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Nundah, Queensland
Nundah is an inner suburb in the city of Brisbane, Australia, located approximately 8 kilometers north-east of the Brisbane central business district,[1] in the local government area of the City of Brisbane. Prior to European settlement, Nundah was inhabited by Aboriginal people from the Turrbul tribe. Nundah is primarily a residential suburb, which straddles Sandgate Road, one of the major arterial roads of Brisbane's north. It was first settled by Europeans in the mid-19th century, although the suburb remained primarily a rural area until it was connected to Brisbane via railway in the 1880s.[2] Originally considered a working-class suburb, the area has become gentrified in recent years, and today features a mix of traditional worker's cottages and modern high-density apartment blocks. The name "Nundah" means "chain of water holes" in the local Aboriginal dialect.[3] This name is probably a reference to the nearby natural water sources at Kedron Brook and the marshy areas formerly to the east of the suburb.[4]
GeographyNundah is a mixed-density residential suburb, with some light industry and a commercial retail area concentrated on Sandgate Road. It is adjacent to the suburbs of Clayfield, Northgate and Wavell Heights, and is dominated by a large ridge that runs from the northeast to the southwest. The "Nundah Village" shopping district and Nundah State School are on this ridge, while the Nundah Tunnel bisects it along Sandgate Road.[5] The suburb includes the locality and formerly distinct suburb of Toombul, which is centered in the south of Nundah, around Sandgate Road. Various facilities in Nundah are named after this locality, including the large shopping centre Centro Toombul, Toombul Bus Station and the Toombul Train Station. Schulz Canal runs through Nundah, bisecting the Toombul Shopping Centre Carpark. The low elevation of the carpark makes it particularly susceptible to flash flooding during peak storm seasons - often claiming the cars of unwary shoppers inside the centre and those attempting to cross the Melton Road bridge. The estuary of the canal is a moderately popular recreational fishing spot. HistoryAboriginal HistoryLike most of Northern Brisbane,[6] the area around Nundah was dominated by the Turrbul tribe.[7] Their traditional coastal trade route passed through Nundah, near the modern-day Hedley Avenue. There are also many significant Aboriginal sites near Nundah, such as Dinah Island, which was reportedly the site of the last traditional Aboriginal burial in the Brisbane area.[7] There were a number of bora rings in the area, indicating that the Nundah area was densely populated by Aboriginal people before European settlers arrived.[8] European Settlement
Memorial to the German Missionaries erected in 1938 for the area's centennial Nundah remained an agricultural area until the 1880s, when the construction of a railway between Brisbane and Sandgate in 1882 resulted in a suburban residential construction boom on Brisbane's northside.[2] This urban sprawl was also encouraged by the Undue Subdivision of Land Prevention Act 1885, which mandated minimum lot sizes for new urban developments.[15] Nundah became known as a suburb where working-class families could obtain cheap housing on reasonably-sized lots not too far from the city. In 1909, Surrey Street in Nundah became the site of the first public housing dwelling in Queensland.[16] In the early twentieth century, Nundah became a major suburban centre, due to its location on Sandgate Road, one of Brisbane's busiest arterial roads, and the adjacent Nundah railway station. Sandgate Road and nearby streets were lined with shops, pubs, cinemas and other commercial premises. Nundah was also the seat of Toombul Shire, which was absorbed into the City of Greater Brisbane in 1925.[17][18] The Toombul Shire Hall still exists as a community centre.[18] In 1926, George Walker suggested a monument be built to mark the beginnings of Nundah, which was unveiled by the Queensland Governor Sir Leslie Orme Wilson on April 23, 1938 as part of the First Free Settlers' Centenary Celebrations. This First Free Settlers Monument is listed in the Queensland Heritage Register. Nundah's commercial precinct suffered a precipitous decline from the 1970s with the construction of the nearby Westfield Shoppingtown (Later Centro) Toombul shopping centre.[19] Increasing motor traffic along Sandgate Road also reduced Nundah's appeal as a shopping precinct. However, in recent times a road tunnel has been constructed under nearby Bage Street, diverting through traffic away from the suburban centre. A Brisbane City Council suburban renewal programme has seen new art installations, cafés and commercial enterprises open in Nundah, creating a village-like atmosphere along the now-quiet Sandgate Road.[20] In recent years the suburb has become popular among white collar workers seeking relatively inexpensive housing and apartments only a moderate distance from the Brisbane CBD. Since then, along with the rest of the city, housing prices in the area have skyrocketed, pricing most of the traditional working class out of the suburb. DemographicsOver one third of Nundah households are families with children, while 41% are couples only. A further 20% are single parent families. 41% of dwellings in the area are stand-alone houses, while 45% are units. Many old timber homes in the area have been renovated, while modern townhouses and units have also been built. The median house price in Nundah for the 2004 calendar year was $352,500.[21] At the 2006 Australian Bureau of Statistics census, at least 73% of the population was born in Australia. Of the remainder, 5% were born in New Zealand, 4% in the United Kingdom, and just over 1% from the Philippines.[22] TransportDue to its inner-northern location, there are a variety of options for transport within the suburb. Both the Nundah Citytrain station and the Toombul Citytrain station are located within the suburb. Both of these railway stations are on both the Caboolture Line and the Shorncliffe Line, giving both stations 15-minute frequencies throughout the day seven days a week. There are many council bus services that run through the area, including the 598/599 Great Circle Line. The Nundah Bypass is a 285 metre long road tunnel, open to general traffic, that runs underneath the Nundah Village commercial area. Completed in 2001, it provides an alternative route to traffic travelling along Sandgate Road, allowing motorists to avoid the narrow streets of the village area, and reducing traffic congestion for local residents[23]. Commerce
Nundah Village shopping centre PoliticsNundah is in the federal electorate of Lilley.[24] The seat has been held by Wayne Swan of the Australian Labor Party since the 1998 federal election.[24] Swan's electoral office is in the suburb, in the commercial district on the corner of Sandgate and Buckland roads.[25] The suburb lies on the border between the state electorates of Clayfield (held by Liberal Tim Nicholls),[26][27] and Nudgee (held by Labor's Neil Roberts).[28][29] Locally, the suburb is part of the Northgate Ward, held by Labor's Kim Flesser.[30] Landmarks
Parks
Nundah State School
Educational institutions
ChurchesSince the earliest days of the Zion's Hill mission, there have been a number of churches in the area. The Lutheran church continues to maintain a presence in the suburb, with a number of facilities, including St Paul's church, a childcare centre, and the Zion Retirement home clustered around the area near the corner of Buckland Road and Atthow Parade. Other demoninations also have a presence in the area, including the Catholic Church which has a combined church and girl's school on Bage Street. The Presbyterian, Baptist, Uniting and Anglican churches also have places of worship located within the suburb. Historically, the Methodist church and the Salvation Army also maintained churches in the area, although these are no longer active. Community services
ReferencesExternal links
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