Camp Hill, Queensland
Encyclopedia
Camp Hill is a largely residential suburb in the south-east of Brisbane
, Queensland
, Australia
. It is located approximately 4 km from the Brisbane central business district
and, as its name suggests, is elevated and commands fine views of the CBD. It has an area of 4.6 square kilometres.
"We find it hard to understand now - why would you need to camp on the way to Cleveland?" comments Brian Randall from the State Library of Queensland. "But it was a really long, hard journey, there were creeks to cross, it was very difficult, so the journey took a couple of days."
So teamsters and other travellers stopped and rested at a waterhole or spring in the area and that's where the name came from. "There would have been an inn or a trading shop - they camped at the base of the hill," adds Brian.
The original early settlers in the area were farmers, with a strong German influence in the community in the early period. In the 1860s, McCann's Greenbank Diary was in operation, and Peter Faust was also farming in that era.
In 1873, the White family purchased 53 acres (214,483.6 m²) on high land that became known as White's Hill, which is still the name of a locality within the suburb of Camp Hill. Robert White, who was a joiner, originally built a slab hut on the northern centre of the hill and was farming (dairy cows, pigs). By the 1920s, he'd built a road to the summit of the hill and built a large home on the summit. A two-storey tower at the northern end was included and was used as an observatory. This is now a public reserve.
It was in the 1880s that a real land and housing boom began, however. In 1882, Isaac Bennett established a rose farm on the corner of Bennett's and Old Cleveland Roads (this land was eventually subdivided). In 1886, John and Thirza Zahel acquired land between Dorothy Lane and Pampling Street and established a vineyard and orchard, and in 1890, the Fiveash family established a dairy as well as a fruit and vegetable farm on land at the corner of Clara St and Stanley Rd.
The US Army had a significant impact on the area during the Second World War. A large US hospital was built on land to the rear of the Camp Hill Hotel. It accommodated up to 3,000 patients and staff. Now Arrol, Errey, Ascham, Morven, Aubrey and Arrowsmith Streets take up the site. These street follow the same pattern as the US constructed hospital roads.
Other local street names include Hobart, Sydney and Melbourne Avenue, which are the names of World War I ships as well as Australian capital cities.
Lossock Avenue and Tranters Avenue share an interesting history: in 1921, a Charles Lossock of Devon in England was staying at the Tranters Hotel in London, where he met a Brisbane architect who was subdividing land in the Camp Hill area. This architect became friendly with Mr Lossocks and promised to name a street in the new estate after him, as well as one after the Tranters Hotel.
Other significant dates:
. Initially the service was operated by the Belmont Shire Council. The service was suspended in 1924. The service was reinstated by the Brisbane City Council in 1925, but was again suspended in 1926. The tracks, which followed the present Oateson Skyline Drive (in Seven Hills
), Ferguson Road and Old Cleveland Road, remained in place until 1934, by which time an electric tram
line had been extended up Old Cleveland Road from Coorparoo. The electric tram ceased operations in April 1969. As at March 2009 some of the tram tracks remain in Old Cleveland Road. During the expected construction of the Eastern Busway
, it is likely that these tracks will be removed.
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...
, 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...
. It is located approximately 4 km from 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, as its name suggests, is elevated and commands fine views of the CBD. It has an area of 4.6 square kilometres.
Demographics
Camp Hill is 4 km from Brisbane’s CBD. Over 43% of households in this area consist of couples with children and a further 39% are couples without children. Stand alone houses account for nearly 86% of all dwellings, with townhouses and units accounting for a further 13%. Camp Hill has a variety of housing styles – everything from renovated Queenslanders through to modern dwellings.History
Camp Hill, on the south side of Brisbane, derives its name from the fact that is was once actually a stopover area for people travelling to Brisbane's coastline."We find it hard to understand now - why would you need to camp on the way to Cleveland?" comments Brian Randall from the State Library of Queensland. "But it was a really long, hard journey, there were creeks to cross, it was very difficult, so the journey took a couple of days."
So teamsters and other travellers stopped and rested at a waterhole or spring in the area and that's where the name came from. "There would have been an inn or a trading shop - they camped at the base of the hill," adds Brian.
The original early settlers in the area were farmers, with a strong German influence in the community in the early period. In the 1860s, McCann's Greenbank Diary was in operation, and Peter Faust was also farming in that era.
In 1873, the White family purchased 53 acres (214,483.6 m²) on high land that became known as White's Hill, which is still the name of a locality within the suburb of Camp Hill. Robert White, who was a joiner, originally built a slab hut on the northern centre of the hill and was farming (dairy cows, pigs). By the 1920s, he'd built a road to the summit of the hill and built a large home on the summit. A two-storey tower at the northern end was included and was used as an observatory. This is now a public reserve.
It was in the 1880s that a real land and housing boom began, however. In 1882, Isaac Bennett established a rose farm on the corner of Bennett's and Old Cleveland Roads (this land was eventually subdivided). In 1886, John and Thirza Zahel acquired land between Dorothy Lane and Pampling Street and established a vineyard and orchard, and in 1890, the Fiveash family established a dairy as well as a fruit and vegetable farm on land at the corner of Clara St and Stanley Rd.
The US Army had a significant impact on the area during the Second World War. A large US hospital was built on land to the rear of the Camp Hill Hotel. It accommodated up to 3,000 patients and staff. Now Arrol, Errey, Ascham, Morven, Aubrey and Arrowsmith Streets take up the site. These street follow the same pattern as the US constructed hospital roads.
Other local street names include Hobart, Sydney and Melbourne Avenue, which are the names of World War I ships as well as Australian capital cities.
Lossock Avenue and Tranters Avenue share an interesting history: in 1921, a Charles Lossock of Devon in England was staying at the Tranters Hotel in London, where he met a Brisbane architect who was subdividing land in the Camp Hill area. This architect became friendly with Mr Lossocks and promised to name a street in the new estate after him, as well as one after the Tranters Hotel.
Other significant dates:
- 1883 - Bus service to Stones Corner established.
- 1923 - 11 February - St. Thomas Catholic Church. On 28 January 1929, St. Thomas' School commenced
- 1925 - Tram line extended from to Camp Hill
- 1926 - Camp Hill State School, originally called Mt. Bruce State School
- 1926 - Church of the Annunciation (Church of England)
- 1928 - Camp Hill Methodist Church
- World War II - The Australian Army used White's Hill as an observation site
Trams
Between 1912 and 1926 the suburb was serviced by a steam tram which connected with the Queensland Government Railway at Norman ParkNorman Park, Queensland
Norman Park is a suburb in Brisbane, Australia. It is located 4 km east of the Brisbane central business district.Norman Park has numerous parks and recreational areas for residents in the area...
. Initially the service was operated by the Belmont Shire Council. The service was suspended in 1924. The service was reinstated by the Brisbane City Council in 1925, but was again suspended in 1926. The tracks, which followed the present Oateson Skyline Drive (in Seven Hills
Seven Hills, Queensland
Seven Hills is a suburb located on the inner eastern side of Brisbane, surrounded by the suburbs of Norman Park, Morningside and Carina.Between 1912 and 1926 the southern edge of the suburb was serviced by a steam tram which connected with the Queensland Government Railway at Norman Park. ...
), Ferguson Road and Old Cleveland Road, remained in place until 1934, by which time an 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...
line had been extended up Old Cleveland Road from Coorparoo. The electric tram ceased operations in April 1969. As at March 2009 some of the tram tracks remain in Old Cleveland Road. During the expected construction of the Eastern Busway
Eastern Busway
The Eastern Busway is a bus-only corridor in Brisbane, Queensland. The busway runs from the University of Queensland St Lucia Campus via the Eleanor Schonell Bridge, connects with the South East Busway at Buranda busway station and then extends to Coorparoo following the Old Cleveland Road...
, it is likely that these tracks will be removed.