Bowen Hills, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bowen Hills Brisbane, Queensland
The Old Museum
Bowen Hills Location in Queensland
Population	4,898 (2021 census)
• Density	2,880/km2 (7,500/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4006
Area	1.7 km2 (0.7 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	3.2 km (2 mi) NNE of Brisbane CBD
LGA(s)	City of Brisbane (Central Ward)
State electorate(s)	McConnel
Federal Division(s)	Brisbane
Suburbs around Bowen Hills: Windsor Albion Albion Herston Bowen Hills Newstead Spring Hill Fortitude Valley New Farm

Bowen Hills is a busy suburb located just north-east of Brisbane city centre in Queensland, Australia. In 2021, about 4,898 people lived here.

What is Bowen Hills Like?

Bowen Hills is about 3.2 kilometres (2 miles) by road from the main part of Brisbane.

Neighbourhoods and Hills

• Mayne is a small area within the south of Bowen Hills.
• Montpelier is a hill in the suburb. It rises to about 49 metres (161 feet) above sea level.

Train Travel in Bowen Hills

Several train lines run through Bowen Hills. These include long-distance lines and local Brisbane train lines. There are also a few train stations:

• Bowen Hills railway station serves people travelling on local train lines.
• Exhibition railway station is located inside the Brisbane Exhibition Grounds. It is mainly used by staff and visitors during events.
• Mayne Depot railway station serves the nearby Mayne train yard.
• Mayne Junction railway station used to be a train station but is now closed.

A Look Back: History of Bowen Hills

A view of Bowen Hills around 1883

Bowen Hills during a flood in 1893

Before European settlers arrived, the land of Bowen Hills belonged to the Chepara people. This included the local Brisbane, Ipswich, and southern Jagera groups. They called the higher areas "Barrambin," which means "windy place," because of the cool breezes. It was a major meeting spot and campsite for many Indigenous groups. Sometimes, between 700 and 1,000 people would camp there.

The area where the Brisbane Exhibition Ground and Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital now stand was called "Walan" (or "Woolan"). This name means "Bream," a type of fish. The main oval of the Ekka showgrounds was once a "great fighting ground" for Indigenous people. Barrambin was also important for "kippa-ring" ceremonies. These were initiation ceremonies for young men. Tribes from the coast would travel here for their "kippa's" (young men) to be initiated. Early European settlers called the area near Gilchrist Avenue "York's Hollow."

The suburb of Bowen Hills was named after Queensland Governor Sir George Ferguson Bowen. The area called Mayne is named after a local leader, Patrick Mayne.

Key Dates and Developments

• 1862: The Queensland Acclimatisation Society took over Bowen Park. This area later became the RNA Exhibition Grounds, home to the Brisbane Ekka show. Some of it is still parkland today.
• 1866: Bowen Hills was officially made a postal district.
• 1870s: More people started to settle in the area.
• 1878: A post office opened in Bowen Hills.
• 1882: The train station began operating.
• 1886: A local businessman, William Perry, built Miegunyah House. This beautiful old Victorian home is now a museum. It hosts historical talks and special exhibitions.
• 1921-1966: Our Lady of Victories' Primary School was open during these years.
• 1924-1970s: A home for retired nurses operated in Bowen Hills.
• Mid-1900s: Bowen Hills was famous for the Cloudland dance hall. This building had a unique domed roof and was a well-known landmark. Sadly, it was pulled down in 1982 to build apartments.
• 1950-1972: Brian and Marjorie Johnstone ran the Johnstone Gallery in Bowen Hills. This gallery was very important for Australian art. It helped people appreciate modern Australian artists. Many famous artists showed their work there, like Sir Sidney Nolan and Margaret Olley. The gallery was a key part of Brisbane's cultural life. Their collection is now kept at the State Library of Queensland. In 2021, it was added to UNESCO's Australian Memory of the World Register.
• 1960s: Queensland Newspapers built its main office in Bowen Hills.
• 1986-1987: Bowen Hills Special School was open for a short time.
• 2010s: Many new apartment buildings were built in Bowen Hills. New shops also opened to serve the growing number of residents.

Who Lives in Bowen Hills?

In 2021, Bowen Hills had a population of 4,898 people. In 2016, there were 3,226 residents. At that time, 45.6% were women and 54.4% were men. The average age was 30 years old, which is younger than the Australian average. About 49% of people were born in Australia. The next largest group came from New Zealand (3.9%). Most people (59.5%) spoke only English at home. Other languages included Mandarin (4.8%) and Spanish (3.2%). The most common answer for religion was "No Religion" (38.3%).

Important Places in Bowen Hills

Bowen Hills has several places that are listed for their historical importance. These are called heritage-listed sites. They include:

• Bowen Park on O'Connell Terrace.
• Cintra House at 23 Boyd Street.
• Our Lady of Victories Catholic Church at 29 Cintra Road.
• Miegunyah at 35 Jordan Terrace.
• Old Museum Building at 480 Gregory Terrace.
• Brisbane Exhibition Ground at 574 Gregory Terrace.

Learning and Fun in Bowen Hills

There are no schools directly in Bowen Hills. Students usually attend schools in nearby suburbs. The closest primary schools are in Spring Hill, Ascot, and New Farm. The closest high schools are in Kelvin Grove and Kedron.

What to Do in Bowen Hills

An Australian rules football match at Perry Park, Bowen Hills in the 1930s

• The Twelfth Night Theatre offers live plays. Many famous actors have performed here.
• The Old Museum on Gregory Terrace used to be the Queensland Museum. Now, it is home to the Queensland Youth Orchestras. It also provides space for other music and arts groups.
• The Royal Queensland Show, also known as the Ekka, is a huge annual event. It takes place at the Brisbane Exhibition Grounds in Bowen Hills.
• Bowen Park is a small public garden. It has been a park since 1863.
• Perry Park Stadium is a sports ground. It is mostly used for soccer games.

Parks and Green Spaces

Bowen Hills has several parks where you can relax and play:

• Booroodabin Recreation Reserve
• Bowen Bridge Rd Park East
• Bowen Park
• Cowlishaw Street Park
• Jeays Street Park
• Perry Park

Getting Around Bowen Hills

The Inner City Bypass in 2021

By Train

Bowen Hills Station is one of Queensland's busiest train stations. All local train services stop here, including express trains. Many trains also start or end their journeys at Bowen Hills during busy times. Bowen Hills is also home to a large train maintenance and storage area.

By Road

Bowen Hills is a major hub for Brisbane's road network. The Clem Jones Tunnel (Clem7), Airport Link Tunnel, and Inner City Bypass all have entry and exit points in Bowen Hills. These major roads connect with each other in a complex interchange.

Businesses in Bowen Hills

Virgin Village, the former head office of Virgin Australia Holdings in Bowen Hills

For many years, Virgin Australia Holdings had its main office, called Virgin Village, in Bowen Hills. This included airlines like Virgin Australia. In 2008, about 1,000 employees worked there. The office moved to South Brisbane in September 2020. Sunstate Airlines, which flies under the QantasLink name, also has its head office in Bowen Hills.

The main offices for Brisbane's two newspapers, The Courier-Mail and The Sunday Mail, are located on Campbell Street in Bowen Hills.

As the area grows, more shops are opening up. These shops mainly serve the people who live in the new apartment buildings.

Images for kids

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  Panorama view of Bowen Hills from east to south from Perry Park, Bowen Hills (2021)