Bald Hills, Queensland

Bald Hills is the northernmost suburb of the City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.^[2]

Geography

Bald Hills is a largely residential suburb. It is mostly surrounded by bushland, but in the last few years some of the bush areas have been cleared to make way for new residential areas. It also borders onto the Bald Hills Flats – a large flood plain on the western side of the suburb that is used for cattle grazing. The South Pine River flows through the flood plain and forms the western border of the suburb. The South Pine River converges with the North Pine River and the combined flow, Pine River, forms the northern border. Along the banks of Pine River within Bald Hills is a large environmental park called the Tinchi Tamba Wetlands Reserve. The Pine River empties into Bramble Bay, between Redcliffe and Brighton.

Demographics

In the 2011 Census the population of Bald Hills is 5,965, 51.3% female and 48.7% male.

The median/average age of the Bald Hills population is 35 years of age, 2 years below the Australian average.

79.1% of people living in Bald Hills were born in Australia. The other top responses for country of birth were New Zealand 3.8%, England 3.4%, Philippines 0.9%, Fiji 0.8%, Scotland 0.7%.

88.8% of people speak English as their first language 0.8% Hindi, 0.6% Tagalog, 0.4% Tongan, 0.4% Spanish, 0.3% Arabic.

History

The suburb is named after the two small hills in the South Pine River Valley floor.^[2]

Land sales around the Bald Hills railway station were advertised in April 1886. At the time the journey from Brisbane was described as "after travelling across the Downfall and Cabbage Tree Creeks, the traveller arrives at a long stretch of road, at the extremity of which rises a lofty knoll, round the brow of which the road winds, when the Bald Hills are reached".^[3]

Bald Hills State School opened on 24 September 1866.^[4]

Landmarks

Erection of the Bald Hills radio transmitter, 1942

Preliminary supports for the radio transmitter mast at Bald Hills, 1942

The most prominent structure is the Bald Hills Radiator, the ABC's 198 metre tall AM radio transmission tower located on the eastern side of the suburb.

Bald Hills is the home of the Bald Hills-Lawnton Lions Cricket Club, as well as Ridge Hills United Football Club.

Heritage listings

Bald Hills has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

• 99 Kluver Street: Bald Hills Radiator^[5]
• 34 Strathpine Road: Hoop Pines^[6]
• 56 Strathpine Road: Bald Hills Presbyterian Church^[7]

Schools

There are two schools in the suburb :

• Bald Hills State School, a state primary school
• St Paul's School, an Anglican co-educational private school from Prep to Year 12

Facilities

Bald Hills is also home to the breeding and training centre for Guide Dogs for the Blind Association of Queensland.

Transport

Bald Hills railway station provides access to regular Citytrain services to Brisbane and Ipswich, as well as Caboolture and the Sunshine Coast. There are also many buses serving the area.

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bald Hills, Queensland.

• Bald Hills: Queensland Places
• Bald Hills State School website
• "Bald Hills". BRISbites. Brisbane City Council. Archived from the original on 20 July 2008. 
• "Bald Hills". Our Brisbane. Brisbane City Council. Archived from the original on 20 February 2008. 
• Sandgate (Bald Hills) cemetery, Bracken Ridge
• Bald Hills State School
• "Local History - Bald Hills". Australian Broadcasting Commission. 6 May 2009. 

Coordinates: 27°18′40″S 153°01′05″E / 27.31111°S 153.01806°E / -27.31111; 153.01806 (Bald Hills)