Camp Hill, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Camp Hill Brisbane, Queensland
Playground in Whites Hill Reserve, Camp Hill
Camp Hill Location in Queensland
Population	12,254 (2021 census)
• Density	2,553/km2 (6,610/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4152
Area	4.8 km2 (1.9 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	8.1 km (5 mi) SE of Brisbane CBD
LGA(s)	City of Brisbane (Coorparoo Ward and Morningside Ward)
State electorate(s)	Chatsworth Greenslopes Bulimba
Federal Division(s)	Griffith
Suburbs around Camp Hill: Norman Park Seven Hills Carina Coorparoo Camp Hill Carina Coorparoo Holland Park Carina Heights

Camp Hill is a suburb in the City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It's about 6 kilometres (3.7 miles) south-east of Brisbane's city centre. In 2021, Camp Hill was home to 12,254 people. It's mostly a place where people live, with lots of houses and families.

What's Camp Hill Like?

Camp Hill has some hills! The main ones are:

• Esquiline Hill
• Sankeys Mountain
• Whites Hill, which is 112 metres (367 feet) above sea level.

A Look Back at Camp Hill's History

Camp Hill has a cool history, starting way back in the 1800s.

How Camp Hill Got Its Name

The area was first called Schick's Hill, after an early settler named Peter Schick. His land was near a spot known as Four-mile Camp. This was a resting place for travellers and drovers (people who moved livestock) on their way to Cleveland. They stopped here because there was plenty of food for animals and water.

People complained about the steep, bad roads on "the Four Mile Camp Hill." So, public works were done to fix them. Eventually, the name was shortened to Camp Hill. Another idea is that it was named after teamsters who camped at a waterhole near Whites Hill.

Early Days and Farming

In the beginning, many settlers were farmers, and there was a strong German influence. Dairies and farms were common in the 1860s.

Transport and Growth

From 1912 to 1926, a steam tram service called the Belmont Tramway helped people get around. It connected Camp Hill to the main railway line at Norman Park. The tram line was eventually replaced by electric trams and then buses. Today, some bus routes still follow the old tram paths! A small part of the old tram tracks on Old Cleveland Road is even a heritage site.

In 1925, the electric tram line was extended to Camp Hill, making it easier for people to travel.

Schools and Churches

Many schools and churches opened in Camp Hill over the years:

• Mount Bruce State School opened in 1926 and was renamed Camp Hill State School in 1931. It later merged with the Infants State School.
• St Thomas' Catholic Church was dedicated in 1923. It was named after Saint Thomas and also honoured Thomas Byrnes, a former Queensland Premier.
• St Thomas' Catholic School opened in 1929, with Sisters of the Good Samaritan teaching children on church verandahs.
• Anglican Church of the Annunciation was moved to Camp Hill in 1926 from another town.
• Camp Hill Methodist Church started with a Sunday school in 1928, using a relocated building. A new brick church was built in 1958.
• Camp Hill State High School opened in 1957.
• Whites Hill State School opened in 1958.

Camp Hill During World War II

During World War II, the US Army built a large hospital in Camp Hill that could hold up to 3,000 patients and staff. Today, several streets in the area follow the pattern of the old hospital roads. The Australian Army also used White's Hill as a lookout spot.

Recent School Changes

In 2002, Camp Hill State High School and Whites Hill State School joined together to become Whites Hill State College. This college now teaches students from Prep (the first year of school) all the way to Year 12.

Who Lives in Camp Hill?

In 2021, Camp Hill had 12,254 residents. Most people (80%) were born in Australia. Other common birthplaces included England, New Zealand, and South Africa. English is the main language spoken at home (87%). Other languages include Mandarin, Greek, and Spanish. When it comes to religion, many people said they had no religion (39%), followed by Catholic (29.1%) and Anglican (10.1%).

Special Places and Buildings

Camp Hill has several heritage-listed sites, which means they are important historical places protected for the future. These include:

• Isleworth (a house)
• Forster's Dairy Cottage
• Yalcongreen (a house)
• Whites Hill Reserve (also known as White's Hill Lookout)
• Anzac Cottage
• Parooba (a house)
• Collins Residence (a house)
• Old Cleveland Road Tramway Tracks (part of the old tram line)
• A historic hitching post and seat
• The former Methodist Church Hall
• Camp Hill School of Arts
• Rockhampton House and Wandoo (both also known as Coorparoo House)
• Chase's Cottage
• Croyde (a house)
• Eastholme (a house)

Education in Camp Hill

Camp Hill offers several great schools for students:

• Camp Hill State Infants and Primary School is a government school for students from Prep to Year 6. It also has a special education program.
• St Thomas' Catholic School is a Catholic primary school for Prep to Year 6 students.
• Whites Hill State College is a government school that teaches students from Prep all the way through to Year 12. It also has a special education program.

Community Facilities

• Camp Hill Fire Station is ready to help in emergencies.
• Camp Hill School of Arts Hall is a public hall that can be rented for events.

Shopping and Fun

Camp Hill has two main shopping areas. Camp Hill Marketplace has a large Woolworths supermarket, cafes, and restaurants. The Old Cleveland Road area has unique shops, including an antiques store in the old Planet Theatre building. You can also find hidden cafes and restaurants along Martha Street.

The Camp Hill Hotel is a well-known pub with accommodation.

Places of Worship

You'll find several churches and a mosque in Camp Hill:

• Anglican Church of The Annunciation
• St Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church
• Regina Caeli Catholic Church
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
• Langri Tangpa Buddhist Centre (in the former Presbyterian church)
• Mubarak Mosque (operated by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community)

Parks and Recreation

Camp Hill has many parks where you can play, relax, and enjoy nature:

• Abbott Street Park
• Bowie's Flat Park (with a lagoon and wildlife)
• Burn Street Park
• Garth Webb Park
• Joe Foster Park
• Lavarack Park (with play equipment and a walking loop)
• Leicester Street Park
• Perth Street Park (with play equipment, BBQs, and a dog park)
• Seven Hills Bushland Reserve
• Tarana Street Park
• Wembley Park
• Whites Hill Reserve (a large park with a playground, BBQs, sports fields, and bushwalking tracks where you might spot koalas and wallabies!)

Brisbane Metro Touch operates a touch football field in Whites Hill Reserve.

Exploring Camp Hill

Whites Hill Lookout

For amazing views over Brisbane, head to Whites Hill Lookout. You can reach it by walking from Whites Hill Reserve.

Getting Around

While Camp Hill doesn't have its own train station anymore, you can easily catch buses. Buses run frequently along Old Cleveland Road, Stanley Road, and Chatsworth Road, connecting Camp Hill to the Brisbane city centre and Carindale Shopping Centre.

Cycling is popular, especially on weekend mornings. Some roads have bicycle lanes or are marked as "Bicycle Awareness Zones." Walking is also easy, with footpaths on most streets and safe crossings at intersections. Nearby bushland reserves like Seven Hills and Whites Hill are great for longer walks.