After Governor Gipps? slimy departure in 1842, many lesser men than Bigge would have given up the tussle to have Cleveland established as the major port. But Francis Bigge was the leader of the pastoralists of Ipswich and they were determined men indeed. They ignored Brisbane ? a mere convict settlement in their view ? by way of building a road direct from Limestone (as Ipswich was then known), to the wood stores and industrial activities of Cleveland Point.

Therefore Bigge, who had many heavy investments in the area, could hardly be blamed for his continued enthusiasm on the Cleveland Point issue. For one thing, the Brisbane River had proved unsuitable for the loading of large vessels because of the prohibitive native of the sand bar at its mouth. Smaller boats had to be used to transport the wood bales out to the large ships anchored in the bay, a costly and time-consuming process. It appears even ships of six hundred tons could not exit without peril across the bar. The squatters reckoned on ships being loaded more quickly and economically at Cleveland Point.

Emphasising the squatters? point, a two thousand ton vessel, Rebecca, had been engaged by Brisbane interests to ship wood direct from the river. It was noted in a report by the surveyor Pettigrew that the ship took two months to load and two river steamers had to haul her back across the bar to meet the open sea. Even then, the story goes, she was only partly laden and had to fill up at Sydney. Her captain declared he would never again enter The Brisbane River.

To further underline the reason for Bigge?s great optimism it must be noted William Pettigrew had stated in his 1850 report prior to the gazetting of Cleveland; ?all the masters of ships who have been here?say its is a FIRST RATE PORT? All eyes therefore are on Cleveland. A great many Sydney people are going to purchase land there as they are sure that Cleveland will become the chief port.?

Moreover, no less a personage than the Colonial Secretary in Sydney decreed, because of the river bar, Brisbane could not become a commercial port. He further directed a new site be chosen for the commercial town ? that site being Cleveland.

So how could Bigge miss? He went ahead with his investments and in 1849 built a ?roomy inn? confident or all signs pointing to a bright future.

But the treacherous South Passage between North Stradbroke and Moreton Islands dealt a savage blow to Bigge?s hopes. On Monday, October 31st, 1853 the ?Countess of Derby? was wrecked on the South Spit when the skipper, trying to Cleveland in daylight, shunned the longer route and Moreton in favour of the South Passage. The ship was wrecked and the publicity all but ruined Cleveland?s hopes.

But fate had yet one more screw to turn. In 1854 the ?Courier? laden with wool and coconuts caught fire while at anchor and unmanned in Raby Bay. Completely gutted it sank, along with Cleveland?s final remaining hopes, into the mud.

And Francis Bigge, despite every indicator lighting his way, became the master of a folly.

When the Grandview Hotel was first built in 1851, one sceptic named it Bigges Folly and another was of the opinion it had been built by "an enterprising landowner during the crisis of a commercial dream". Today it is not a commercial dream but a commercial success. It has withstood the test of time.

The Grandview Hotel (previously the Brighton Hotel) was the centre of a well-patronised fashionable seaside resort well into the Twentieth Century. During its halcyon days there were three major Hotels in Cleveland. It was a charming resort possessed of mystique and intrigue where the landed gentry, leading politicians and Queenslanders rubbed shoulders with the local blackbirders, scoundrels and other scallywags.

The Hotel was advertised for lease in The Moreton Bay Free Press in 1855:

?This house is built of brick and contains seven large rooms, besides kitchen range and servants apartments. It is delightfully situated and commands an extensive view of Moreton Bay and some of its many islands etc. The great want of an hotel or Boarding House at the Bay has long been felt?.The invigorating sea breeze and beauty of the scenery would induce to repair thither invalids from India and from this Colony; Whilst families from the neighbouring towns of Brisbane and Ipswich could avail themselves of the means thus afforded them of healthful recreation and enjoyment?.

By November 1862 Hotel facilities were well established:

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