For Karen Wallwork, uncovering the history of Beachmere has become ingrained in her everyday life.
Her long-standing love of history began early, shaped by a fascination with how civilisations and cultures evolve over time.
“As a child, I was captivated by stories of India, reading about British surveys of ancient sites,” Karen said. “Years later, walking those very places on pilgrimage created a powerful sense of connection, an experience that affirmed history as something deeply felt, not just studied.”
It’s this same instinct that now guides Karen’s work in Beachmere. Although she hasn’t lived in the area as long as many locals, her connection to the region stretches back decades. From the time the Bribie Island bridge opened, weekends and holidays were spent nearby. Her family’s old holiday home still stands on Wattle Avenue.
In 2018, after closing her natural therapies business to care for her parents, Karen found herself walking Beachmere, its village and its bush with time to wonder. Conversations with locals followed and then a single photograph, a Sandgarden Competition, sparked a question that would change everything. ‘What else had been forgotten?’
What followed was an eight-year journey into Beachmere’s collective memory.
Preserving Stories and Sharing Collective Memory
“I began listening, recording, researching, and gently weaving together stories that might otherwise have faded away,” Karen said. “My work is driven by a simple but powerful purpose: to return forgotten stories to the community.”
Although she has covered a lot of ground in a seemingly short space of time, Karen said one of her most meaningful discoveries had been ‘Gibunba,’ a possible First Nations place name for Beachmere prior to European settlement, which she explained adds continuity to the area’s history.
“We are truly blessed here,” she said.
One would think that diving into historical research and writing would keep you busy enough, but Karen and her husband also volunteer with Wildlife Rescue Queensland. In addition, Karen is involved in Healthy and Active Heritage Walks in Beachmere and monthly podcasts on local radio. She is currently writing the fourth book in the Beachmere series, with hopes to finish it by the end of this year.
This month, Karen’s work comes together in a museum exhibition, a three-month display at Bribie Island Seaside Museum that represents the culmination of years of collaboration with local residents. She said the exhibition invites viewers to slow down and engage with story.
“I always knew there were stories to tell,” she said. “To now see them displayed so thoughtfully is incredibly moving.”
Above all, Karen speaks with gratitude for the people who have supported her and trusted her with their memories, photographs, and stories.
Beachmere: The collective memories of a seaside village
- Saturday, 14 February, 10.30am-12pm
- Bribie Island Seaside Museum
- 1 South Esplanade, Bongaree
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- What’s Hot Around Town
- Podcast Review: Wanging On Pocast
- Professional Surfing Returns for Biggest Gold Coast Open Yet
- Organic Gardening in February
- Tilapia in South East Queensland – A Great Target for Kids
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- Grants to Help Moreton Bay Communities Thrive
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- Get In Line: Boostcootin’ Bash Is Back
- Warplane Museum Closes but its Legacy Still Flies High
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- Mexican Wedding Cakes
- The History of Mewett’s Boarding House on King Street
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- Coming to Grips with Valentine’s Day
