Acacia Ridge, Queensland
Encyclopedia
Acacia Ridge is a suburb of Brisbane
, Queensland
, Australia
. Acacia Ridge is 15 kilometres (9 mi) south of the central business district. The population in the 2001 census was 6648.
Primarily residential, Acacia Ridge is also home to heavy industrial area in the suburb's east, occupying much of the suburb's area east of Beaudesert Road. Acacia Ridge is home to one of Brisbane's few ice skating rinks. It was established after the Second World War to house returning servicemen and their families. Many of the original post-war dwellings still stand today.
's main vehicle manufacturing plants, producing full-sized models and smaller models including the Holden Gemini
. Once production ceased of the locally produced Gemini, the manufacturing plant closed down. The manufacturer remained, retaining a small area of the site for regional headquarters until the early 2000s, when it relocated to Murarrie
. Since closure of the plant, Woolworths
occupied the area, utilising its space as a reigonal distribution centre until recently, when an independent retail grocery chain resumed the site for similar purposes.
On the opposite of Beaudesert Road from the former manufacturing plant, Toyota has based its souther Queensland reigonal headquarters. This site is primarily used for managerial and distribution related duties, as opposed to vehicle production.
, dealing with interstate freight and the break-of-gauge
from to . In 2008, the Beaudesert Road level crossing was replaced by an overbridge, so that the sidings in the yard can be expanded for the shunting of longer 1500m trains
.
Because space is not available for all potential users of this yard, another hub at Bromelton
has been proposed. In 2009, the line between Acacia Ridge and Bromelton is being converted to dual gauge
to suit a break-of-gauge
hub at Bromelton.
Acacia Ridge also borders one corner of Archerfield Aerodrome; a small, privately owned airport.
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Acacia Ridge is 15 kilometres (9 mi) south of the central business district. The population in the 2001 census was 6648.
Primarily residential, Acacia Ridge is also home to heavy industrial area in the suburb's east, occupying much of the suburb's area east of Beaudesert Road. Acacia Ridge is home to one of Brisbane's few ice skating rinks. It was established after the Second World War to house returning servicemen and their families. Many of the original post-war dwellings still stand today.
Industry
From 1966 until the mid 1980s, Acacia Ridge was home to one of HoldenHolden
GM Holden Ltd is an automaker that operates in Australia, based in Port Melbourne, Victoria. The company was founded in 1856 as a saddlery manufacturer. In 1908 it moved into the automotive field, before becoming a subsidiary of the U.S.-based General Motors in 1931...
's main vehicle manufacturing plants, producing full-sized models and smaller models including the Holden Gemini
Holden Gemini
The Holden Gemini is a compact car that was built and sold by General Motors-Holden's from 1975 to 1986. It was derived from the Japanese Isuzu Gemini, one of the many cars based on the GM T-car platform.- TX :...
. Once production ceased of the locally produced Gemini, the manufacturing plant closed down. The manufacturer remained, retaining a small area of the site for regional headquarters until the early 2000s, when it relocated to Murarrie
Murarrie, Queensland
Murarrie is a suburb of Brisbane, Australia. It is located in the eastern suburbs on the southern bank of the Brisbane River adjacent to the Gateway Bridge.Murarrie has both residential and industrial sections...
. Since closure of the plant, Woolworths
Woolworths Limited
Woolworths Limited is a major Australian company with extensive retail interest throughout Australia and New Zealand. It is the:* largest retail company in Australia and New Zealand by market capitalisation and sales...
occupied the area, utilising its space as a reigonal distribution centre until recently, when an independent retail grocery chain resumed the site for similar purposes.
On the opposite of Beaudesert Road from the former manufacturing plant, Toyota has based its souther Queensland reigonal headquarters. This site is primarily used for managerial and distribution related duties, as opposed to vehicle production.
Transport
Acacia Ridge is home to one of Queensland's largest railway freight yardsRail yard
A rail yard, or railroad yard, is a complex series of railroad tracks for storing, sorting, or loading/unloading, railroad cars and/or locomotives. Railroad yards have many tracks in parallel for keeping rolling stock stored off the mainline, so that they do not obstruct the flow of traffic....
, dealing with interstate freight and the break-of-gauge
Break-of-gauge
With railways, a break-of-gauge occurs where a line of one gauge meets a line of a different gauge. Trains and rolling stock cannot run through without some form of conversion between gauges, and freight and passengers must otherwise be transloaded...
from to . In 2008, the Beaudesert Road level crossing was replaced by an overbridge, so that the sidings in the yard can be expanded for the shunting of longer 1500m trains
Longest trains
Conventional freight trains can average nearly 2,000 metres. Freight trains with a total length of three or four times that average are possible with the advent of DPUs , or additional locomotive engines between or behind long chains of freight cars...
.
Because space is not available for all potential users of this yard, another hub at Bromelton
Bromelton, Queensland
Bromelton is a small village in southern Queensland, Australia. At the 2006 census, Bromelton and the surrounding area had a population of 536.- Transport :The town has a crossing loop on the national standard gauge railway network...
has been proposed. In 2009, the line between Acacia Ridge and Bromelton is being converted to dual gauge
Dual gauge
A dual-gauge or mixed-gauge railway has railway track that allows trains of different gauges to use the same track. Generally, a dual-gauge railway consists of three rails, rather than the standard two rails. The two outer rails give the wider gauge, while one of the outer rails and the inner rail...
to suit a break-of-gauge
Break-of-gauge
With railways, a break-of-gauge occurs where a line of one gauge meets a line of a different gauge. Trains and rolling stock cannot run through without some form of conversion between gauges, and freight and passengers must otherwise be transloaded...
hub at Bromelton.
Acacia Ridge also borders one corner of Archerfield Aerodrome; a small, privately owned airport.
Notable people
- Steve Price
- Joel TurnerJoel Turner (musician)Joel Turner is an Australian beatboxer, singer, songwriter, instrumentalist and record producer best known for the Australian hit song "These Kids". As a beatboxer, he is recognised for his raw power, deep bass, and trademark sounds such as his "third voice", cowbell, teeth beats and bass guitar...
- Johnathan ThurstonJohnathan ThurstonJohnathan Dean Thurston is an Indigenous Australian professional rugby league footballer in the NRL with the North Queensland Cowboys whom he co-captains...