Lonely Planet Brisbane & the Gold Coast — The standard practical guide to Brisbane and the surrounding region. Covers transport, accommodation, and the main sights in and around the city, with useful context for exploring the bayside suburbs.
Moreton Bay and its Islands by Thomas Welsby — A historical account of Moreton Bay and the communities that grew up around it, including the bayside suburbs north of Brisbane. Welsby was a Queensland lawyer and historian writing in the early twentieth century; his work gives a sense of the bay's place in the region's history.
Johnno by David Malouf — One of Queensland's most celebrated novels, set in Brisbane and capturing the city's particular character — its heat, its ordinariness, and the restlessness of its people. Not about Clontarf, but essential reading for anyone wanting to understand what Brisbane is and feels like.
The Reef: A Passionate History by Iain McCalman — A cultural and natural history of the Great Barrier Reef and Queensland's coastal waters, including Moreton Bay. Good background reading on the marine environment that shapes this part of the coast.