Acacia Ridge, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Acacia Ridge Brisbane, Queensland
Warehouses in industrial areas of the suburb
Acacia Ridge Location in Queensland
Population	7,486 (2021 census)
• Density	870/km2 (2,300/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4110
Area	8.6 km2 (3.3 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	15.7 km (10 mi) S of Brisbane CBD
LGA(s)	City of Brisbane (Moorooka Ward)
State electorate(s)	Algester Stretton
Federal Division(s)	Moreton
Suburbs around Acacia Ridge: Archerfield Coopers Plains Sunnybank Willawong Acacia Ridge Sunnybank Hills Willawong Algester Sunnybank Hills

Acacia Ridge is a lively suburb located south of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. In 2021, about 7,486 people called Acacia Ridge home. It's known for its mix of homes and busy industrial areas.

Exploring Acacia Ridge's Location

Acacia Ridge is about 15 kilometers (9 miles) south of Brisbane's city center. It's part of the City of Brisbane area.

Most of Acacia Ridge is made up of homes where people live. However, the eastern part of the suburb has a large industrial area. This is where you'll find many businesses and factories.

A Look Back: Acacia Ridge's History

The name Acacia Ridge comes from the many Acacia trees that grow in the area.

In October 1884, land called "Flemington Estate" was put up for sale. It was advertised as being close to the Coopers Plains railway station.

Schools in Acacia Ridge

• Acacia Ridge State School: This school first opened on April 1, 1869, as Cooper's Plains Provisional School. It was renamed Acacia Ridge State School in 1956. The school later moved to a new site on Nyngam Street.
• Our Lady of Fatima Primary School: This Catholic school opened on January 25, 1954. It started with 78 students and two teachers.
• Watson Road State School: This school opened on January 23, 1967.
• Acacia Ridge State High School: This high school opened in 1971 but closed in 1997. Its site is now used by Acacia Ridge State School.
• The Murri School: This special school for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students opened in 1986. It aims to help students with their learning and future jobs. It moved to the original Acacia Ridge State School site in 1997.

After World War II, Acacia Ridge was developed to provide homes for soldiers returning from the war and their families. Many of these original homes are still standing today.

Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church (built 1966), 2022

Churches in the Suburb

• Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church: This church was started in 1950. A new brick church building was opened in 1966.
• Acacia Ridge Uniting Church: This church began as the Acacia Ridge Methodist Church in 1966. It became the Uniting Church in 1977.

Acacia Ridge Uniting Church (formerly Methodist), 2022

Who Lives in Acacia Ridge?

In 2016, Acacia Ridge had a population of 7,429 people. About half were female and half were male. The average age was 34 years old.

Most people (61.6%) living in Acacia Ridge were born in Australia. Other common birthplaces included New Zealand, India, the Philippines, and Vietnam. Most people (59.6%) spoke only English at home. Other languages spoken included Somali, Vietnamese, Arabic, Spanish, and Mandarin.

By 2021, the population had grown slightly to 7,486 people.

Important Places: Heritage Sites

Acacia Ridge has some places that are important to its history. These are called heritage-listed sites:

• Carr's Quarry (former): An old quarry site.
• Acacia Ridge Air Raid Shelter: A shelter built during wartime.
• Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church Hall: This building was the first church in the area, built in 1950.

Partially submerged Acacia Ridge Air Raid Shelter in 2015

Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church hall was the first church established in 1950, 2022

Acacia Ridge's Economy and Businesses

Acacia Ridge has been an important place for businesses.

Car Manufacturing and Distribution

From 1966 to the mid-1980s, a major Holden car factory was located here. It produced cars like the Holden Gemini. After the factory closed, Woolworths used the site as a large distribution center. Now, another grocery chain uses it for similar purposes.

Toyota also has its southern Queensland headquarters in Acacia Ridge. This site handles management and distribution, not car production.

Railway Freight Yard

Acacia Ridge is home to one of Queensland's largest railway freight yards. This is where goods are moved between trains that use different track sizes. In 2008, a bridge was built over the railway tracks to allow for longer trains.

Archerfield Airport

Acacia Ridge also borders Archerfield Airport, which is a smaller, privately owned airport.

Learning in Acacia Ridge: Schools

Acacia Ridge has several schools for different age groups:

• Acacia Ridge State School: This is a government primary school for students from early childhood to Year 6. It also has a special education program. In 2017, it had 302 students.

Acacia Ridge State School, August 1959

• Watson Road State School: Another government primary school for students from Prep to Year 6. In 2017, it had 122 students.
• Our Lady of Fatima Primary School: A Catholic primary school for students from Prep to Year 6. In 2017, it had 151 students.
• The Murri School: This is a private school for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from Prep to Year 12. It focuses on improving reading, writing, and job opportunities. It works with health services, universities, and a radio station. In 2017, it had 245 students.
• YMCA Vocational School: A private secondary school for students from Year 7 to 12.

There isn't a government high school directly in Acacia Ridge. Students usually go to high schools in nearby suburbs like Durack, Sunnybank, or Calamvale.

Fun and Services: Amenities

Acacia Ridge offers various community facilities:

• Acacia Ridge Community Centre: This center is a place for community events and activities. It used to be the Coopers Plains Senior Citizens Community Hall.

Acacia Ridge Community Centre, 2013

• Iceworld Acacia Ridge: One of Brisbane's two ice skating rinks, where you can go ice skating.
• Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church: A place of worship located on Mortimer Road.
• Acacia Ridge Uniting Church: A church located on Chandler Street.
• Acacia Ridge Church of Christ: A church located on Learoyd Road.
• Omega International Church: A church located on Mitchell Street. The Samoan Acacia Ridge Church also meets here.

Omega International Church, 2022

Famous Faces from Acacia Ridge

Some well-known people have lived in Acacia Ridge, including:

• Mabior Chol, an AFL player
• Steven Herrick, a poet and author
• Jeff Horn, a boxer
• Steve Price, a rugby league player
• Johnathan Thurston, a rugby league player
• Joel Turner, a musician