Experts are divided regarding the Aboriginal meaning of the name, preferring either 'whirling waters' (woolloon andcapemm) or 'fight talk place' (woolloon andgabba).[10]
Because the area was low-lying and swampy, it was known as the One Mile Swamp. Although this name appears to be unofficial, it was in common use until the early 1890s.[11]
The site of the current Princess Alexandra Hospital has had a long history, commencing in 1893 as theDiamantina Orphanage (named afterDiamantina Bowen, wife of the firstQueensland Governor). The first hospital to operate on the site was the Diamantina Hospital for Chronic Diseases from 1901, becoming the South Brisbane Auxiliary Hospital from 1943, then the South Brisbane Hospital from 1956, and then renamed Princess Alexandra Hospital in 1960 (to coincide with the visit ofPrincess Alexandra to Brisbane).[12][13]
Gabba Fiveways, 1929
The suburb has a significant link to the history oftransport in Brisbane. Between 1884 and 1969, the mainrailwaylocomotivedepot for lines south of theBrisbane River was beside Stanley St. It was reached via a line that ran beside Stanley St, then crossing it,Logan Road andIpswich Road to the main line atDutton Park. By the 1960s, services from the depot were causing significant delays to traffic as they crossed these three major roads.[citation needed]
Woolloongabba Mixed State School opened on 1 September 1884. On 5 July 1885, the school was split into it was divided into Woolloongabba Boys State School and Woolloongabba Girls and Infants State School. In 1910, these schools were renamed Dutton Park Boys State School and Dutton Park Girls and Infants State School. In 1935 the two schools were re-united to create Dutton Park State School. In 1995 the Dutton Park Special School was closed as a separate school and became a special education unit within Dutton Park State School.[14] The school is within the neighbouring suburb ofDutton Park.[9]
The suburb was served by horse-drawntrams from 1885 to 1897, which were replaced by electric trams, which in turn ceased operation on 13 April 1969. All but one of Brisbane'strolleybus routes traversed the suburb, from 1953 to 1969. TheWoolloongabba Fiveways (the intersection ofStanley Street, Main Street,Logan Road andIpswich Road) was a complex junction with tram and railway lines, and tram and trolleybus overhead. Trams were controlled by a signalman, who operated the points (orswitches) from asignal cabin near the eastern side of the junction. Trains were escorted across the junction by a flagman. Curiously,Queensland Railways always referred to the branch line as theWooloongabba Branch, spelled with only one 'l'.[15]
In August 1885, "The Deshon Estate" was advertised to be auctioned by Arthur Martin & Co., Auctioneers. A map advertising the auction provided a local sketch of the area.[16] It consisted of approximately 184 allotments and was situated "only a few yards beyond the Woolloongabba Hotel."[17]
In September 1885, the balance of the third and last section of the "Thompson Estate" was advertised for auction by L. J. Markwell. It consisted of approximately 300 allotments, subdivisions of Portion 85, which was bordered by Ipswich Road, Victoria Terrace and Juliette Street. A map advertising the auction provided a local sketch of the area. It also places the estate in Woolloongabba, now considered part of Annerley.[18][19][20]
In September 1888, 70 allotments of "The Cremorne Estate" were advertised to be auctioned by W.J. Hooker, auctioneer. A map advertising the auction provided a local sketch of the area.[21] It consisted of approximately 70 allotments, and the land for sale is resubdivisions of subdivision 1 of portion 171, Parish of South Brisbane.[22]
On 1 February 1893, the Brisbane Institution for the Instruction of the Blind, Deaf & Dumb was established on a 10-acre (4.0 ha) site in Cornwall Street. By the end of 1893, 22 students were enrolled.[23] On 4 February 1963, a separate school for blind students was established in Buranda as Narbethong School for the Blind, using the building previously occupied by the then-closed Buranda Infants School. It was later renamed Narbethong State Special School and moved to its current site in Salisbury Street in 1969.[24] Deaf students continued to attend school at Cornwall Street which was then known as Queensland School for the Deaf, until it closed on 9 December 1988 and the deaf students transferred to mainstream schools.[23][25]
Nazareth Lutheran Church at Woolloongabba, 1896
On Saturday 12 October 1895, the foundation stone was laid for the Nazareth Lutheran Church in Hawthorne Road byHenry Norman, theGovernor of Queensland. The church was to replace the congregation's existing church inSouth Brisbane, which was an old timber church in a location no longer convenient to the congregation.[26] On Sunday 10 May 1896, the new church was opened and consecrated. It was built of brick (both inside and outside) in aGothic design. The building was 62 by 32 feet (18.9 by 9.8 m) with avestibule andchancel. It has a bell tower and spire on the front northern face. The architect wasCharles McLay and the contractor W. Taylor.[27]
On 4 March 1918, Buranda Girls and Infants State School was opened, followed on 27 September 1920 by the opening of Buranda Boys School. The girls and infants were separated into Buranda State Infants School and Buranda Girls State School on 30 January 1934. In 1963, the girls' and infants' schools were reunited to re-establish Buranda Girls and Infants State School. In 1967, Buranda State School was established combining the schools for the boys and the girls and infants.[14]
Tram No 499 ready to leave the Ipswich Road Depot, 1969
On Sunday 20 December 1936,ArchbishopJames Duhig laid the foundation stone for St Luke the Evangelist's Catholic Church on the site of the Barco Villa at Buranda (as that area was then known).[34] On Sunday 11 April 1937 theApostolic Delegate in Australia,Giovanni Panico, officially opened the new church in the presence of thousands of people. The church was built in theSpanish Mission style at a cost of about £3500.[35] Although the church had a bell tower, the builder warned against installing the bell, fearing it would cause problems with the structural integrity of the church. The church was severely damaged in a hail storm in November 2014 and was officially closed on 28 December 2014. A 30-month project was then undertaken to refurbish the church, finally install the bell, and build a retirement village, St Luke's Green, on land surrounding the church. On Sunday 10 September 2017, St Luke's was officially re-dedicated by ArchbishopMark Coleridge and the retirement village blessed and officially opened.[36][37]
Brisbane Christian Spiritual Alliance Church (former), 2020
On 9 April 1938, the foundation stone of the Brisbane Spiritual Alliance Church was laid at 208 Logan Road (27°29′41″S153°02′30″E / 27.4948°S 153.0416°E /-27.4948; 153.0416 (Brisbane Christian Spiritualist Alliance Church)). It was dedicated to the memory of George Coxon and his wife Mary who bequeathed two blocks of land and £2000 to the Church which they had established in 1924 following a split with anotherspiritualist church, after which they met in a building made of galvanised iron inBuranda. The architect wasE. P. Trewern.[38][39][40] The church was opened on Sunday 10 July 1938. A window in the western wall memorialised George Coxon.[41] The church was still operating in 1990,[42] but, as at 2020, is used as commercial premises.[43]
In early 1942, the first Coca-Cola bottling plant in Australia was built in Woolloongabba at 36-39 Balaclava Street.[44] It was originally designed to supply the demands of the newly arrived US military personnel, but later expanded production to the local Australian market.[citation needed]
On Sunday 20 June 1948, Archbishop James Duhig laid the foundation stone for St Luke's Catholic Primary School.[45] On Sunday 23 January 1949, Duhig officially opened and blessed the new school designed for 200 students.[46] The school was located on the O'Keefe Street side of the church and was operated by thePresentation Sisters. The school closed in 1977.[36]
In the2016 census, Woolloongabba had a population of 5,631 people. 51.3% of people were born in Australia. The next most common countries of birth were China 3.8%, New Zealand 3.5%, England 2.7%, South Korea 2.7% and India 2.5%. 59.2% of people spoke only English at home. Other languages spoken at home included Mandarin 5.9%, Vietnamese 2.7%, Korean 2.4% and Spanish 2.3%. The most common responses for religion were No Religion 42.2% and Catholic 15.2%.[52]
In the2021 census, Woolloongabba had a population of 8,687 people.[3]
The 2021 initial intake at Brisbane South State Secondary College was Year 7 students only, with each successive calendar year extending the range of school years on offer until 2026 when the full Years 7–12 schooling will be provided.[106][107] Until that time, another option for schooling to Year 12 isYeronga State High School inYeronga to the south.[108]
ThePacific Motorway cuts through the suburb with an exit south into Vulture Street and a Stanley Street exit for vehicles heading north. Additionally, there is an entrance to theClem Jones Tunnel in the suburb on Ipswich road.[citation needed]
^"History".Metro South Hospital and Health Service.Queensland Health. 15 March 2015.Archived from the original on 9 March 2022. Retrieved16 March 2022.
^"Advertising".Queensland Figaro And Punch. Vol. VI, no. 134. Queensland, Australia. 1 August 1885. p. 18.Archived from the original on 24 August 2023. Retrieved3 June 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Advertising".The Telegraph. No. 4, 068. Queensland, Australia. 25 September 1885. p. 7. Retrieved20 January 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Classified Advertising".The Brisbane Courier. Vol. XLV, no. 9, 558. Queensland, Australia. 1 September 1888. p. 12.Archived from the original on 24 August 2023. Retrieved3 June 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
^"New Lutheran Church".The Telegraph. No. 7, 173. Queensland, Australia. 14 October 1895. p. 2.Archived from the original on 21 May 2024. Retrieved2 October 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
^"SPIRITUAL ALLIANCE CHURCH".The Telegraph. Queensland, Australia. 9 April 1938. p. 8 (SPORTS FINAL).Archived from the original on 9 March 2021. Retrieved3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Churches and Other Places of Worship".UBD street directory. Brisbane. Universal Business Directories (Australia). 1990. pp. 15–19.Archived from the original on 24 August 2020. Retrieved3 October 2020.
^"Schools, Colleges, Etc".UBD street directory. Brisbane. Universal Business Directories (Australia). 1990. pp. 26–29.Archived from the original on 24 August 2020. Retrieved3 October 2020.
Clark, H. and Keenan D6, "Brisbane Tramways – The Last Decade", Transit Press, 1977 (Reprinted 1985).ISBN0-909338-01-9.
Cole J., "Shaping a City: Greater Brisbane 1925-1985", Brisbane, 1984.
Deskins R., Hyde P. and Struble C., "Slow at Frog – A Short History of the Brisbane Trolleybus System", Brisbane Tramway Museum Society, 2006.ISBN0-9597322-2-5.
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