Chermside, Queensland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids ChermsideBrisbane, Queensland |
|||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kedron-Wavell Community Hall, Kittyhawk Drive, 2011
|
|||||||||||||||
 Chermside
Location in Queensland
|
|||||||||||||||
| Population | 11,426 (2021 census) | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 2,860/km2 (7,400/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 4032 | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation | 25 m (82 ft) | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 4.0 km2 (1.5 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
| Location | 9.8 km (6 mi) N of Brisbane CBD | ||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | City of Brisbane (Marchant Ward and Northgate Ward) |
||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) |
|
||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Lilley | ||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||
Chermside is a lively suburb located in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It's about 9.8 kilometers (or 6 miles) north of the main city center, known as the Brisbane CBD. Chermside is well-known for its huge Westfield shopping center. In 2021, about 11,426 people called Chermside home.
Contents
What is Chermside Like?
Chermside is a very important area in Brisbane. It's a major stop along the future Northern Busway transport route. The suburb is most famous for Westfield Chermside, which is one of the biggest shopping centers in Australia. It has a huge three-story Myer department store and a cinema with 16 screens!
A Look Back in Time
Europeans first started settling in the Chermside area in the late 1800s. The very first piece of land was sold on May 23, 1866. Since then, more and more people have moved here, especially after World War II.
How Chermside Got Its Name
When the gold rush started in Gympie in 1867, many travelers heading north had trouble crossing a creek in what is now Chermside. Because of this tricky waterway, the area was first called Downfall Creek.
In November 1868, Cobb & Co. stagecoaches, which were like old-fashioned buses, started traveling through the area on their way to the goldfields.
In 1904, the name of the district was officially changed to Chermside. This was done to honor Sir Herbert Chermside, who was the Governor of Queensland at the time.
Early Buildings and Services
.jpg)
A United Methodist Free church opened on August 11, 1878. Later, in 1926, the church building was moved to a new, more central spot. A new brick church was built there in 1950. Today, the Chermside-Kedron Community Church (a Uniting Church) stands nearby, having opened in 2001.
The first school in the area, Downfall Creek State School, opened on July 9, 1900. It was renamed Chermside State School in 1903 and closed in 1996.
Chermside has had a library since 1909. Since 1951, it has been part of the Brisbane City Council Library service and was updated in 2017.
The first movie theater, called The Dawn, opened on November 3, 1928. It showed movies until August 9, 2005, and was the last single-screen cinema in Brisbane.
Chermside During Wartime
During World War II, many different groups, including U.S. Army units, were stationed in Chermside. Sadly, in 1943, a Kitty Hawk airplane crashed during a training flight, and both the pilot and instructor died.
Modern Developments
Brisbane's tram network reached Chermside on March 29, 1947. The tram line here was special because it was separated from other traffic, which made travel very fast. The tram line closed on December 2, 1968.
Westfield Chermside first opened on May 30, 1957, as The Chermside Drive-in Shopping Centre. It was the very first drive-in shopping center in Australia! It started with a department store and a few shops. Today, it's one of Australia's largest single-level shopping centers and even has Brisbane's first Apple Store.
The Prince Charles Hospital, a public hospital, opened in 1959. It was originally called the Brisbane Chest Hospital, but its name was changed in 1974 when Prince Charles visited Brisbane.
In the early 1970s, Queensland's first Kmart store opened in Chermside. This was a big deal at the time!
In 1975, the area known as Chermside West became its own separate suburb.
The Burnie Brae Centre, a community center for seniors, opened in 1984. It was named after an old homestead that used to be on the site.
Holy Spirit Northside Private Hospital opened on July 30, 2001. It was later renamed St Vincent's Private Hospital Northside in 2019.
People of Chermside
In 2011, Chermside had 8,170 people living there. The average age was 35 years old. About 59.5% of people were born in Australia. Other common birthplaces included India, New Zealand, the Philippines, and England. Most people spoke English at home, but other languages like Malayalam, Tagalog, and Italian were also spoken.
By 2016, Chermside's population grew to 9,315 people, making it one of Brisbane's fastest-growing suburbs. In 2021, the population reached 11,426.
Important Places in Chermside
Chermside has several places that are considered important historical sites:
- The former Chermside School Building and Arbor Day trees at 590 Gympie Road.
- The H.M. Wheller Garden Settlement at 930 Gympie Road.
- Vellnagel's Blacksmith Shops at 992 Gympie Road.
- The Chermside Historical Precinct at 61 Kittyhawk Drive.
- The Chermside Telephone Exchange at 9 Mermaid Street.
- The former Chermside Chest Clinic chimney at 627 Rode Road.
Community Facilities
Chermside has many important facilities for its residents:
Emergency Services
- The Chermside Police Beat Shopfront is located inside the Westfield Shoppingtown.
- The Chermside Fire Station is at 526 Hamilton Road.
- The Chermside Ambulance Station is right next to the fire station at 520 Hamilton Road.
Hospitals and Health
- The Prince Charles Hospital at 627 Rode Road is a public hospital.
- St Vincent's Private Hospital Northside is a private hospital.
- There are also several private clinics for day patients, like Icon Cancer Care Chermside and Chermside Dialysis Clinic.
- Hummingbird House is a special private hospice for children.
- SmartClinics Chermside Family Medical Centre is located in the Chermside Shopping Centre.
Shopping and Community Hubs
- Westfield Chermside is the main shopping center, located at the corner of Gympie Road and Hamilton Road.
- Chermside Markets shopping center is at 725 Webster Road.
- Chermside Place shopping center is at 725 Gympie Road.
- The Brisbane City Council operates a public library at 375 Hamilton Road.
- The Burnie Brae Centre, also known as Chermside Senior Citizens Centre, is at 60 Kuran Street.
Churches and Clubs
- All Saints Anglican Church is at 501 Hamilton Road.
- Chermside Kedron Community Church (Uniting Church) is at 590 Gympie Road.
- The Sanctuary (Uniting Church) is within the Wheller Gardens retirement village.
- The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints is at 391 Rode Road.
- Centrepoint Church is at 240 Hamilton Road.
- Kedron Wavell Services Club at 21 Kittyhawk Drive is a large club with dining, bars, and entertainment. It's run by the RSL and uses its extra money to help the community.
Sports and Recreation
- Chermside Bowls Club is at 468 Rode Road.
- Shawsportz sports center is in Burringar Park.
- Chermside Aquatic Centre & Water Park at 375 Hamilton Road is a great place for swimming and water fun.
Parks
Chermside has several parks for outdoor activities:
- 7th Brigade Park, named after the Australian 7th Brigade, is a large park with many facilities, including the library and aquatic center.
- Burnie Brae Park (also known as Annand Park) at 106 Meemar Street.
- Dead Man's Gully Park at 5 Abarth Street.
- John Patterson Park (also known as Kidston Park) at 57 Norman Drive.
- Packer Place (including Terry Hampson Reserve) at 25 The Boulevard.
Local Attractions
The Chermside Historical Precinct at 61 Kittyhawk Drive is a special place to learn about the area's past. It has three main buildings:
- The original Chermside State School building from 1900, which is now home to the Chermside & Districts Historical Society.
- The Sandgate Drill Hall from 1915, which now houses the Milne Bay Memorial Library and Research Centre.
- The Training Ship Voyager Centre Sea Scouts' hall, built around 1964, which is now a community craft center.
Getting Around
The Northern Busway is a special bus route that helps people travel quickly. Parts of it have already been built, and plans are being made to extend it further, including to Chermside. This will make it even easier to get around the area.
Images for kids
-
Chermside Methodist Church, 1950
-
The opening of the Chermside tram line in 1947. The open field behind the tram is the site of the Chermside drive-in shopping centre.
-
Bus terminal at Drive-In Shopping Centre, Chermside, ca. 1957
-
Chermside Kedron Community Church, 2007
-
Kedron Wavell RSL entrance, 2015
