A patch of parkland along Bribie Island Road in Ningi could soon carry a name tied to one of the district’s pioneering families of the late 19th century.
Read: Secret History of Bribie Island: The Man Who Taught Flinders How to Talk to the Coast
The City of Moreton Bay is inviting residents to have their say on a proposal to formally name the parkland at Lot 1227 Bribie Island Road as Mills Reserve. The proposed name recognises the Mills family as early pioneers of the Ningi district and reflects the documented historical association between the site and Walter James Mills.
The land in question forms part of what was historically known as Portion 10V, Parish of Toorbul, according to the council’s General Meeting report of 22 April 2026, which notes that Walter James Mills acquired and settled the land during the district’s early development. It is a quiet but meaningful connection between a green public space and the people who shaped the surrounding country well over a hundred years ago.
Who Were the Mills Family?
Walter James Mills and his wife Maria Hussey raised their children on that land, and Walter James died in November 1896. The family’s ties to the district did not end there. Their eldest son, Walter Henry Mills, was born on 23 September 1886 and holds a notable distinction: according to research shared in the Bribie Island History community group on Facebook, Harry was the first recorded birth in the register for Bribie Island. As Harry’s grandson John Mills explained in the post, Harry’s mother crossed to Bribie Island for the birth, though the family home remained on Portion 10V at Ningi.
Harry went on to live a life that mirrored the hardships of his generation. He was educated at Caboolture State School and, at the time of his enlistment in January 1915, was single, living at Eumundi and working as a carpenter. He was captured at Pozieres in July 1916 and interned at Gafangerenlager Prisoner of War Camp in Wahn, Germany, before being repatriated to England in December 1918 and returning to Australia in March 1919. He was not the only Mills son to serve. His two younger brothers, John Robert and Thomas James, also enlisted. It was a family that gave a great deal to this country, in more ways than one.
How to Have Your Say
The proposal is consistent with the council’s approach to naming public assets, which it uses to preserve local heritage. Council recognises the significant social value of naming places, structures and assets, noting that naming helps to identify landmarks, support wayfinding, contribute to community belonging and reflect the cultural and heritage values of the city.
Council is inviting public comment on the proposed naming between 29 May and 28 June 2026. Submissions must be made in writing, include the submitter’s full name and residential or business address, and state the reasons for supporting or opposing the proposal.
Read: Caboolture–Bribie Island Road Upgrade Completed Ahead of Schedule
You can have your say by emailing parksplanning@moretonbay.qld.gov.au or by writing to: Chief Executive Officer, Attn: Parks & Recreation Planning, PO Box 159, Caboolture QLD 4510.
For a district that is growing fast and adding new streets and subdivisions at a pace that can make history feel remote, a name like Mills Reserve is a small but lasting anchor. It is a reminder that before the bitumen and the roundabouts, families like the Mills put down roots in this country and called it home.
Published 5-June-2026
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