Born in Douglas on the Isle of Man to English parents, Hugh and Barbara (nee Pass) the Gibb brothers, Barry (born 1st September 1946) twins Maurice and Robin (born 22nd December 1949) older sister Lesley (born 12th January 1945 in Manchester) and younger brother Andy (born on 5th March 1958 in Manchester) lived in their Dad’s hometown of Chorlton, Manchester, England, where in 1955, where Barry Gibb formed the skiffle/rock and roll group the Rattlesnakes (aka Wee Johnny Hayes and the Blue Cats.
At the beginning of August 1958, the Gibb family set sail for Australia as part of an assisted migration scheme from Southampton, arriving on the 19th Sept 1958 on the "Fairsea" (Also aboard was Red Symons, future guitarist of Skyhooks, as well as Kylie Minogue's parents)
Andy was only 6 months old, older sister Lesley 13years, Barry 12years, and twins Maurice and Robin were 8 years old when they arrived in Redcliffe.
They lived and visited various houses during their stay on the Peninsula including initially the Orient House flats at Suttons Beach while attending Humpybong School (The twins Maurice and Robin enrolled on 22nd September 1958 but left the same month)
Their father Hugh was listed as a photographer on the register and had their initial address as Orient House, at Suttons Beach.
4 Tramore Rd was where the Gibb family lived in the last few months of 1958, and sang on the front verandah occasionally while the twins attended Humpybong School for the last term of 1958. Barry and sister Lesley attended OLHC school on the corner of Oxley and Anzac Ave.
Child prodigy drummer, Smiley movie star and original Bee Gees drummer Colin Petersen who lived on Eveline St, also attended Humpybong School for 5 years from 9th March 1953 to July 1958.
Twins Maurice and Robin Gibb (8yrs 9 months) enrolled at Humpybong School in September 1958 and attended the final term of 1958. Lesley attended Our Lady Help of Christians School (cnr Oxley and Anzac Ave) All 3 brothers then enrolled in Scarborough State School for the full term in 1959. Andy was a one year old toddler in March 1959 while they lived in Redcliffe.
Lesley (13 yrs) and Barry (12yrs) attended Our Lady Help of Christians School at the corner of Oxley and Anzac Ave in 1958 /59. Barry mentioned this in an interview and mentions he "walked half a mile to school" from his home which by that time they were living at 394 Oxley Ave, before moving to Scarborough in early 1959.
In 1959, Brisbane based Speedcar driver Bill Goode, the promoter of the Redcliffe Speedway (located at the Redcliffe Showgrounds) hired the brothers to entertain the crowds at the speedway from the back of a truck during the interval.
In a letter to the Redcliffe Museum in 1999, Barry Gibb wrote "The smell of the oil, the noise and the atmosphere was incredible. This was the first public appearance Robin, Maurice and I ever made in Australia. We sang through the PA system and people threw money onto the track, and we met Brisbane's leading DJ and racing car driver Bill Gates, who suggested we call ourselves the BG's and even played our songs on his radio show, "Swinging' Gates' Platter Chatter". Hence Redcliffe became the birthplace of the Bee Gees."
On 16th March 1959 Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb and their parents Hugh and Barbara Gibb went on to sign the band's first ever recording and television contract with Festival Records through 4BH radio announcer Bill Gates on the family's kitchen table at 394 Oxley Avenue, Redcliffe. It was Bill Gates who renamed the band the BGs, later to become the Bee Gees, after the 'Bills' Bill Gates and speedway promoter Bill Goode and Barbara and Barry's initials.
They also lived at 394 Oxley Ave ( as listed on the school register) and then 12 Fifth Ave Scarborough with the boys attending Scarborough State School for the full 1959 term. Enrolling in Feb 1959 until the end of the year in November 1959.
They performed in a number of venues during their stay , including the CWA Hall at 189 Redcliffe Parade, the Redcliffe Scout Hall. and the Ace Of Clubs Hall on the 2nd floor of the Cominos Arcade building (where the Seaside Artists Gallery is now located) and the Belvedere Hotel at Woody Point.
March 5th 1959 Redcliffe Herald:"Three young Gibb boys"play upstairs in the Ace of Clubs:
Musical Variety at 4KQ Talent Quest:
"A wide variety of musical talent was displayed at the Ace Of Clubs Hall, Redcliffe on Monday February 23 when radio station 4KQ conducted a regional section of its Talent Quest. During the first part of the programme, Mr Andy Stevens of 4KQ introduced the artists, whore performances were recorded so that they could be broadcast the next evening.
Artists participating in the broadcast were Messrs. Minton, Higgs, Tarry and Turnbull Instrumental quartet) David Lee (Piano accordion) Lorral Tyler (vocalist) Len Bristow (pianist) Herbert and Keys (guitar duet) Three Gibb Boys (vocal trio) Elaine Andrews and Gillian Ongley ( piano accordion duet) Mr Thomas (vocalist) and Mrs G Harkin (Vocalist)
Mr W Winch compered the second part of the programme which again included Mr Minton's instrumental quartet and the three young Gibb boys" Carolyn Sawdry performed brightly in a tap dance with hoop swinging, Suzanne Siemen and Mary Hall gave piona accordion items, and Shirley Morrisey sang popular numbers. Further variety was added by Peter and Even Johnson (western duet with guitar) Ian Skennerton (pianist) Colin Duffy (impersonator) B. Minton (vocal and instrumental) and Mrs Morrisey (vocal) Horrie Ridley of 4KQ was pianist during the first part of the programme then he gave an impressive rendition of the Warsaw Concerto. Mrs E. Bristol was accompanist for artists in the second half and also gave pleasing piano solos. Proceeds from the evening benefitted Humpybong Welfare Committee and the president, (Mrs McGlashan) thanked 4KQ staff and their efforts. She thanked also the artists who had taken part, Colin Duffy for the loan of his loudspeaker, Earl Juster who had donated an iced fruit cake, which was raffled to swell the Welfare Committe's funds, and the Comino family, who had allowed the committee free use of the Ace of Clubs for both the auditions and the talent quest"
An 18 page downloadable pdf file book of photos and information on the Gibb family history at Redcliffe, Cribb Island and Northgate, is available to download the following Link: https://www.redcliffebook.com/product-page/gibb-family-downloadable-pdf-file
They also performed at Mavis Filmer's Palace Hotel in 1959, each receiving a bottle of coke each for performing and their parents Hugh and Barbara enjoying a free beer for their efforts.
They moved to Cribb Island in January 1960 and and lived there for 18 months attending Cribb Island State School (January 25th 1960 to April 1961)
They lived at 20 Elmslie St, Cribb Island for their time at Cribb Island.
On 5 June 1961, Robin Hugh Gibb and Maurice Ernest Gibb joined the Northgate State School community – Robin in Grade 6A and Maurice in Grade 6B. and attended Northgate School (June to August 1961) living at 244 Nudgee Rd, before moving to Surfers Paradise and later to Sydney and then to England in 1967.
The Bee Gees went on to be among the best-selling music artists of all time, winning five Grammy Awards and selling over 120 million records worldwide (with estimates as high as over 200 million records sold worldwide)
In 2013, Moreton Bay Regional Council unveiled a 70-metre monument connecting Redcliffe Parade and Sutton Street, and renamed the alley Bee Gees Way Redcliffe. In 2015, Barry Gibb himself returned for the Grand Opening of Bee Gees Way stage 2.
A link to the original Bee Gees drummer Colin Petersen's history in Redcliffe is at: https://www.redcliffebook.com/post/colin-petersen
The Official Bee Gees Fan Club Australia website is at:
A limited print run information booklet was printed in January 2024 and is only available in select stores close to the Bee Gees Way in Redcliffe, including Red Poppy at 85 Redcliffe Parade, Vintage Tea Lounge in shop 12a in the Cominos Arcade, 133 Redcliffe Parade, and the Seaside Artists Gallery on the second floor of the Cominos building, 133 Redcliffe Parade. (where the Gibb boys played in March 1959)
A downloadable pdf ebook of this publication is available to view and purchase at:
The Gibb Family- Bee Gees are listed on the wall of the Redcliffe Wall of Fame:
Thanku for sharing and now knowing the early life of the Bee Gees Family and how they become who they are today loved them then and still do today their music lives on x🙏❤️
Thanks, very, very nice.
As a long time fan, I really enjoyed reading this! Thank you very much!