Bracken Ridge, Queensland

Bracken Ridge is a northern suburb of Brisbane, the capital city of Queensland, Australia.[3] Its local government area is the City of Brisbane, in which it has its own ward.

Bracken Ridge
Brisbane, Queensland
Bracken Ridge Hall courtyard near the ward office and library, 2011
Population16,936 (2016 census)[1]
 • Density2,016/km2 (5,222/sq mi)
Established1960s
Postcode(s)4017
Area8.4 km2 (3.2 sq mi)
Location19 km (12 mi) from Brisbane CBD
LGA(s)City of Brisbane
(Bracken Ridge Ward)[2]
State electorate(s)Sandgate
Federal Division(s)Petrie
Suburbs around Bracken Ridge:
Bald Hills Brighton Brighton
Bald Hills Bracken Ridge Sandgate
Taigum Fitzgibbon Deagon

Geography

The suburb is located about 18 kilometres (11 mi) north of the Brisbane central business district. The southern border is formed by Telegraph Road, one of the oldest roads in the suburb, and a portion of the western border is formed by the Caboolture railway line. A number of housing estates are located within the suburb, including The Oaks, Enbrook Heights and the most recent development Sungate Estate.

The terrain in the suburb is, as the name suggests, generally hilly. The highest area of the suburb features a park and a reservoir; from this height it is quite easy to see Moreton Bay to the east and the CBD to the south.

Bracken Ridge is home to a variety of persons on the socio-economic scale. The majority of residents are professional couples and families. The estates south of Barbour Road, the homes surrounding the "ridge" and St Joseph's church, the areas on top of the hills, "Enbrook Heights Estate" and the most recent development "Sungate Estate" are affluent. The average price for a home in the suburb was $460,000 in 2012.[4] 86% of these homes are owner-occupied or in the process of being purchased.

History

The Bracken Ridge Library opened in 1987.[5]

Demographics

In the 2011 census, Bracken Ridge recorded a population of 16,799 people, 51.2% female and 48.8% male.

The median age of the Bracken Ridge population was 35 years of age, 2 years below the Australian median.

74.6% of people living in Bracken Ridge were born in Australia.[3] The other top responses for country of birth were New Zealand 4.7%, England 3.8%, Philippines 2.2%, India 1.3%, Fiji 0.8%.

85.6% of people spoke only English at home; the next most popular languages were 1% Tagalog, 0.9% Hindi, 0.8% Filipino, 0.5% Cantonese, 0.5% Samoan.

Politics

Landmarks

There are a number of schools and educational institutions in the suburb:

  • St John Fisher College
  • Bracken Ridge State School. This school opened on 26 August 1957.[6]
  • Norris Road State School[6]
  • Bracken Ridge State High School (formally known as Nashville State High School). The school opened on 23 January 1967[6] but changed its name on 25 September 2000.[6]
  • St Josephs Catholic Primary School
  • Brisbane North Institute of TAFE, Bracken Ridge campus.

Shopping strips are located in Gawain Road and Barrett Street. A more substantial shopping centre is located on the corner of Telegraph Road and Norris Road. There is also a small shopping centre near the Bracken Ridge Tavern incorporating a Woolworths, chemist and a newsagent on Barrett St. There is a pub (The Bracken Ridge Tavern which incorporates 'Phoenix') on the corner of Barrett and Denham Streets, and a sports centre located on Bracken Ridge Road.

The Brisbane City Council operates a public library on the corner of Barrett St and Bracken St, next to Ferguson Park.[7]

Bracken Ridge is also home to Bracken Ridge District Cricket Club based at McPherson Park, with McPherson also being the homeground of the Bracken Ridge Little Athletics Club "Roadrunners".

The Bracken Ridge Central Lions club hold a monthly miniature and electrice steam day on the 4th Sunday of each month at Mcphersons Park. Established in 1997. The monthly days sees hundreds of residents turn out.

Bracken Ridge has an Indoor Sports Centre and also has a netball club "Ridgettes" who are a part of the Brisbane Netball Association on Rode Road in Chermside.

There is a large number of parks in the suburb, including Enbrook Parkland and the Bill Brown Sports Reserve on Telegraph Road, Bracken Ridge Reservoir, Ferguson Park and Stanley Day Park. There are also a number of churches present, including the Catholic, Baptist, Uniting Church and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints denominations. An Islamic community centre lies just across the border in Bald Hills.

Parks and Reserves

Bracken Ridge has a number of parklands and reserves that are popular with the community. The website for the Bracken Ridge Ward Councillor has more details, including each park's facilities and history.[8]

  • Barrett Street Reserve: Accessible from Barrett and Snooker Streets
  • C. Slaughter Park: Located between Phillips Street and Ranes Court
  • Albion Park: Situated on Caulfield Street, Cluden and Doomben Places
  • Enbrook Parklands: Located on Telegraph Road with walkway access from Enbrook Heights estate adjoining the Bracken Ridge Plaza shopping centre
  • Ferguson Park: Located on the corner of Barrett and Bracken Streets
  • Fred Francis Park: Accessible from Bracken Ridge Road, Bracken Street, St John Fisher Drive and from Sungate Estate via Greendale and Brookvale Places
  • Gawler Crescent Park: Located on Gawler Crescent south before Gawler meets Whyalla Close
  • Harold Dean Park: Accessible from Gawain Road, Lynette and Torre Streets
  • Isaac Best Park: Located in David Street
  • McPherson Park: Ideally accessible from Denham Street, Yaraan Street or Tomah Road
  • Mensforth Bushland: Located on Childs Street
  • Michael Place Park: Located between Michael Place and Barbour Road
  • Oaks Park: Located on Barbour and Denning Roads
  • Peter Gaskell Park: Located on Elm Crescent and Maple Close, off Childs Street
  • Talltrees Street Park: Cardell Place and Talltrees Street, off Quinlan Street
  • Wendy Turnbull Park: Accessible from Caruso Place, Corvette Crescent and Enbrook Street

Heritage listings

Bracken Ridge has a few heritage-listed sites, including:

  • Bald Hills Cemetery: 225 Barrett St

References

  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Bracken Ridge (State Suburb)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  2. "Bracken Ridge Ward". Brisbane City Council. Brisbane City Council. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
  3. "Bracken Ridge (entry 42573)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 22 September 2015.
  4. "Suburbs". reiq.com. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
  5. "Public Libraries Statistical Bulletin 2016-17" (PDF). Public Libraries Connect. State Library of Queensland. November 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 January 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  6. "Opening and closing dates of Queensland Schools". Queensland Government. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  7. "Library opening hours and locations". Brisbane City Council. 3 January 2018. Archived from the original on 30 January 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  8. "Bracken Ridge Parks and Reserves". Amanda Cooper Councillor for Bracken Ridge Ward. 2017. Retrieved 5 March 2017.

Media related to Bracken Ridge, Queensland at Wikimedia Commons

Further reading

  • Sandgate & District Historical Society and Museum (2001). From Solitude to Suburbia: A Peep Into the History of Bracken Ridge. Brisbane: Sandgate & District Historical Society & Museum Incorporated. p. 98.
  • Randall, Brian (1999). A Guide to the History of the Brisbane City Council Ward of Bracken Ridge: Encompassing Aspley, Bald Hills, Bracken Ridge, Bridgeman Downs, Carseldine and Fitzgibbon. Brisbane: Brian Randall. p. 68.

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