Most people know Coochiemudlo Island for its tranquil beaches, sheltered waters, and relaxed island pace.

Just a short hop across Moreton Bay from Victoria Point, it often feels like a timeless pocket of paradise.

Yet long before it became a weekend retreat and a tight-knit coastal community, Coochie stood at the crossroads of Queensland history. From its deep roots as Kutchi Mudlo—where Quandamooka peoples gathered red ochre from the cliffs for ceremony—to the July day in 1799 when Matthew Flinders stepped ashore and logged it simply as “Sixth Island,” Coochiemudlo holds stories far richer than its shoreline suggests.

Did you know the island served as a wartime military training base, was home to pioneer farming ventures shipping fresh produce to Brisbane, and helped spark one of Queensland’s most iconic boatbuilding dynasties?

Discover the story of Coochiemudlo Island’s extraordinary past, the wartime secrets of its waters, and the milestones that built the community we know today in this feature history piece from the Redlands Coast Museum.