Stafford, Queensland
Encyclopedia
Stafford is a northern suburb of Brisbane
, the state capital of Queensland
, Australia
.
A predominantly residential suburb, including some original Queenslander
-style homes and a significant number of post-war Queensland Housing Commission
homes on quarter-acre blocks built around the 1940s and 1950s, Stafford lies to the west of Lutwyche Road, along the banks of Kedron Brook
. Being an area of that age, a large number of Stafford's residents are elderly people, as well as growing number of families of a younger generation.
A public move to rename the area after the English county of Staffordshire
in 1885 and 1886 led to its current name, approved by the Queensland Place Names Board on 11 August 1975.
Between 1940 and 1968 Stafford was served by electric tram
s operated by the Brisbane City Council. This was the last completely new tram line (as distinct from tram line extension) built in Brisbane.
One of the original large employers of local workers, Gibson's Tannery (also known as Scotia Works), closed in 1982 to make way for the Stafford City Shopping Centre, which opened in 1983 and extended in 1997. Previously, the Stafford Road shopping strip at the tram terminus was the local centre.
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...
, the state capital 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...
.
A predominantly residential suburb, including some original Queenslander
Queenslander (architecture)
Queenslander architecture is a modern term for the vernacular type of architecture of Queensland, Australia. It is also found in the northern parts of the adjacent state of New South Wales and shares many traits with architecture in other states of Australia but is distinct and unique...
-style homes and a significant number of post-war Queensland Housing Commission
Queensland Housing Commission
The Queensland Housing Commission is a Queensland Government agency, established in 1945. The agency aims to improve the lives of individuals and families by providing access to secure, affordable and appropriate housing....
homes on quarter-acre blocks built around the 1940s and 1950s, Stafford lies to the west of Lutwyche Road, along the banks of 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...
. Being an area of that age, a large number of Stafford's residents are elderly people, as well as growing number of families of a younger generation.
History
Stafford was originally called Happy Valley. It is possible that the name originates from the fact the Sir Thomas Brisbane for whom the city is named was an officer in the Staffordshire Regiment - a Stafford Knot is featured in the city's coat-of-arms.A public move to rename the area after the English county of Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
in 1885 and 1886 led to its current name, approved by the Queensland Place Names Board on 11 August 1975.
Between 1940 and 1968 Stafford was served by electric tram
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
s operated by the Brisbane City Council. This was the last completely new tram line (as distinct from tram line extension) built in Brisbane.
One of the original large employers of local workers, Gibson's Tannery (also known as Scotia Works), closed in 1982 to make way for the Stafford City Shopping Centre, which opened in 1983 and extended in 1997. Previously, the Stafford Road shopping strip at the tram terminus was the local centre.