Bayside locals have long known the 4017 postcode is a special pocket of the world, and now a wider audience will have the chance to discover its charm when the community features on a popular YouTube channel.
With a gentle nudge from past and present residents, filmmaker Robert Braiden has chosen to explore Sandgate and Shorncliffe for a new episode for his channel, WalkaboutWithRob.
“I choose places if they are particularly interesting to me,” he said. “I had visited friends in Sandgate a number of times, but Shorncliffe was new to me, and I think it is absolutely charming and beautiful – so many historic homes, and so well kept.”
As an award-winning filmmaker and director, Robert said his YouTube channel developed organically when Covid cancelled his overseas travel plans, prompting him to start filming local walks and uncovering the stories behind them.
“I started the channel about six years ago as I was going overseas and wanted to share my travels with friends and family back home,” he said. “My trip was booked, however, Covid hit and the ports were closed. So I started making local content, mainly just long walks, and that later morphed into doing local history, but still from the point of view of someone walking.”
Showcasing over 260 videos and attracting more than 45,000 subscribers, Robert’s videos combine his passions for walking, filmmaking and history.
Hidden in Plain Sight: Discovering the Beauty of Cabbage Tree Creek
“History is everywhere,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s 1,000 years old or only 100, what matters is why things happened. My focus is on letting the place tell its story.”
Although Robert was impressed with the community’s history and character, one location that particularly surprised him was the mouth of Cabbage Tree Creek.
“I had visions of some yucky swamp area, but it was utterly lovely,” he said. “It made me wonder why I hadn’t been there before – and the Shelley Inn has some of the best fish and chips I’ve ever experienced.”
As with all his videos, Robert said he hopes his viewers learn something new about the places they think they already know.
“I hope people discover historical details hidden in plain sight,” he said. “And hopefully it encourages others to come and visit.”
Robert’s videos can be found on YouTube at @walkaboutwithrob.
Read more stories from the Sandgate Guide print magazine here:
- Bramble Buzz: Updates from the Community
- Podcast Review: Wrong Turns
- Movie Review: The Deb
- The Australian Butterfly Ray (Gymnura australis)
- Organic Gardening in April
- Ancient Egypt Comes Alive In Virtual Reality Experience
- Easter Hops Into Sandgate
- Sandgate Precinct Plan…Introducing Activate! Sandgate!
- Give a Rats for Owls and Frogmouths
- The Art of Layering: A Transeasonal Secret Inspired by Japan
- Why Just Be Positive is Terrible Advice
- ANZAC Spirit Lives On in Sandgate
- New Artrageous Exhibition Explores Cross Symbolism
- Historic Brisbane to Gladstone Race Returns This Easter
- Cultivating Compost for Garden Greatness
- Local Artist Brings Secret Language of Flowers To Sandgate
- Love of Dogs Inspires Decades of Volunteering for Local Couple
- Shorncliffe Station: All Aboard!
- Brothers at War: Laurie and Felix Kempster
- Ladybirds Celebrate 35 Years of Friendship and Community Support
- Banana & Pineapple Loaf
- Sandgate Set for Urban Renewal
- Bayside Creativity Comes To Life
- Local Art Show Inspires Author’s Crime Fiction Sequel
- Sandgate’s Womenspace Celebrates Connection Creativity and Community
