Camp Hill, Queensland

Camp Hill is a suburb of Brisbane, Australia, located 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) south-east of the CBD.^[5] It is a mostly residential suburb.^[4][5]

Toponymy

Camp Hill is thought to have been named by teamsters who camped at a waterhole near Whites Hill in the suburb's south, while travelling between Brisbane and Cleveland.^[4][2][5]

History

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 (210,000 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: William Lossock, owner and proprietor of Tranters Hotel in London, met the Brisbane architect who was subdividing land in the Camp Hill area when he visited London in the early 1920s. They became friends and the architect promised to name a street in the new estate after him, as well as one after the name of the 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 Park. 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 November 2012 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.

Demographics

The 2011 Census recorded 10,533 residents in Camp Hill, of whom 51% were female and 49% were male. The median age of the population was 35; two years younger than the Australian median.^[1]

79.9% of people living in Camp Hill were born in Australia, compared to the national average of 69.8%. The other most common countries of birth were New Zealand (3.1%), England (3%), India (1%), Italy (0.7%), and South Africa (0.6%). 88% of people only spoke English at home, while the next most commonly spoken languages were Italian (1.2%), Greek (0.9%), Spanish (0.6%), Punjabi (0.5%), and Vietnamese (0.4%).^[1]

51.1% of households in the area consisted of couples with children, and 34.5% were couples without children. Separate houses accounted for nearly 85% of dwellings.^[1]

Amenities

Camp Hill has a large shopping centre in the "Whites Hill" area of the town (Centro Samuel Village) Which includes Woolworths, a Beer Wine Spirits and a few smaller stores. There are also a few smaller stores along Old Cleveland Road.

Camp Hill has a bowls club located on Ferguson Road. The Whites Hill Reserve contains touch football and Holland Park Hawks facilities.

References

• John Kerr, John Armstrong, Destination South Brisbane, ARHS, second edition 1984, ISBN 0-909937-09-5

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Camp Hill, Queensland.

• University of Queensland: Queensland Places: Camp Hill
• "Camp Hill". BRISbites. Brisbane City Council. Archived from the original on 20 July 2008. Retrieved 30 October 2013. 
• "Camp Hill". Our Brisbane. Brisbane City Council. Archived from the original on 6 March 2008. Retrieved 30 October 2013. 

Coordinates: 27°30′00″S 153°04′45″E / 27.5°S 153.07917°E / -27.5; 153.07917