst not significant, the physical layers of growth do help to illustrate the development of Dunwich and the importance of the site as an entry to North Stradbroke Island.

[1] Despite the substantial development of Dunwich, the remnant structure of the earlier quarantine station and benevolent asylum are echoed in the current town layout.

The physical remains of the convict barracks, store, privy pit and causeway may still be interpreted and are a subtle reminder of the historical importance of the place.

The heavily vegetated, lower section of headland on the northern side of Junner Street was the location of the military post and stores depot established by Captain Logan.

Running out to the southwest from this headland and forming the north eastern extent of the barge landing facility is the causeway which was constructed as part of the outstation.

The most complete view of the outstation and causeway as they originally existed may be gained from the northern inshore public reserve near the beach swimming enclosure.

Other than the privy pit, which is located at the base of the south western bank of the headland, there are no visible remains of the convict settlement.

[1] To the north east of the outstation site is the tourist information centre (located on a separate title) and associated car park.

Both the outstation site and the information centre are located in the south east corner of the extensive public reserve which consists of a rugby league field and picnic area which fronts the beach and swimming enclosure.

[1] The Dunwich Public Reserve incorporating the Privy Pit and Site of Convict Barracks and Store was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register on 25 February 2000 having satisfied the following criteria.

Constructed as a military and stores depot in 1827, the site formed the primary landing place for all vessels coming into Moreton Bay and Brisbane and therefore has historical significance for its valuable role in the early settlement of colonial Queensland.

The Privy Pit and site of the Convict Barracks and Store are extremely important and rare pieces of Queensland's built heritage.