Nundah, Queensland

Toombul is a locality in Nundah centered around Sandgate Road. Various facilities in Nundah are named after the locality, including the large shopping centre Centro Toombul, Toombul Bus Station and the Toombul Train Station.

[edit] History

The missionaries first called the area "Zion". It later became "German Station" and then "Nundah", derived from the Aboriginal name for the area^[3].

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. This urban sprawl was also encouraged by the Undue Subdivision of Land Prevention Act 1885, which mandated minimum lot sizes for new urban developments. Nundah became known as a suburb where working-class families could obtain cheap housing on reasonably-sized lots not too far from the city.

Nundah is a historical precinct, with free settlement in the state of Queensland beginning in 1838 when a group of Lutheran missionaries from Germany were granted land. Their efforts to convert the indigenous Turrbal people to Christianity met with limited success. Their arrival is commemorated with a monument at the corner of Sandgate Road and Wood Street unveiled in 1938 by then Premier of Queensland William Forgan Smith. The names of these German settlers can be seen in the names of streets in Nundah and surrounding suburbs such as Rode Road and Gerler Road.

In 1909, Surrey Street in Nundah became the site of the first public housing dwelling in Queensland.

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. The Toombul Shire Hall still exists as a community centre.

Nundah's commercial precinct suffered a precipitous decline from the 1970s with the construction of the nearby Westfield Shoppingtown (Later Centro) Toombul shopping centre. 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 bookshops open in Nundah, creating a village-like atmosphere along the now-quiet Sandgate Road.

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.

As of 2006, a brand new complex featuring a Woolworths supermarket is being constructed, which when finished, promises to be the first stage of a revitalisation of the suburb.

[edit] Demographics

Over 33% of households in this area are comprised of couples with children, 41% are couples without children and 20% are single parent families. Stand alone house account for 41% of all dwellings in this area, and units account for a further 45%. There are many older, timber homes in this area, many of which have been renovated. There are also plenty of modern townhouses and units. The suburb has seen a surge in the construction of low to medium density town houses in the past few years, replacing many Queenslanders and post-war style homes.

The median house price in Nundah for the 2004 calendar year was $352,500.

[edit] Attractions

Nundah is in the Federal Electorate of Lilley. In 2005, Wayne Swan was elected as Lilley's Federal Member.

Nundah's postcode is 4012. The suburb is well serviced by public transport, with the railway station being serviced by both Caboolture Line and Shorncliffe Line services combining to provide 15-minute frequencies throughout the day seven days a week. Nundah is also located on Brisbane Transport's Great Circle Line bus route.

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.

Landmarks

Bishop Park, the home ground of the Norths Devils rugby league team in the Queensland Cup competition.
Oxenham Park, home of the Toombul District Cricket Club in the Queensland Cricket Association Grade competition. Contains Ken MacKay and LaFrantz Ovals
Centro Toombul Shopping Centre
Nundah Criterium Bicycle Track, Hedley Ave/Walkers Way Nundah - next to Albert Bishop Park and the Schultz Canal bikeway.
Nundah Catholic Church
Nundah Historic Cemetery
Nundah State Library
Nundah Shopping Village
Prince of Wales Hotel
Ross Park Skate and BMX Park
Royal English Hotel
Schulz Canal
Toombul Train Station

Parks

Albert Bishop Park - Amelia Street, Hedley Avenue and Nudgee Road, adjoining Schulz Canal
Boyd Park - Bage Street and Boyd, Park and Sandgate Roads
Carew Street - Brook and Carew Streets
Kalinga Park - Jackson and Kalinga Streets, Park Avenue and Sandgate Road, adjoining Schulz Canal
Oxenham Park - Duke, Jenner and York Streets and Melton Road
Plaisted Place - Cavendish, Flower and Maynard Streets
Ross Park - Parkland Street and Sandgate Road, adjoining Schulz Canal
Toombul Terrace - Bage, Gardner and Glenhill Streets, Hamson and Toombul Terraces and Royal Avenue
Upton Street - Upton Street, off London Street
Wood Street (Road Reserve) - Bage and Wood Streets and Sandgate Road

Schools

Corpus Christi College
Nundah State School
St. Joseph's Primary

[edit] References

Nundah page on ourbrisbane.com

^ ABS Statistics
^ Living In Nundah - ourbrisbane.com, retrieved March 25, 2007
^ Nundah & Districts Historical Society Inc, From Pioneering Days, Nundah, Northgate, Virginia, Nundah & Districts Historical Society Inc, Brisbane, 2002.