Yeronga Park
Encyclopedia
Yeronga Memorial Park was one of Brisbane
's second earliest park
s, originally reserved in 1888. The sprawling park caters for sports and recreational activities and is a significant World War I and World War II place of remembrance. Yeronga Park is situated on Ipswich Road in the suburb of Yeronga
.
A Brisbane City Council 50 m swimming pool
complex is situated on the southern edge of the park. Also nearby, the Yeronga railway station is about 500 m to the west of the park.
Before European settlement the area was inhabited by the Aborigines
, and this use continued for some time after the establishment of a convict settlement. The area was then used by the Europeans to depasture sheep from the Government Farm at Oxley
. The first major boost to development around Yeronga occurred when the South Brisbane to Corinda railway link was opened in 1884.
One of the most historically significant aspects of Yeronga Park is its World War I
memorial role, which was developed between 1917 and 1921. 1917, a road was constructed through the park, between 1917 and 1919 a total of 96 weeping figs and flame trees were planted either side of this road, forming Honour Avenue. Each tree was accompanied by a metal shield, which bore the name of a soldier. Having a named avenue of memorial trees within a park is uncommon in Queensland. In 1979 the memorial gates at Park Road received a plaque dedicated to the soldiers of later wars. In 2007 the fig trees had to be pruned to ensure they survived drought conditions that were experienced in the region at the time.
During World War Two Yeronga Park was occupied by a number of American military units. To the west of the memorial pavilion the American Legion has erected a memorial stone, commemorating the World War Two occupation of the park by the United States' military forces.
The Yeronga Tennis Club was formed in 1909, and still occupies the three courts near Villa Street.
The Yeronga Park Memorial Swimming Pool Complex was built in the southwest of the park between 1960 and 1964, with an Olympic pool and two wading pools, and a heated pool was added by 1972.
The Queensland Country Women's Association established a headquarters on the School Road side of the park in 1952. Three organizations also built on land that was excised from the park, as mentioned earlier: the Yeronga Fire Station, the Yeronga Park Kindergarten and Preschool Association, and Meals on Wheels.
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...
's second earliest park
Park
A park is a protected area, in its natural or semi-natural state, or planted, and set aside for human recreation and enjoyment, or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. It may consist of rocks, soil, water, flora and fauna and grass areas. Many parks are legally protected by...
s, originally reserved in 1888. The sprawling park caters for sports and recreational activities and is a significant World War I and World War II place of remembrance. Yeronga Park is situated on Ipswich Road in the suburb of Yeronga
Yeronga, Queensland
Yeronga is a suburb of Brisbane, Australia located on the Brisbane River 7 km south of the Brisbane CBD. Yeronga is a residential suburb. It is home to the Yeronga Devils.-Transport:There is a Yeronga train station on the Beenleigh railway line....
.
A Brisbane City Council 50 m swimming pool
Swimming pool
A swimming pool, swimming bath, wading pool, or simply a pool, is a container filled with water intended for swimming or water-based recreation. There are many standard sizes; the largest is the Olympic-size swimming pool...
complex is situated on the southern edge of the park. Also nearby, the Yeronga railway station is about 500 m to the west of the park.
Facilities
The park is home to the Yeronga Park Heated Pools, has a Beach volleyball area, Swimming Club, Tennis Club as well as Lawn Bowls and Cricket fields. The Swimming Club was established in 1965.History
Yeronga Park is one of the oldest parks in Brisbane. It was first declared as a reserve for a Public Park and Recreation Ground in 1882.Before European settlement the area was inhabited by the Aborigines
Australian Aborigines
Australian Aborigines , also called Aboriginal Australians, from the latin ab originem , are people who are indigenous to most of the Australian continentthat is, to mainland Australia and the island of Tasmania...
, and this use continued for some time after the establishment of a convict settlement. The area was then used by the Europeans to depasture sheep from the Government Farm at Oxley
Oxley, Queensland
Oxley is a south-western suburb of Brisbane located approximately 11 km from the Brisbane CBD. It was named after the early Australian explorer John Oxley. The suburb supports a mix of residential, retail and industrial land use....
. The first major boost to development around Yeronga occurred when the South Brisbane to Corinda railway link was opened in 1884.
One of the most historically significant aspects of Yeronga Park is its World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
memorial role, which was developed between 1917 and 1921. 1917, a road was constructed through the park, between 1917 and 1919 a total of 96 weeping figs and flame trees were planted either side of this road, forming Honour Avenue. Each tree was accompanied by a metal shield, which bore the name of a soldier. Having a named avenue of memorial trees within a park is uncommon in Queensland. In 1979 the memorial gates at Park Road received a plaque dedicated to the soldiers of later wars. In 2007 the fig trees had to be pruned to ensure they survived drought conditions that were experienced in the region at the time.
During World War Two Yeronga Park was occupied by a number of American military units. To the west of the memorial pavilion the American Legion has erected a memorial stone, commemorating the World War Two occupation of the park by the United States' military forces.
The Yeronga Tennis Club was formed in 1909, and still occupies the three courts near Villa Street.
The Yeronga Park Memorial Swimming Pool Complex was built in the southwest of the park between 1960 and 1964, with an Olympic pool and two wading pools, and a heated pool was added by 1972.
The Queensland Country Women's Association established a headquarters on the School Road side of the park in 1952. Three organizations also built on land that was excised from the park, as mentioned earlier: the Yeronga Fire Station, the Yeronga Park Kindergarten and Preschool Association, and Meals on Wheels.