Woolloongabba, Queensland
Encyclopedia
Woolloongabba is an inner suburb of Brisbane
, Australia
located 4 km south of the Brisbane CBD.
Experts are divided regarding the Aboriginal meaning of the name, preferring either 'whirling waters' (woolloon and capemm) or 'fight talk place' (woolloon and gabba). The locals refer to the suburb as The Gabba.
The suburb has a significant link to the history of transport in Brisbane
. Between 1884 and 1969 the main railway locomotive
depot
for lines south of the Brisbane River
was beside Stanley St. It was reached via a line that ran beside Stanley St, then crossing it, Logan Road
and Ipswich Road
to the main line at Dutton Park
. By the 1960s services from the depot were causing significant delays to traffic as they crossed these three major roads.
The suburb was served by horse-drawn tram
s from 1885 to 1897, which were replaced by electric trams, which in turn ceased operation on 13 April 1969. All but one of Brisbane's trolleybus
routes traversed the suburb, from 1953 to 1969. The Gabba Fiveways (the intersection of Stanley St, Main St, Logan Rd and Ipswich Rd) was a complex junction with tram and railway lines, and tram and trolleybus overhead. Trams were controlled by a signalman, who operated the points (or switches
) from a signal cabin near the eastern side of the junction. Trains were escorted across the junction by a flagman. Curiously, the Queensland Railways always referred to the branch line as the Wooloongabba Branch, i.e. only one 'l'.
From 1927 until 1969 the largest of the Brisbane City Council's tram depots was on Ipswich Road, opposite the Princess Alexandra Hospital
. It was also used by the council's buses.
. Woolloongabba has many apartment
buildings due to river views, and the suburbs proximity to the Brisbane central business district
and South Bank Parklands
. The Norman Hotel is a local landmark that has served customers since 1890.
Park Road railway station
and Mater Hill and Woolloongabba Busway Station provide access to public transport. The Pacific Motorway
cuts through the suburb with an exit south into Vulture Street and a Stanley Street exit for vehicles heading north.
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 4 km south of the Brisbane CBD.
Experts are divided regarding the Aboriginal meaning of the name, preferring either 'whirling waters' (woolloon and capemm) or 'fight talk place' (woolloon and gabba). The locals refer to the suburb as The Gabba.
History
Because the area was low-lying and swampy, it was known as the One Mile Swamp. Although this name appears to be unofficial, it was in common use until the early 1890s.The suburb has a significant link to the history of transport in Brisbane
Transport in Brisbane
Transport in Brisbane, the capital and largest city of Queensland, Australia, is provided by road, rail, river and bay ferries, footpaths, bikepaths, sea and air....
. Between 1884 and 1969 the main railway locomotive
Locomotive
A locomotive is a railway vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. The word originates from the Latin loco – "from a place", ablative of locus, "place" + Medieval Latin motivus, "causing motion", and is a shortened form of the term locomotive engine, first used in the early 19th...
depot
Train station
A train station, also called a railroad station or railway station and often shortened to just station,"Station" is commonly understood to mean "train station" unless otherwise qualified. This is evident from dictionary entries e.g...
for lines south of the Brisbane River
Brisbane River
The Brisbane River is the longest river in south east Queensland, Australia, and flows through the city of Brisbane, before emptying into Moreton Bay. John Oxley was the first European to explore the river who named it after the Governor of New South Wales, Thomas Brisbane in 1823...
was beside Stanley St. It was reached via a line that ran beside Stanley St, then crossing it, Logan Road
Logan Road, Brisbane
Logan Road is a major road in Brisbane, Queensland. It runs 16 km from Springwood to Woolloongabba, with most of the route signed as state route 95...
and Ipswich Road
Ipswich Road, Brisbane
Ipswich Road is one Brisbane's main roads connecting Brisbane to the nearby city of Ipswich, via the Ipswich Motorway. Logan Road, Pacific Motorway, and Beaudesert Road are the other major roads in the south of Brisbane. The road was an important transport route in 19th century Brisbane...
to the main line at Dutton Park
Dutton Park, Queensland
Dutton Park is a suburb of Brisbane, Australia located 5 km south of the Brisbane CBD. The suburb is predominantly residential, with some light industrial and commercial areas....
. By the 1960s services from the depot were causing significant delays to traffic as they crossed these three major roads.
The suburb was served by horse-drawn 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 from 1885 to 1897, which were replaced by electric trams, which in turn ceased operation on 13 April 1969. All but one of Brisbane's trolleybus
Trolleybus
A trolleybus is an electric bus that draws its electricity from overhead wires using spring-loaded trolley poles. Two wires and poles are required to complete the electrical circuit...
routes traversed the suburb, from 1953 to 1969. The Gabba Fiveways (the intersection of Stanley St, Main St, Logan Rd and Ipswich Rd) was a complex junction with tram and railway lines, and tram and trolleybus overhead. Trams were controlled by a signalman, who operated the points (or switches
Railroad switch
A railroad switch, turnout or [set of] points is a mechanical installation enabling railway trains to be guided from one track to another at a railway junction....
) from a signal cabin near the eastern side of the junction. Trains were escorted across the junction by a flagman. Curiously, the Queensland Railways always referred to the branch line as the Wooloongabba Branch, i.e. only one 'l'.
From 1927 until 1969 the largest of the Brisbane City Council's tram depots was on Ipswich Road, opposite the Princess Alexandra Hospital
Princess Alexandra Hospital
The Princess Alexandra Hospital , is located on Ipswich Road in Woolloongabba, Australia. It is one of the major hospitals in Brisbane and is a teaching hospital of the University of Queensland. It is a tertiary level teaching hospital with all major medical and surgical specialities onsite except...
. It was also used by the council's buses.
Attractions
The suburb is home to the Brisbane Cricket Ground (known as "The Gabba") and the Princess Alexandra HospitalPrincess Alexandra Hospital
The Princess Alexandra Hospital , is located on Ipswich Road in Woolloongabba, Australia. It is one of the major hospitals in Brisbane and is a teaching hospital of the University of Queensland. It is a tertiary level teaching hospital with all major medical and surgical specialities onsite except...
. Woolloongabba has many apartment
Apartment
An apartment or flat is a self-contained housing unit that occupies only part of a building...
buildings due to river views, and the suburbs proximity to 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...
and South Bank Parklands
South Bank Parklands, Brisbane
The South Bank Parklands are located at South Bank in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. The parkland, on the transformed site of Brisbane's World Expo 88, was officially opened to the public on 20 June 1992.-Overview:...
. The Norman Hotel is a local landmark that has served customers since 1890.
Demographics
In 2006, Woolloongabba had 39.4% of residents born overseas and 30.0% of residents speaking a language other than English. The most common languages other than English spoken at home were Vietnamese 2.3%, Cantonese 1.6%, Greek 1.6%, Mandarin 1.5% and Italian 1.3%.Transport
Park Road railway station, Brisbane
Park Road Station is a railway station in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It is part of the Queensland Rail City network.It is in a transition precinct between Zone 1 and Zone 2 of the TransLink integrated public transport system....
and Mater Hill and Woolloongabba Busway Station provide access to public transport. The Pacific Motorway
Pacific Motorway
The Pacific Motorway is a 100 km long motorway in Australia between Brisbane, Queensland, and the New South Wales-Queensland border at Tweed Heads. The motorway starts at Coronation Drive at Milton in Brisbane, and from 2008 links the Tweed Heads bypass in New South Wales...
cuts through the suburb with an exit south into Vulture Street and a Stanley Street exit for vehicles heading north.
Sources
- Clark, H. and Keenan D6, "Brisbane Tramways - The Last Decade", Transit Press, 1977 (Reprinted 1985). ISBN 0-909338-01-9
- Cole J., "Shaping a City: Greater Brisbane 1925-1985", Brisbane 1984
- Deskins R., Hyde P. and Struble C., "Slow at Frog - A Short History of the Brisbane Trolleybus System", Brisbane Tramway Museum Society, 2006. ISBN 0-9597322-2-5
- Kerr J. and Armstrong J., "Destination South Brisbane", Australian Railway Historical SocietyAustralian Railway Historical SocietyThe Australian Railway Historical Society was founded in Sydney in 1933 as The Australasian Railway and Locomotive Historical Society. It aims to foster an interest in the railways, and record and preserve many facets of railway operations. Membership now exceeds 2,500, with Divisions in every...
, second edition 1984. ISBN 0-909937-09-5