Bracken Ridge, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bracken Ridge Brisbane, Queensland
Bracken Ridge Hall courtyard near the ward office and library, 2011
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Population	17,488 (2021 census)
• Density	2,214/km2 (5,730/sq mi)
Established	1960s
Postcode(s)	4017
Area	7.9 km2 (3.1 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	18.3 km (11 mi) N of Brisbane CBD
LGA(s)	City of Brisbane (Bracken Ridge Ward)
State electorate(s)	Sandgate
Federal Division(s)	Petrie
Suburbs around Bracken Ridge: Bald Hills Brighton Brighton Bald Hills Bracken Ridge Sandgate Fitzgibbon Taigum Deagon

Bracken Ridge is a lively suburb located in the northern part of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It's a great place to live, learn, and play! In 2021, about 17,488 people called Bracken Ridge home.

Discover Bracken Ridge: A Fun Place to Live!

Where is Bracken Ridge Located?

Bracken Ridge is about 18 kilometers (11 miles) north of Brisbane's city center. Imagine a straight line from the city, heading north, and you'll find it! The southern edge of the suburb follows Telegraph Road, which is one of the oldest roads around. Part of its western side runs alongside the Caboolture railway line.

This area is quite hilly, just like its name suggests. From the highest points, you can see amazing views. Look east to spot the sparkling Moreton Bay, or turn south to see the tall buildings of the city.

A Look Back: Bracken Ridge's History

Early Days and First Settlers

The land where Bracken Ridge now stands was originally home to the Turrbul people. They are the traditional owners of this beautiful area.

The name "Bracken Ridge" comes from an old property. The first settlers gave it this name because there were so many Bracken ferns growing here.

The first land sales happened a long time ago, on August 3, 1857. William Loudon was the first person to buy land. Later, in 1862, John McPherson and James Ferguson bought land and became the first to settle here.

Schools and Community Grow

Over the years, many important places opened in Bracken Ridge:

• Bracken Ridge State High School first opened its doors on August 26, 1957.
• Nashville State High School started on January 23, 1967. It was later renamed Bracken Ridge State High School on September 25, 2000.
• Norris Road State School welcomed students from January 24, 1977.
• St Joseph's Catholic Primary School began on January 28, 1978.
• St John Fisher College opened on October 5, 1981.
• The Bracken Ridge Library, a wonderful place for books and learning, opened in 1987.
• The Anglican Church of the Holy Spirit was officially opened on May 7, 1988.

Who Lives in Bracken Ridge?

In 2021, Bracken Ridge had a population of 17,488 people. The average age was 37 years old. This means it's a community with a good mix of families and people of all ages.

Most people (about 72.3%) living in Bracken Ridge were born in Australia. Other people came from countries like New Zealand (4.2%), India (4.0%), England (3.2%), the Philippines (2.4%), and Fiji (0.7%).

English is the main language spoken at home by 80% of residents. Other languages you might hear include Punjabi, Tagalog, Hindi, Malayalam, and Arabic. This shows how diverse and welcoming the community is!

Special Places: Heritage Sites

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

• 83 Barfoot Street: This is where the Sandgate Third Lagoon is located.
• 225 Barrett Street: This site is home to the Bald Hills Cemetery.

How Bracken Ridge is Governed

Bracken Ridge is part of the City of Brisbane. Here's how its local government works:

• For the Brisbane City Council, Bracken Ridge is represented by Cr Sandy Landers. She is a member of the Liberal Party.
• In the Queensland Parliament, the area is part of the Electoral district of Sandgate. It is represented by Bisma Asif from the Labor Party.
• For the national government in the Australian Parliament, Bracken Ridge is in the Division of Petrie. It is represented by Emma Comer, also from the Labor Party.

These people help make decisions for the community and represent the residents.

Learning and Growing: Schools in Bracken Ridge

Bracken Ridge has many schools for students of all ages:

• Bracken Ridge State School: This is a government primary school for students from Prep to Year 6. It's located at 1 Binburra Street. It also has a special education program.
• Norris Road State School: Another government primary school for Prep to Year 6 students, found at 28 Greenore Street. It also offers a special education program.
• St Joseph's Catholic Primary School: A Catholic primary school for Prep to Year 6 students at 30 Eldorado Street.
• Bracken Ridge State High School: This government high school teaches students from Year 7 to Year 12. You can find it at 68 Barfoot Street. It also has a special education program.
• St John Fisher College: This is a Catholic high school specifically for girls, teaching Years 7 to 12. It's located on John Fisher Drive.
• Queensland Pathways State College: This campus helps secondary students (Years 10-12) with their education. It's at 157 Norris Road.
• Jabiru Community College: A private secondary school for boys and girls in Years 10-12, located at Community Annexe, Bracken Street.
• Brisbane North Institute of TAFE: This college offers vocational training and courses for older students who want to learn specific job skills.

Fun Things to Do: Shops, Sports, and More!

Shopping and Local Services

Bracken Ridge has several places to shop and find what you need. You'll find shopping areas on Gawain Road and Barrett Street. There's also a larger shopping center at the corner of Telegraph Road and Norris Road. Another handy spot is near the Bracken Ridge Tavern, with a Woolworths supermarket, a chemist, and a newsagent on Barrett Street.

The Brisbane City Council runs a public library. It's a great place to borrow books, study, or use computers. You can find it on the corner of Barrett Street and Bracken Street, right next to Ferguson Park.

Get Active: Sports and Recreation

If you love sports, Bracken Ridge has a lot to offer!

• The Bracken Ridge District Cricket Club plays at McPherson Park.
• The Bracken Ridge Little Athletics Club "Roadrunners" also uses McPherson Park for their activities.
• The Bracken Ridge Central Lions club hosts fun miniature and electric steam train days. These happen on the 4th Sunday of each month at Mcphersons Park, attracting many visitors.
• There's an indoor sports center for various activities.
• The "Ridgettes" netball club is part of the Brisbane Netball Association.
• The Emily Seebohm Aquatic Centre is a fantastic public swimming pool. It opened on February 14, 2016. You can take swimming lessons, join squad programs, or try aqua aerobics there. It's named after Emily Seebohm, a famous Olympic swimmer from Bracken Ridge!

Community Spirit: Places of Worship

Bracken Ridge is home to several churches and places of worship:

• Anglican Church of the Holy Spirit, 103 Denham Street.
• St Joseph's Catholic Church, 30 Eldorado Street.
• Bracken Ridge Uniting Church, 7 Pellinore Road.
• Bracken Ridge Baptist Church, 47 Norris Road.
• Meetinghouse of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 16 Lanyon Street.
• Bray Park Samoan Church, which meets at Norris Road State School Hall. It's part of the Wesleyan Methodist Church.
• Bracken Ridge Tongan Church, also part of the Wesleyan Methodist Church, meets at 17 Bracken Street.
• An Islamic community center is located nearby in Bald Hills.

Explore the Outdoors: Parks and Green Spaces

Bracken Ridge has many beautiful parks and green areas where you can play, relax, and enjoy nature. Some of these include:

• Albion Park, on Caulfield Street.
• Bald Hills Creek Park.
• Barbour Road Park.
• Barrett Street Park, accessible via Barrett and Snooker Streets.
• C. Slaughter Park, Phillips Street and Ranes Court.
• Enbrook Parkland, near the Bracken Ridge Plaza shopping center.
• Ferguson Park, on the corner of Barrett and Bracken Streets.
• Fred Francis Park, accessible from Bracken Ridge Road and St John Fisher Drive.
• Harold Dean Park, accessible from Gawain Road.
• McPherson Park, accessible from Denham Street, Yaraan Street or Tomah Road.
• Mensforth Bushland, on Childs Street.
• Oaks Park, located on Barbour and Denning Roads.
• Peter Gaskell Park on Elm Crescent.
• Sandgate Third Lagoon Reserve.
• Tinchi Tamba Wetlands Reserve.
• Wendy Turnbull Park, accessible from Caruso Place.

These parks offer great spaces for outdoor activities and enjoying the fresh air.

Famous Faces from Bracken Ridge

Bracken Ridge has been home to some well-known people:

• Trent Dalton - a famous author who wrote Boy Swallows Universe.
• Emily Seebohm - an amazing Olympic swimmer.
• Paige Parker - an AFLW player.
• Sophie Conway - also an AFLW player.