He was the man often seen walking Annerley Road with magpies, kookaburras and brush turkeys in tow, and now the suburb is saying goodbye to Laurie Baker, its much-loved “Bird Man”.
Laurie passed away on 8 April 2026 at the age of 79. For decades, he was a familiar and much-loved sight around the suburb. Residents would often spot him walking between his Lewisham Street home and the Annerley Road shops, accompanied by an unmistakable entourage of magpies, kookaburras and, every so often, a brush turkey or two.
His bond with the local birdlife made him something of a legend in the neighbourhood, and his absence will be keenly felt by many who knew him, or simply knew of him.
Laurie’s devotion to his feathered companions was part of his daily life. He made a ritual of visiting local shops to buy food especially for them, and his care extended well beyond the street.
At home, brush turkeys were known to knock loudly on his door each day at 4:00 p.m. for feeding time, prompting Laurie to head to the fridge for their treats. With typical humour, he would joke: “Those birds eat better than I do.”
An Annerley local for the past 35 years, Laurie was deeply woven into the fabric of the community. He was well known not only for his love of birds, but also by shopkeepers and locals up and down the strip for his warm presence, his routines and his passion for rugby league.
A devoted NRL fan, Laurie enjoyed placing small weekly wagers at the local pub and listening closely to every game at home on his old transistor radio. It was one of the many simple pleasures that brought him joy.
Before retiring around 20 years ago, Laurie worked as an interstate truck driver, a job that reflected his independence and resilience. Though much of his later life was defined by the quiet routines of suburban life, he had lived a rich and wide-ranging one.
Laurie was born in East Fremantle, Western Australia, on 2 April 1947, and spent his earliest years in Perth. As a young boy, he moved to Spring Hill in Brisbane with his parents following the passing of his grandparents, beginning what would become a lifelong connection with Queensland’s capital.
He was also a proud father to seven children, including two named Laurie. In his later years, he was cared for by two of his children, Matt and Tania, whose support and devotion helped see him through to the end of his life.
Laurie Baker leaves behind a large family, many friends and a suburb that will feel a little quieter without him. But for those in Annerley who watched him stroll the streets with birds at his heels, his memory will remain part of the neighbourhood itself.
Published 10-April-2026
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