A man with an encyclopaedic knowledge of the history of the Pine Rivers district has passed away.

Leith Barter who served as the local studies librarian for the Pine Rivers and Moreton Bay Councils for 12 years, died on 9 July.  He was 64.

Andrea Quaile from the North Pine Historical Society said Mr Barter had left his mark amongst the history fraternity.

“He was a great source of knowledge, support and encouragement and will be sadly missed,” she said.

Christina Ealing-Godbold from the State Library of Queensland said Mr Barter was “an excellent scholar, a fine historian and a lovely gentleman”.

Carmel Bond from the Dayboro District Historical Society said her colleague was “someone who can’t be replaced”.

“His knowledge was just incredible… and he had stimulated my interest in local history,” she said.

“He was just so thrilled if you could come across some bit of information that he didn’t have.”

Speaking to The Westerner just prior to his retirement in 2010, Mr Barter relayed his enthusiasm for unearthing new facets of Pine Rivers’ history.

“You think you’ve seen it all and got it all and then suddenly people come in with information and incredible photographs that you’ve never seen before,” he said.

Mr Barter continued to travel from his home at Laidley to give talks at the Pine Rivers Heritage Museum in retirement.

He was writing a comprehensive history of the Moreton Bay region at the time of his passing.

His legacy will live on through his published works, including Pioneering the Pine, and documentaries Pine Valley Timber and Normanby: The Spirit of an Early Industry, about the defunct Normanby rum distillery at Strathpine.

Read Andrea Quaile's tribute to Leith Barter here.