Nundah, Queensland
Encyclopedia
Nundah is an inner suburb in the city of Brisbane
, Australia
, located approximately 8 kilometers north-east of the Brisbane central business district
, in the local government area of the City of Brisbane
.
Prior to European settlement, Nundah was inhabited by Aboriginal people from the Turrbul tribe. Nundah is primarily a residential suburb, which straddles Sandgate Road
, one of the major arterial roads of Brisbane's north. It was first settled by Europeans in the mid-19th century, although the suburb remained primarily a rural area until it was connected to Brisbane via railway in the 1880s. Originally considered a working-class suburb, the area has become gentrified in recent years, and today features a mix of traditional worker's cottages and modern high-density apartment blocks. It is close to the Centro Shopping Centre.
The name "Nundah" means "chain of water holes" in the local Aboriginal dialect. This name is probably a reference to the nearby natural water sources at Kedron Brook
and the marshy areas formerly to the east of the suburb.
, Northgate
and Wavell Heights
, and is dominated by a large ridge that runs from the northwest to the southeast. The "Nundah Village" shopping district and Nundah State School are on this ridge, while the Nundah Tunnel bisects it along Sandgate Road.
The suburb includes the locality and formerly distinct suburb of Toombul, which is centered in the south of Nundah, around Sandgate Road. Various facilities in Nundah are named after this locality, including the large shopping centre Centro Toombul
, Toombul Bus Station
and the Toombul Train Station
.
Schulz Canal
runs through Nundah, bisecting the Toombul Shopping Centre Carpark. The low elevation of the carpark makes it particularly susceptible to flash flood
ing during peak storm seasons - often claiming the cars of unwary shoppers inside the centre and those attempting to cross the Melton Road bridge. The estuary of the canal is a moderately popular recreational fishing spot.
The first permanent European settlement in the area was a mission built in 1838 by German Lutheran missionaries, under the guidance of Reverend Carl Wilhelm Schmidt
and later Reverend Christoph Eipper
with the aim of bringing Christianity to the local Aboriginal people. They first called the area "Zion", and the mission was located in the vicinity of the modern-day street "Walkers Way". It later became "German Station". The explorer Dr. Ludwig Leichhardt
visited the area in 1843, and spoke very highly of the mission, but despite this the mission met with limited success and was closed at the behest of the colonial government in 1846. This first settlement is nonetheless commemorated with a monument at the corner of Sandgate Road and Wood Street unveiled in 1938 by the then Premier of Queensland William Forgan Smith
. The names of these German settlers can be seen in the names of streets in Nundah and surrounding suburbs such as Rode Road and Gerler Road.
, Bedfordshire
, England
to Queensland in 1852 aboard the "Marie Somes". In 1855, he acquired 64 acres (258,999 m²) of land north of Buckland Road and east of Sandgate Road for farming. However as Sandgate
became an increasingly popular holiday destination, the increasing volume of coach traffic along Sandgate Road encouraged him to open a hotel, which became a popular stop being roughly half-way between Brisbane
and Sandgate
. The first hotel was called the Kedron Hotel but the third and longest-running hotel was known as the Kedron Brook Hotel and was located alongside Sandgate Road (now Bage St) on the SW corner of his property. Emboldened by the success of his hotel ventures, George Bridges looked for other commercial opportunities. He observed that Sandgate Road at that time did a dog-leg around the SW corner of his property (along Buckland Road) which forced traffic to travel up and over Donkin's Hill. So he created a short-cut across the SW corner of his property that avoided the hill, which was much appreciated by the travellers, allowing George Bridges to sell off parcels of land along this new unofficial piece of Sandgate Road to commercial enterprises, which serviced both the travellers and the local farming community. This unofficial short-cut grew into the Nundah Village shopping street that exists today and eventually became the official route of Sandgate Road. Around 1872, George and his wife Mary retired to Burpengary and began to progressively sell off the land of their German Station property as the village developed.
and Sandgate
. The railway opened in 1882 and resulted in a suburban residential construction boom on Brisbane's northside. This urban sprawl was also encouraged by the Undue Subdivision of Land Prevention Act 1885
, which mandated minimum lot sizes for new urban developments. The village of German Station became known as a location where working-class families could obtain cheap housing on reasonably-sized lots not too far from the city. George Bridges sold off his remaining land for residential development in the new suburb.
A railway station called "German" was created in 1882 (again on land originally owned by George Bridges), because they wanted the station to be called "German Station" rather than "German Station Station". However, six weeks after the railway station opened, it was renamed "Nundah", derived from the Aboriginal name for the area. In 1888, the name of the Post Office was also changed to Nundah, signalling the renaming of the new suburb. However, the name "German Station" persisted for many years. For example, the German Station National School did not become Nundah State School until 1896. For many years it was common to find references to "Nundah" with the annotation "formerly German Station" in newspapers and advertisements, until the name "Nundah" was well established.
In 1909, Surrey Street in Nundah became the site of the first public housing
dwelling in Queensland. In the early twentieth century, Nundah became a major suburban centre, due to its location on Sandgate Road, one of Brisbane's busiest arterial roads, and the adjacent Nundah railway station
. Sandgate Road and nearby streets were lined with shops, pubs, cinemas and other commercial premises. Nundah was also the seat of Toombul Shire, which was absorbed into the City of Greater Brisbane in 1925. The Toombul Shire Hall still exists as a community centre.
In 1926, George Walker suggested a monument be built to mark the beginnings of Nundah, which was unveiled by the Queensland Governor Sir Leslie Orme Wilson
on April 23, 1938 as part of the First Free Settlers' Centenary Celebrations. This First Free Settlers Monument is listed in the Queensland Heritage Register.
) Toombul
shopping centre. Increasing motor traffic along Sandgate Road also reduced Nundah's appeal as a shopping precinct as it was difficult to park. Gradually many shops closed, and those that opened in their place were often "low-class" establishments such as pawn brokers, charity stores etc. that were unappealing to most shoppers, driving them increasingly to shop at Toombul.
would not support it for fear it would offend the Aboriginal community. Instead the Queensland State Government proposed to honour George Bridges in some other way (but, as of 2009, this has not occurred).
In 2008 the Brisbane City Council suburban renewal
programme has seen new art installations, cafés and commercial enterprises open in Nundah, creating a village-like atmosphere along the now-quiet Sandgate Road.
The suburb has now become popular among white collar workers
seeking relatively inexpensive housing and apartments only a moderate distance from the Brisbane CBD. Since then, along with the rest of the city, housing prices in the area have skyrocketed, pricing most of the traditional working class out of the suburb.
At the 2006 Australian Bureau of Statistics
census
, at least 73% of the population was born in Australia. Of the remainder, 5% were born in New Zealand
, 4% in the United Kingdom
, and just over 1% from the Philippines
.
As of 2010, Nundah has a large population of foreign migrants and refugees. Nundah is home to a large Indian population as well as many Muslims.
and the Toombul Citytrain station
are located within the suburb. Both of these railway stations are on both the Caboolture Line and the Shorncliffe Line, giving both stations 15-minute frequencies throughout the day seven days a week. There are many council bus services that run through the area, including the 598/599 Great Circle Line.
The Nundah Bypass is a 285 metre long road tunnel, open to general traffic, that runs underneath the Nundah Village commercial area. Completed in 2001, it provides an alternative route to traffic travelling along Sandgate Road, allowing motorists to avoid the narrow streets of the village area, and reducing traffic congestion for local residents.
Nundah retails a traditional "shopping strip" commercial district, centered mainly along the section of Sandgate Road that has been bypassed by the Nundah Bypass. There are plenty of cafes and specialty shops, as well as some medical facilities. There is also a small shopping centre anchored by a Woolworths
supermarket, which was opened in mid-2007, containing over 200 parking spots, a Subway
store, a Coffee Club
, and numerous other small shops. Plans to relocate the Nundah Library into the Nundah Village district have been verified.
. The seat has been held by Wayne Swan
of the Australian Labor Party
since the 1998 federal election. Swan's electoral office is in the suburb, in the commercial district on the corner of Sandgate and Buckland roads. The suburb lies on the border between the state electorates
of Clayfield
(held by Liberal
Tim Nicholls
), and Nudgee
(held by Labor's Neil Roberts
). Locally
, the suburb is part of the Northgate Ward, held by Labor's Kim Flesser.
In earlier times, it was part of the Nundah electorate
, one of the historical Electoral districts of Queensland.
The development of the Airport Link tunnel
, which will have its entrance just south of Toombul, will see travel times to the
CBD
reduced significantly.
Toombul is one of the most successful clubs in the history of Queensland club cricket, with 19 First Grade Premierships in its history. The club supports 6 senior grades, from First grade to Sixth grade, Under 18's, as well as a comprehensive junior club.
Toombul is widely regarded as the most social cricket club in Brisbane, with its group of supporters, The Toombul Faithful (or simply The Faithful) made up of former and current players, turning out in numbers to support the club in semi finals and finals. This adds to the club's reputation as a formidable opposition, both through the calibre of players that play for the club, and the ferocious support dealt out by The Faithful on unwary oppositions.
The Toombul District Cricket Club and The Faithful have social ties with local businesses, particularly The Royal English Hotel and the Prince Of Wales Hotel, both in Nundah, The Bowler Bar in Fortitude Valley, and The Victory Hotel in the Brisbane CBD.
The song "Shimmer
" by Fuel
is a Toombul anthem, and is embraced as the unofficial song of the club by its players and supporters.
Notable players from Toombul over the years include Jeff Thomson
, Ken Mackay
, Colin McCool
, Ron Oxenham
, and Wally Grout
.
An index to people mentioned in the book “From Pioneering Days: Nundah Northgate Virginia” by Nundah & Districts Historical Society Inc can be found here. While many of the people listed are residents of the district, some people may have had only a peripheral involvement with it.
Other denominations also have a presence in the area, including the Catholic Church which has a combined church and girl's school on Bage Street. The Presbyterian
, Baptist
, Uniting and Anglican
churches also have places of worship located within the suburb. Historically, the Methodist church and the Salvation Army
also maintained churches in the area, although these are no longer active.
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...
, 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...
, located approximately 8 kilometers north-east of the Brisbane central business district
Brisbane central business district
The Brisbane central business district , sometimes referred to as the city, is a suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia and is located on a point on the northern bank of the Brisbane River. The triangular shaped area is bounded by the Brisbane River to the east, south and west...
, in the local government area of the City of Brisbane
City of Brisbane
The City of Brisbane is the Local Government Area that has jurisdiction over the inner portion of the metropolitan area of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia...
.
Prior to European settlement, Nundah was inhabited by Aboriginal people from the Turrbul tribe. Nundah is primarily a residential suburb, which straddles Sandgate Road
Sandgate Road
Sandgate Road is a major road in Brisbane, Queensland. It provides part of the road connection between Redcliffe and the Brisbane CBD. It is designated state route 26 throughout its entire length....
, one of the major arterial roads of Brisbane's north. It was first settled by Europeans in the mid-19th century, although the suburb remained primarily a rural area until it was connected to Brisbane via railway in the 1880s. Originally considered a working-class suburb, the area has become gentrified in recent years, and today features a mix of traditional worker's cottages and modern high-density apartment blocks. It is close to the Centro Shopping Centre.
The name "Nundah" means "chain of water holes" in the local Aboriginal dialect. This name is probably a reference to the nearby natural water sources at Kedron Brook
Kedron Brook
Kedron Brook is a creek that flows through the northern suburbs of Brisbane, Australia. It starts near the outer suburb of Upper Kedron and flows in an easterly direction...
and the marshy areas formerly to the east of the suburb.
Geography
Nundah is a mixed-density residential suburb, with some light industry and a commercial retail area concentrated on Sandgate Road. It is adjacent to the suburbs of ClayfieldClayfield, Queensland
Clayfield is an inner-northern suburb of Brisbane, located approximately from the CBD. Clayfield is bordered to the north by Nundah, to the East by Ascot and Hendra, to the west by Wooloowin and to the South by Albion....
, Northgate
Northgate, Queensland
Northgate is a suburb of Brisbane, Australia located 9 km north of the Brisbane CBD. The land area comprises industrial and residential areas...
and Wavell Heights
Wavell Heights, Queensland
Wavell Heights is a Brisbane suburb located 9 km north of the Brisbane central business district. It is named after Field Marshal Lord Wavell who was the Commander-In-Chief of the Allied Forces in the Middle East during the Second World War....
, and is dominated by a large ridge that runs from the northwest to the southeast. The "Nundah Village" shopping district and Nundah State School are on this ridge, while the Nundah Tunnel bisects it along Sandgate Road.
The suburb includes the locality and formerly distinct suburb of Toombul, which is centered in the south of Nundah, around Sandgate Road. Various facilities in Nundah are named after this locality, including the large shopping centre Centro Toombul
Centro Toombul
Centro Toombul is a regional shopping centre located in the locality of Toombul which is part of Nundah, a suburb of the city of Brisbane in the state of Queensland, Australia. The centre is currently anchored by a Kmart discount department store, Coles supermarket, BI-LO supermarket and Aldi Food...
, Toombul Bus Station
Toombul Bus Station, Brisbane
Toombul is a bus interchange adjacent to Centro Toombul and Toombul railway station, located on Sandgate Road. The interchange is a island, similar to a island platform, made up of six bus stops with an extra two stops on Sandgate Road.-Facilities:...
and the Toombul Train Station
Toombul railway station, Brisbane
Toombul railway station is a railway station in Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland, Australia. It is part of the Queensland Rail City network, located in Zone 2 of the TransLink integrated public transport system.-Services by platform:Platforms 1...
.
Schulz Canal
Schulz Canal
Schulz Canal is an artificial waterway in Nundah, Queensland that enters Moreton Bay. There are tributaries that enter the short canal, draining the suburbs of Hendra and Wooloowin in Brisbane's north east....
runs through Nundah, bisecting the Toombul Shopping Centre Carpark. The low elevation of the carpark makes it particularly susceptible to flash flood
Flash flood
A flash flood is a rapid flooding of geomorphic low-lying areas—washes, rivers, dry lakes and basins. It may be caused by heavy rain associated with a storm, hurricane, or tropical storm or meltwater from ice or snow flowing over ice sheets or snowfields...
ing during peak storm seasons - often claiming the cars of unwary shoppers inside the centre and those attempting to cross the Melton Road bridge. The estuary of the canal is a moderately popular recreational fishing spot.
Aboriginal History
Like most of Northern Brisbane, the area around Nundah was dominated by the Turrbul tribe. Their traditional coastal trade route passed through Nundah, near the modern-day Hedley Avenue. There are also many significant Aboriginal sites near Nundah, such as Dinah Island, which was reportedly the site of the last traditional Aboriginal burial in the Brisbane area. There were a number of bora rings in the area, indicating that the Nundah area was densely populated by Aboriginal people before European settlers arrived.German Mission
Carl Wilhelm Schmidt
Reverend Carl Wilhelm Schmidt , also known as Karl Schmidt, was a German missionary, and an ordained minister of the Prussian United Church. Schmidt's missionary work took him to Queensland and Samoa, where he founded a number of Lutheran institutions and settlements.-Early life:Schmidt was born...
and later Reverend Christoph Eipper
Christopher Eipper
Christoph Eipper, was a pioneering missionary and Presbyterian minister in Australia.Christoph Eipper was born to Georg Christoph Eipper and Sophie Juliane Schaettler...
with the aim of bringing Christianity to the local Aboriginal people. They first called the area "Zion", and the mission was located in the vicinity of the modern-day street "Walkers Way". It later became "German Station". The explorer Dr. Ludwig Leichhardt
Ludwig Leichhardt
Friedrich Wilhelm Ludwig Leichhardt, known as Ludwig Leichhardt, was a Prussian explorer and naturalist, most famous for his exploration of northern and central Australia.-Early life:...
visited the area in 1843, and spoke very highly of the mission, but despite this the mission met with limited success and was closed at the behest of the colonial government in 1846. This first settlement is nonetheless commemorated with a monument at the corner of Sandgate Road and Wood Street unveiled in 1938 by the then Premier of Queensland William Forgan Smith
William Forgan Smith
William Forgan Smith , generally known as Forgan Smith, was Premier of the Australian state of Queensland from 1932 to 1942. He came to dominate politics in the state during the 1930s, and his populism, firm leadership, defence of states' rights and interest in state development make him something...
. The names of these German settlers can be seen in the names of streets in Nundah and surrounding suburbs such as Rode Road and Gerler Road.
Growth of the Village of German Station
A prominent local citizen who contributed significantly to the development of the village of German Station was George Bridges (1820–1898). George and his young family immigrated from WilsteadWilstead
.Wilstead is a village and civil parish in Bedfordshire, England, just off the A6 Bedford to Luton road, about five miles south of Bedford town centre, and within the Borough of Bedford. The name of the village has been spelled in many different ways, including Wilshamstead, Wylhamstead, and...
, Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire is a ceremonial county of historic origin in England that forms part of the East of England region.It borders Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Northamptonshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the west and Hertfordshire to the south-east....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
to Queensland in 1852 aboard the "Marie Somes". In 1855, he acquired 64 acres (258,999 m²) of land north of Buckland Road and east of Sandgate Road for farming. However as Sandgate
Sandgate
Sandgate can be:*Sandgate, Kent*Sandgate Castle*Sandgate, Queensland*Sandgate, New South Wales, a suburb of Newcastle, New South Wales*Sandgate, Vermont*Electoral district of Sandgate, Queensland, Australia...
became an increasingly popular holiday destination, the increasing volume of coach traffic along Sandgate Road encouraged him to open a hotel, which became a popular stop being roughly half-way between Brisbane
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...
and Sandgate
Sandgate
Sandgate can be:*Sandgate, Kent*Sandgate Castle*Sandgate, Queensland*Sandgate, New South Wales, a suburb of Newcastle, New South Wales*Sandgate, Vermont*Electoral district of Sandgate, Queensland, Australia...
. The first hotel was called the Kedron Hotel but the third and longest-running hotel was known as the Kedron Brook Hotel and was located alongside Sandgate Road (now Bage St) on the SW corner of his property. Emboldened by the success of his hotel ventures, George Bridges looked for other commercial opportunities. He observed that Sandgate Road at that time did a dog-leg around the SW corner of his property (along Buckland Road) which forced traffic to travel up and over Donkin's Hill. So he created a short-cut across the SW corner of his property that avoided the hill, which was much appreciated by the travellers, allowing George Bridges to sell off parcels of land along this new unofficial piece of Sandgate Road to commercial enterprises, which serviced both the travellers and the local farming community. This unofficial short-cut grew into the Nundah Village shopping street that exists today and eventually became the official route of Sandgate Road. Around 1872, George and his wife Mary retired to Burpengary and began to progressively sell off the land of their German Station property as the village developed.
Creation of the Suburb of Nundah
German Station remained an agricultural area until the 1880s. In 1881, Queensland State Government purchased a strip of land across George Bridges's property to build a railway link between BrisbaneBrisbane
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...
and Sandgate
Sandgate, Queensland
Sandgate is a coastal suburb in Brisbane, Australia, located 16 km north of the Brisbane CBD. The town became a popular escape for the people of Brisbane in the early 20th century.-Geography:Sandgate is situated on the coastline, along Bramble Bay...
. The railway opened in 1882 and resulted in a suburban residential construction boom on Brisbane's northside. This urban sprawl was also encouraged by the Undue Subdivision of Land Prevention Act 1885
Undue Subdivision of Land Prevention Act 1885
The Undue Subdivision of Land Prevention Act 1885 was a law passed by the Parliament of Queensland in that year to prevent overcrowding and urban degradation in cities and towns in Queensland, especially in Brisbane...
, which mandated minimum lot sizes for new urban developments. The village of German Station became known as a location where working-class families could obtain cheap housing on reasonably-sized lots not too far from the city. George Bridges sold off his remaining land for residential development in the new suburb.
A railway station called "German" was created in 1882 (again on land originally owned by George Bridges), because they wanted the station to be called "German Station" rather than "German Station Station". However, six weeks after the railway station opened, it was renamed "Nundah", derived from the Aboriginal name for the area. In 1888, the name of the Post Office was also changed to Nundah, signalling the renaming of the new suburb. However, the name "German Station" persisted for many years. For example, the German Station National School did not become Nundah State School until 1896. For many years it was common to find references to "Nundah" with the annotation "formerly German Station" in newspapers and advertisements, until the name "Nundah" was well established.
In 1909, Surrey Street in Nundah became the site of the first public housing
Public housing
Public housing is a form of housing tenure in which the property is owned by a government authority, which may be central or local. Social housing is an umbrella term referring to rental housing which may be owned and managed by the state, by non-profit organizations, or by a combination of the...
dwelling in Queensland. In the early twentieth century, Nundah became a major suburban centre, due to its location on Sandgate Road, one of Brisbane's busiest arterial roads, and the adjacent Nundah railway station
Nundah railway station, Brisbane
Nundah railway station is a railway station in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. A part of the Queensland Rail City network, it is located in Zone 2 of the TransLink integrated public transport system.-Services by platform:Platforms 1...
. Sandgate Road and nearby streets were lined with shops, pubs, cinemas and other commercial premises. Nundah was also the seat of Toombul Shire, which was absorbed into the City of Greater Brisbane in 1925. The Toombul Shire Hall still exists as a community centre.
In 1926, George Walker suggested a monument be built to mark the beginnings of Nundah, which was unveiled by the Queensland Governor Sir Leslie Orme Wilson
Leslie Orme Wilson
Sir Leslie Orme Wilson, GCSI, GCMG, GCIE, DSO, PC was a British soldier, Conservative politician and Governor of Queensland.-Personal life:...
on April 23, 1938 as part of the First Free Settlers' Centenary Celebrations. This First Free Settlers Monument is listed in the Queensland Heritage Register.
Decline of Nundah
Nundah's commercial precinct suffered a precipitous decline from the 1970s with the construction of the nearby Westfield Shoppingtown (Later CentroCentro Properties Group
Centro Properties Group, commonly known as 'Centro', is an Australian company which provides retail property ownership and management services. It is a listed company with securities traded on the Australian Securities Exchange. The multinational company owns and operates shopping centres in...
) Toombul
Centro Toombul
Centro Toombul is a regional shopping centre located in the locality of Toombul which is part of Nundah, a suburb of the city of Brisbane in the state of Queensland, Australia. The centre is currently anchored by a Kmart discount department store, Coles supermarket, BI-LO supermarket and Aldi Food...
shopping centre. Increasing motor traffic along Sandgate Road also reduced Nundah's appeal as a shopping precinct as it was difficult to park. Gradually many shops closed, and those that opened in their place were often "low-class" establishments such as pawn brokers, charity stores etc. that were unappealing to most shoppers, driving them increasingly to shop at Toombul.
Renewal of Nundah
However, in 2001 a road tunnel was constructed under nearby Bage Street, diverting through traffic away from the suburban centre. There was considerable popular support to name the road tunnel after George Bridges in recognition of his contribution to the development of the district and the fact that the tunnel was located on his original land holding. However, the local member Liddy ClarkLiddy Clark
Elizabeth Anne Clark is an Australian actor and former Australian Labor Party politician.-Acting career:...
would not support it for fear it would offend the Aboriginal community. Instead the Queensland State Government proposed to honour George Bridges in some other way (but, as of 2009, this has not occurred).
In 2008 the Brisbane City Council suburban renewal
Urban renewal
Urban renewal is a program of land redevelopment in areas of moderate to high density urban land use. Renewal has had both successes and failures. Its modern incarnation began in the late 19th century in developed nations and experienced an intense phase in the late 1940s – under the rubric of...
programme has seen new art installations, cafés and commercial enterprises open in Nundah, creating a village-like atmosphere along the now-quiet Sandgate Road.
The suburb has now become popular among white collar workers
White-collar worker
The term white-collar worker refers to a person who performs professional, managerial, or administrative work, in contrast with a blue-collar worker, whose job requires manual labor...
seeking relatively inexpensive housing and apartments only a moderate distance from the Brisbane CBD. Since then, along with the rest of the city, housing prices in the area have skyrocketed, pricing most of the traditional working class out of the suburb.
Demographics
Over one third of Nundah households are families with children, while 41% are couples only. A further 20% are single parent families. 41% of dwellings in the area are stand-alone houses, while 45% are units. Many old timber homes in the area have been renovated, while modern townhouses and units have also been built which are generally rented and small. The median house price in Nundah for the 2004 calendar year was A$352,500.At the 2006 Australian Bureau of Statistics
Australian Bureau of Statistics
The Australian Bureau of Statistics is Australia's national statistical agency. It was created as the Commonwealth Bureau of Census and Statistics on 8 December 1905, when the Census and Statistics Act 1905 was given Royal assent. It had its beginnings in section 51 of the Constitution of Australia...
census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
, at least 73% of the population was born in Australia. Of the remainder, 5% were born in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, 4% in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, and just over 1% from the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
.
As of 2010, Nundah has a large population of foreign migrants and refugees. Nundah is home to a large Indian population as well as many Muslims.
Transport
Due to its inner-northern location, there are a variety of options for transport within the suburb. Both the Nundah Citytrain stationNundah railway station, Brisbane
Nundah railway station is a railway station in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. A part of the Queensland Rail City network, it is located in Zone 2 of the TransLink integrated public transport system.-Services by platform:Platforms 1...
and the Toombul Citytrain station
Toombul railway station, Brisbane
Toombul railway station is a railway station in Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland, Australia. It is part of the Queensland Rail City network, located in Zone 2 of the TransLink integrated public transport system.-Services by platform:Platforms 1...
are located within the suburb. Both of these railway stations are on both the Caboolture Line and the Shorncliffe Line, giving both stations 15-minute frequencies throughout the day seven days a week. There are many council bus services that run through the area, including the 598/599 Great Circle Line.
The Nundah Bypass is a 285 metre long road tunnel, open to general traffic, that runs underneath the Nundah Village commercial area. Completed in 2001, it provides an alternative route to traffic travelling along Sandgate Road, allowing motorists to avoid the narrow streets of the village area, and reducing traffic congestion for local residents.
Commerce
Woolworths (supermarkets)
Woolworths is the largest supermarket chain in Australia, owned by Woolworths Limited.-History:Woolworths Limited was founded in 1924, with the first store opening up in Sydney's Imperial Arcade.-2008 rebranding:...
supermarket, which was opened in mid-2007, containing over 200 parking spots, a Subway
Subway (restaurant)
Subway is an American restaurant franchise that primarily sells submarine sandwiches and salads. It is owned and operated by Doctor's Associates, Inc. . Subway is one of the fastest growing franchises in the world with 35,519 restaurants in 98 countries and territories as of October 25th, 2011...
store, a Coffee Club
The Coffee Club
The Coffee Club is a coffeehouse-style café chain. Originally created in 1989 as a place to get "an excellent coffee", the concept now includes cafébar/restaurant stores with expanded menus and full table service.-History:...
, and numerous other small shops. Plans to relocate the Nundah Library into the Nundah Village district have been verified.
Politics
Nundah is in the federal electorate of LilleyDivision of Lilley
The Division of Lilley is an Australian Electoral Division in Queensland. The division was first proclaimed in 1913. The division is named after Sir Charles Lilley, a former Premier of Queensland and a former Chief Justice in the Supreme Court of Queensland....
. The seat has been held by Wayne Swan
Wayne Swan
Wayne Maxwell Swan is the Deputy Prime Minister of Australia and an Australian politician. He has been an Australian Labor Party member of the Australian House of Representatives from 1993 to 1996, and then re elected in 1998 till today , representing the Division of Lilley, QLD...
of the Australian Labor Party
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
since the 1998 federal election. Swan's electoral office is in the suburb, in the commercial district on the corner of Sandgate and Buckland roads. The suburb lies on the border between the state electorates
Queensland Legislative Assembly
The Queensland Legislative Assembly is the unicameral chamber of the Parliament of Queensland. Elections are held approximately once every three years. Voting is by the Optional Preferential Voting form of the Alternative Vote system...
of Clayfield
Electoral district of Clayfield
The district of Clayfield is an electoral division of the Queensland Legislative Assembly. It is centred around the inner northern suburb of Clayfield in the state capital of Brisbane....
(held by Liberal
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
Tim Nicholls
Tim Nicholls
Timothy James Nicholls is an Australian politician. He is the member for Clayfield in the Queensland Legislative Assembly and holds the position of Shadow Treasurer...
), and Nudgee
Electoral district of Nudgee
The district of Nudgee is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Queensland. Based in the north-eastern suburbs of Brisbane, the district is a safe seat for the Labor Party.-Members for Nudgee:-Election results:...
(held by Labor's Neil Roberts
Neil Roberts (politician)
Neil Stuart Roberts is an Australian politician. He was first elected to the seat of Nudgee in the Queensland State Parliament on 15 July 1995....
). Locally
City of Brisbane
The City of Brisbane is the Local Government Area that has jurisdiction over the inner portion of the metropolitan area of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia...
, the suburb is part of the Northgate Ward, held by Labor's Kim Flesser.
In earlier times, it was part of the Nundah electorate
Electoral district of Nundah
Nundah was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Queensland from 1888 to 1992.The district was based in the northern suburbs of Brisbane. At the time of its abolition it included the suburbs of Nundah, Eagle Farm, Hendra and Toombul.-Members for Nundah:...
, one of the historical Electoral districts of Queensland.
Future development
Plans are under way to further change the Nundah Village area dramatically. As part of the Circa Nundah development, 3.5 hectares of Nundah will be redeveloped to include a medium-rise commercial office tower, retail, and apartments. This development will also house the relocated Nundah Library. The development will span parts of Sandgate Road's east side, some southern parts of Station Street, and will cover most of Aspinall Street.The development of the Airport Link tunnel
Airport Link, Brisbane
The Airport Link is a tunnelled motorway grade road which is under construction in the northern suburbs of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It will connect the Brisbane central business district and the Clem Jones Tunnel to the East-West Arterial Road which leads to the Brisbane Airport...
, which will have its entrance just south of Toombul, will see travel times to the
CBD
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
reduced significantly.
Toombul District Cricket Club
The cricket club is situated on the corner of Duke Street and York Street, directly across Duke Street from Nundah Train Station. It covers 3.5 hectares, and is bordered by York Street, Duke Street, Melton Road and Jenner Street. It was active as a cricket club prior to the station being built in 1882, and is the oldest sports club in Queensland.Toombul is one of the most successful clubs in the history of Queensland club cricket, with 19 First Grade Premierships in its history. The club supports 6 senior grades, from First grade to Sixth grade, Under 18's, as well as a comprehensive junior club.
Toombul is widely regarded as the most social cricket club in Brisbane, with its group of supporters, The Toombul Faithful (or simply The Faithful) made up of former and current players, turning out in numbers to support the club in semi finals and finals. This adds to the club's reputation as a formidable opposition, both through the calibre of players that play for the club, and the ferocious support dealt out by The Faithful on unwary oppositions.
The Toombul District Cricket Club and The Faithful have social ties with local businesses, particularly The Royal English Hotel and the Prince Of Wales Hotel, both in Nundah, The Bowler Bar in Fortitude Valley, and The Victory Hotel in the Brisbane CBD.
The song "Shimmer
Shimmer (song)
"Shimmer" is Fuel's first single from their album Sunburn. It was released on August 25, 1998.Written by guitarist/songwriter Carl Bell, the single peaked at #42 on the Billboard Hot 100.-Lyrical meaning:...
" by Fuel
Fuel (band)
Fuel is an American rock band formed by guitarist/songwriter Carl Bell and bassist Jeff Abercrombie in 1989. Originally known as Small the Joy, they changed the group's name to Fuel sometime in 1994...
is a Toombul anthem, and is embraced as the unofficial song of the club by its players and supporters.
Notable players from Toombul over the years include Jeff Thomson
Jeff Thomson
Jeffrey Robert Thomson is a former Australian cricketer. Known as "Thommo", he was one of the fastest bowlers ever to play Test cricket and was the opening partner of fellow fast bowler Dennis Lillee; their combination was one of the most fearsome in Test cricket history...
, Ken Mackay
Ken Mackay
Kenneth Donald Mackay was an Australian cricketer who played in 37 Tests from 1956 to 1963....
, Colin McCool
Colin McCool
Colin Leslie McCool was an Australian cricketer who played in 14 Tests from 1946 to 1950. McCool, born in Paddington, New South Wales, was an all-rounder who bowled leg spin and googlies with a round arm action and as a lower order batsman was regarded as effective square of the wicket and against...
, Ron Oxenham
Ron Oxenham
Ronald Keven Oxenham was an Australian cricketer who played in 7 Tests from 1928 to 1931....
, and Wally Grout
Wally Grout
Arthur Theodore Wallace Grout was a Test cricketer who kept wicket for Australia and Queensland.Grout played in 51 Test matches between 1957 and 1966...
.
People of Nundah
- George Bridges, (1820–1898) pioneer farmer and developer
- Thomas BridgesThomas Bridges (Australian politician)Thomas Bridges was a member of Australia's Queensland Legislative Assembly in the seat of Nundah as a member of the Ministerial party and as a member of the then Commonwealth Liberal Party .-Early...
, (1853–1939) son of George Bridges, Member of the Legislative Assembly - Bob Bax, legendary coach of The Norths Brisbane first grade rugby league team which is based out of Bishop Park, Nundah and formerly Oxenham Park, Nundah. Bax coached the Devils in five of their historical six successive premiership victories between 1959-64.
- Bill KnoxWilliam Knox (Queensland politician)Sir William Knox was born in Victoria, Australia and was the Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly representing the district of Nundah for the Liberal Party of Australia between from 1956 to 1989....
, (1927–2001) Member of the Legislative Assembly, Treasurer of Queensland
An index to people mentioned in the book “From Pioneering Days: Nundah Northgate Virginia” by Nundah & Districts Historical Society Inc can be found here. While many of the people listed are residents of the district, some people may have had only a peripheral involvement with it.
Landmarks
- Bishop Park - Home ground of the Norths DevilsNorths DevilsThe Northern Suburbs Devils, Norths for short, are a rugby league club representing the northern suburbs of Brisbane, Australia. The team colours are sky blue, navy blue and gold. They play in the Queensland Wizard Cup, and, through their predecessors, are one of the oldest clubs in...
rugby leagueRugby leagueRugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
team in the Queensland CupQueensland CupThe Queensland Cup is the premier rugby league football competition in the State of Queensland, Australia.It is a statewide competition with the majority of teams based in South East Queensland but also including sides based in Cairns, Mackay and Rockhampton.The competition began in 1996 as a...
competition. - Boyd Park - Grounds used by the Nundah State School
- Oxenham Park - Home of the Toombul District Cricket Club in the Queensland Cricket Association Grade competition, and contains the Ken MacKay and LaFrantz Ovals
- Centro ToombulCentro ToombulCentro Toombul is a regional shopping centre located in the locality of Toombul which is part of Nundah, a suburb of the city of Brisbane in the state of Queensland, Australia. The centre is currently anchored by a Kmart discount department store, Coles supermarket, BI-LO supermarket and Aldi Food...
Shopping Centre - Nundah Criterium Bicycle Track - Located in Hedley Ave/Walkers Way Nundah, next to Albert Bishop Park and the Schultz Canal bikeway.
- Nundah Catholic Church
- Nundah Historic Cemetery - Contains the graves of many of the original settlers and their families.
- Nundah Library - Adjacent to the Sir William Knox Archives & Resource Centre.
- Nundah State School - Established 1865 as German Station National School
- Nundah Shopping Village
- Nundah Railway StationNundah railway station, BrisbaneNundah railway station is a railway station in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. A part of the Queensland Rail City network, it is located in Zone 2 of the TransLink integrated public transport system.-Services by platform:Platforms 1...
- Prince of Wales Hotel
- Ross Park Skate and BMX Park
- Royal English Hotel
- Schulz CanalSchulz CanalSchulz Canal is an artificial waterway in Nundah, Queensland that enters Moreton Bay. There are tributaries that enter the short canal, draining the suburbs of Hendra and Wooloowin in Brisbane's north east....
- Sir William KnoxWilliam Knox (Queensland politician)Sir William Knox was born in Victoria, Australia and was the Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly representing the district of Nundah for the Liberal Party of Australia between from 1956 to 1989....
Archives & Resource Centre - Behind the Nundah State Library. - Toombul Railway StationToombul railway station, BrisbaneToombul railway station is a railway station in Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland, Australia. It is part of the Queensland Rail City network, located in Zone 2 of the TransLink integrated public transport system.-Services by platform:Platforms 1...
- Toombul Shire Hall - Available for hire.
- TufnellEdward Wyndham TufnellEdward Wyndham Tufnell was the first bishop of Anglican Diocese of Brisbane.-Early life:Tufnell was born on 3 October 1814 in Bath, Somerset and educated at Eton and Wadham College, Oxford...
Home Orphanage - Now the Tufnell Child Care Centre.
Parks
- Albert Bishop Park - Amelia Street, Hedley Avenue and Nudgee Road, adjoining Schulz Canal
- Boyd Park - Bage Street and Boyd, Park and Sandgate Roads
- Carew Street - Brook and Carew Streets
- Kalinga Park - Jackson and Kalinga Streets, Park Avenue and Sandgate Road, adjoining Schulz Canal
- Oxenham Park - Duke, Jenner and York Streets and Melton Road
- Plaisted Place - Cavendish, Flower and Maynard Streets
- Ross Park - Parkland Street and Sandgate Road, adjoining Schulz Canal
- Toombul Terrace - Bage, Gardner and Glenhill Streets, Hamson and Toombul Terraces and Royal Avenue
- Upton Street - Upton Street, off London Street
- Wood Street (Road Reserve) - Bage and Wood Streets and Sandgate Road
Educational institutions
- Mary MacKillop College (formerly Corpus Christi College)
- Nundah State School
- St. Joseph's Primary
Churches
Since the earliest days of the Zion's Hill mission, there have been a number of churches in the area. The Lutheran church continues to maintain a presence in the suburb, with a number of facilities, including St Paul's church, a childcare centre, and the Zion Retirement home clustered around the area near the corner of Buckland Road and Atthow Parade.Other denominations also have a presence in the area, including the Catholic Church which has a combined church and girl's school on Bage Street. The Presbyterian
Presbyterianism
Presbyterianism refers to a number of Christian churches adhering to the Calvinist theological tradition within Protestantism, which are organized according to a characteristic Presbyterian polity. Presbyterian theology typically emphasizes the sovereignty of God, the authority of the Scriptures,...
, Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
, Uniting and Anglican
Anglicanism
Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
churches also have places of worship located within the suburb. Historically, the Methodist church and the Salvation Army
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
also maintained churches in the area, although these are no longer active.
Community services
- Nundah Combined St John AmbulanceSt John Ambulance AustraliaSt John Ambulance Australia is a self-funding charitable organisation dedicated to helping people in sickness, distress, suffering or danger. It is part of an international organisation that consists of eight Priories that form the Order of St John.- History :St John First Aid training centres...
Division - Nundah-Northgate Scout Group (Scouts AustraliaScouts AustraliaScouts Australia is an organisation for children and young adults from 6 to 26 years of age. Scouts Australia is part of the global Scouting movement and has been a national member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement since 1953...
) celebrating centenary in 2009