Albion, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Albion Brisbane, Queensland
Former Albion Fire Station, 2013
Albion Location in Queensland
Population	3,446 (2021 census)
• Density	2,460/km2 (6,400/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4010
Area	1.4 km2 (0.5 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	5.1 km (3 mi) NNE of Brisbane CBD
LGA(s)	City of Brisbane (Hamilton Ward)
State electorate(s)	Clayfield
Federal Division(s)	Brisbane
Suburbs around Albion: Lutwyche Wooloowin Clayfield Windsor Albion Ascot Bowen Hills Newstead Hamilton

Albion is a lively suburb located in the inner north-east of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It's a great place with a mix of old and new buildings. In 2021, about 3,446 people called Albion home.

Exploring Albion's Geography

Breakfast Creek in Albion, 2020

Albion is surrounded by other suburbs like Wooloowin to the north and Ascot to the east. To the south, you'll find Newstead, and Windsor is to the west. A natural border on the south and south-west is Breakfast Creek.

A main road called Sandgate Road runs right through the middle of Albion. You can see all sorts of houses here, from old workers' cottages to modern brick homes and apartment buildings.

Breakfast Creek Neighbourhood

Within Albion, there's a smaller area called Breakfast Creek. It's located in the western part of the suburb.

A Look Back in Time: Albion's History

The name Breakfast Creek comes from a spot called Breakfast Point. Explorer John Oxley named it in 1823 during his trip along the Brisbane River.

How Albion Got Its Name

The original Albion Hotel, around 1866. The suburb is named after it.

In 1860, a man named John Petrie opened a quarry in Albion. The white walls of this quarry reminded Thomas Hayseldon of England's famous white cliffs. He then built a hotel and called it the Albion Hotel. Albion is an old name for England, meaning "white" in Latin. This hotel is how the suburb got its name!

Early Developments and Landmarks

• A swampy area near Breakfast Creek became a racecourse.
• In 1885, it became the home of the Smithfield Pony Club.
• Later, in 1895, it was known as the Albion Park Racecourse.
• Many Chinese migrants settled here. They built the Temple of the Holy Triad on Higgs Street in 1885-86.

The Famous Breakfast Creek Hotel

The Breakfast Creek Hotel first opened its doors on 17 May 1890. This hotel, built in a French Renaissance style, is still a very important landmark today. It has survived floods in 1893, 1898, 1974, 2011, and 2022.

Breakfast Creek Sportsground

The Breakfast Creek Sportsground opened on 31 August 1899. Two people, Michael Gannon and Andrew Lang Petrie, drained a swamp to create this huge sports area. It had tracks for racing, fields for sports like cricket and football, and even a lake for model boats. There was also a "switchback railway," which was an early type of roller coaster! Today, this area is known as the Albion Park Paceway.

Schools in Albion's Past

Breakfast Creek State School opened in 1890 but closed in 1961. Later, a special school for students with unique learning needs used the buildings until it closed in 1996.

Churches and Community

• An Albion Baptist church opened in 1883.
• The Church of Christ started a congregation in Albion in 1912. They built their church in 1915.
• In 1992, the Albion church joined with another nearby congregation.

St Columban's College

On 5 December 1926, a foundation stone was laid for St Columban's College. It opened in 1928 as a school for boys run by the Christian Brothers.

• In 1985, the school's management changed.
• In 1996, girls were also allowed to enroll.
• The school moved to Caboolture in 1997.
• The old Albion site is now a retirement village, but some of the original heritage buildings are still there.

Modern Developments

In 2013, a modern Bupa National Cricket Centre was built at the Allan Border Field. This center is now the main office for Queensland Cricket.

Albion was also considered as a possible location for an athlete's village for the Brisbane bid for the 2032 Summer Olympics.

Albion's Population

In 2016, Albion had a population of 2,296 people. By 2021, the population had grown to 3,446 people.

Historic Places in Albion

Abbotsford Road Bridge, a heritage-listed site.

Albion has many places that are listed for their historical importance. These are called heritage-listed sites.

The Albion Hotel today, a heritage-listed building.

"Whytecliffe", a historic residence in Albion.

Some of these include:

• Abbotsford Road Bridge
• Dunaverty at 21 Birkbeck Street
• The former MUIOOF Lodge Hall at 12 Gore Street
• An Early Cottage at 58 Grove Street
• The Holy Triad Temple at 32 Higgs Street
• The former Albion Flour Mill at 60 Hudson Street
• The Breakfast Creek Hotel at 2 Kingsford Smith Drive
• Herberton Cottage at 17 Lever Street
• Fire of Hope Baptist Church Manse & Hall at 16 McLennan Street
• Emerald (now Fakenham) at 27 McLennan Street
• Argyle at 40 McLennan Street
• Parts of the old Breakfast Creek Bridge on Sandgate Road
• Many shops and buildings along Sandgate Road, including the Albion Building and the former Post Office.
• Whytecliffe and Highlands (part of the former St Columban's College) at 469 Sandgate Road.
• Historic cottages and duplexes on Stoneleigh Street.

Getting Around: Transport in Albion

Albion has its own train station, Albion railway station. You can catch trains on several lines from here, including the Airport, Doomben, Caboolture, Shorncliffe, and Sunshine Coast lines.

In the past, Albion also had a tram line along Sandgate Road. Trams ran until 1969.

Learning in Albion: Schools

There are no schools located directly within Albion today. However, there are several primary schools in nearby suburbs like Windsor, Wooloowin, Clayfield, and Ascot. For high school, the closest option is Kedron State High School in Kedron.

Fun and Facilities in Albion

A boat ramp into Breakfast Creek, 2009.

Albion offers several amenities for residents and visitors:

• Brothers Rugby Club: Located at 103 Crosby Road in Crosby Park.
• Queensland Cricket Headquarters: You can find their main office at Allan Border Field, 1 Greg Chappell Street.
• Boat Ramp: There's a boat ramp on Beaumont Street in Yowoggera Park, perfect for launching boats into Breakfast Creek.

Parks and Green Spaces

Albion has several parks where you can relax and enjoy the outdoors:

• Albion Overpass Park
• Albion Post Office Park
• Crosby Park
• Yowoggera Park

Top Attractions in Albion

• The Breakfast Creek Hotel: This historic hotel at 2 Kingsford Smith Drive is a popular spot and a well-known landmark.
• Albion Park Paceway: Located on Yulestar Street, this is a place where you can watch harness racing (horses pulling carts) and greyhound racing (dog races).