Earlier today I went down a web wormhole and learnt that Brisbane's Nudgee Beach used to have neighbouring bayside suburb called Cribb Island, affectionately known as "Cribby" to locals.

Credit: . @BrisbaneAirport

The area was inhabited by Indigenous Australians for thousands of years before being sold to John George Cribb, the son of Queensland MP Robert Cribb (picture) in 1863.

Credit: . @slqld

In 1885 Cribb sold some of the land to James Jackson for a banana plantation, but he instead sold parcels of land to livestock farmers. After the First World War a school opened at Cribby in 1919.

Credit: Alan Kamp

Cribb Island and Jackson's Estate soon became a residential area with agents pitching its bayside location to potential property buyers and holiday-makers.

"Nearest Watering Place To The City."

Credit: Historian Peter Ludlow

By the 1930s, Cribb Island had a resident population of about 400 with all the essential services, including a post office, general store, cafes and bus services to Brisbane.

Credit: . @BrisbaneAirport

Cribb Island also became a holiday destination with Brisbanites enjoying fishing and the laid back atmosphere of Cribby's tiny beach.

Credit: http://Bonzle.com  and Centre for the Government of Queensland

In the 60s the Gibb family moved to Cribb where young brothers Barry, Robin and Maurice started playing at the local store for ice cream and Coca-Cola.

The three boys later came to be known as the Bee Gees.

Credit: . @BrisbaneAirport

In 1970, the federal government decided to resume the entire suburb of Cribb Island to make way for the runways at the new Brisbane Airport to replace the ageing Eagle Farm Airfield.

Credit: Eagle Farm Aviation Society, Inc

Cribb Islands residents were initially up in arms about the resumption, but slowly and reluctantly they accepted their fate and departed until the last resident vacated unwillingly in 1980.

Credit: John Maxwell Ross

Over the next few years the abandoned homes of Cribb Island were pulled down and the whole suburb was buried with sand, forming the base of the new airport runway.

Credit: John Maxwell Ross

Cribb Island last appeared in a street directory in 1983 and in 1986 the Queensland government struck the name from all the official maps.

Credit: http://skyscrapercity.com 

The new Brisbane Airport was completed in time for Expo 88 with Cribb Island completely wiped off the map.

But there are still reminders around the airport like the old Bathing Boxes and remnants of roads.

Credit: Blue Water Paddling and http://Mapio.net 

That's it - the whole story of Cribb Island, the Brisbane suburb that disappeared.

Credit: John Boult