Brisbane planes, trains, buses and ferries: strangest lost property items

Gorilla suits, false teeth and fresh fish were among some of the strangest things left on Brisbane’s public transport and airport terminals.

As expected, wallets, purses and mobile phones were the most commonly forgotten items, however a few items really showed off Brisbane’s true self. Read more Brisbane Airport lost and found, Brisbane Airport lost Property

A prosthetic eye found on Queensland’s trains. Photo: Queensland Rail

Have a read of some of the weird and wonderful items found in lost property rooms across Brisbane over the years.

At the airport

Umbrellas were among the more common items left on our public transport systems. Photo: Queensland Rail

With more than 22 million people travelling to and from Brisbane each year, the lost property department at the airport sees its fair share of exotic items.

“Over the years we’ve had misplaced false teeth, cash, crutches, hearing aids,” Brisbane Airport’s Leonie Vandeven said.

“We’ve also had baby birds, odd shoes, expensive suits and designer dresses all handed in, along with a whole fresh fish in a suitcase and a life-sized kangaroo and koala statue.”

The strangest item left at the airport was “Uncle Russell’s” ashes, Ms Vandeven’s said.
A gorilla suit is one of the stranger items left on Brisbane’s public transport.
A gorilla suit is one of the stranger items left on Brisbane’s public transport. Photo: Supplied

” ‘Uncle Russell’s ashes’ were thankfully reunited with the family,” she said.

Any items left at the airport for two months is donated to charity or sold at charitable auctions.
This 70th birthday photo album was found at Robina Station in February.
This 70th birthday photo album was found at Robina Station in February. Photo: Queensland Rail

Ms Vandeven said any unopened duty-free alcohol left behind at the International Terminal was offered for sale via silent public auctions, with proceeds donated to local charities.

On our buses, ferries and CityCats

We are a forgetful bunch when it comes to umbrellas, it seems, with the rain protector the fourth most-common item left behind, just after the more common items such as wallets, purses and mobile phones.

In 2015, more than 18,000 items were recovered from buses and vessels, with 6000 items left behind so far this year.

Deputy Mayor Adrian Schrinner said a number of “bizarre” items had shown up on buses and ferries over the years.

“(There has been) fluffy handcuffs, a gorilla suit, a wedding dress, dentures, a barbecue, a hairdresser’s mannequin, prams and live fishing bait,” he said.

“Items which are not perishable are kept for four weeks and if an owner does not come forward, are donated to charity.

“Council has a positive track record for reuniting owners with their lost items.”

On our trains

More than 16,000 lost items were handed in or found on Queensland’s rail network last year, with mobile phones and wallets making up a quarter of all belongings left behind.

Keys came in next, with 800 people left locked out of their homes in 2015.

“We also found hundreds of glasses, sunglasses, USBs, tablets and umbrellas, as well as enough books to form a library,” a Queensland Rail spokesperson said.

“Some of the stranger items include a generator, false teeth, a prosthetic eye, a mannequin, pool noodles, boxing gloves, musical instruments and surfboards.

“One forgetful camper also left behind a full set of camping equipment, complete with a sleeping bag, chair and esky, fishing rods and a tackle box.”

The tireless lost property team at Queensland Rail uses every avenue, including social media, to try to reunite people with their lost treasures, but unfortunately only about a third of items are claimed.

After two months and if they are not of great personal value, the items are donated to not-for-profit charity and community partners.

A 70th birthday photo book found at Robina Station in February this year has yet to be reunited and the team at Queensland Rail have asked anyone who might know the owner to get in touch.