Herston, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Herston Brisbane, Queensland
Residential street, Herston, 2010
Herston Location in Queensland
Population	2,311 (2021 census)
• Density	1,440/km2 (3,700/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4006
Area	1.6 km2 (0.6 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	2.9 km (2 mi) N of Brisbane CBD
LGA(s)	City of Brisbane (Central Ward)
State electorate(s)	McConnel
Federal Division(s)	Brisbane
Suburbs around Herston: Wilston Windsor Windsor Kelvin Grove Herston Bowen Hills Kelvin Grove Spring Hill Spring Hill

Herston is a suburb located close to the centre of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. In 2021, about 2,311 people lived in Herston. It's known for its important health and medical facilities.

What Herston is Like

Herston is located about 2.9 kilometres (1.8 miles) north of the main post office in Brisbane.

A big part of Herston is the Herston Health Precinct. This area includes the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, which is a very large hospital. It also has the Queensland Institute of Medical Research, where scientists work to find cures and new treatments for diseases.

The "Herston Quarter" is a special area being developed where the old Royal Children's Hospital used to be. That hospital moved to a new location in 2014. The Herston Quarter is becoming a modern area with health services, homes, and shops.

Herston is also home to Ballymore Stadium, a famous place for rugby union games. On the southern side of Herston Road, you'll find Victoria Park. This park has a golf course and a historic golf clubhouse built in 1931.

Most of Herston is a residential area, meaning people live there. Some parts also have light industry near the main roads. Many people who live in Herston work at the hospital or at the Queensland University of Technology in nearby Kelvin Grove. Lots of students who study at the university also live here.

Herston's Past

Robert Herbert

View of Bowen Bridge Road from the corner of O'Connell Terrace in 1869

Europeans first settled in Herston in the 1850s. Sir Robert Herbert, who was Queensland's very first premier (like a state leader), built a farm here. He lived in the farmhouse with John Bramston, who was the Attorney-General at the time. They named their house Herston by combining parts of their last names. This name eventually became the name of the whole suburb.

Many streets in Herston are named after important people from the past. For example, Bowen Bridge Road was named after Sir George Bowen, Queensland's first governor. Butterfield Street was named after a local schoolmaster, William Butterfield. Hetherington Street got its name from John William Hetherington, who worked in the coal industry. Garrick Terrace was named after James Francis Garrick, who bought Herston from Herbert and Bramston.

The Royal Children's Hospital Special School opened on August 11, 1919. This school taught children who were patients in the hospital. Over the years, its name changed, and it is now a campus of the Queensland Children's Hospital School.

St Joan of Arc Catholic Church opened on December 5, 1920. A Catholic school, St Joan of Arc Catholic School, also opened on July 14, 1924, but it closed in 1968.

In the past, Herston had a good public transport system. From the 1920s, trams ran along Bowen Bridge Road and Kelvin Grove Road, making it easy to get around. These tram services stopped in December 1968. Trolley-buses also served the suburb from 1953 to 1968, connecting Herston to other areas like Fortitude Valley.

Herston Methodist Church opened on March 24, 1923. It was a simple wooden building. This church was still open in 1990 but closed sometime before 2020. St Luke's Anglican Mission Hall opened in 1928, and a new church building was dedicated in 1962. This church closed in 1993.

Royal Children's Hospital, Herston, November 2014

In 2009, a decision was made to combine the Royal Children's Hospital with another children's hospital to create one big new hospital. This was a big discussion, with some people wanting the new hospital in Herston and others in South Brisbane. The new Queensland Children's Hospital opened in South Brisbane on November 29, 2014. The old Royal Children's Hospital in Herston then closed.

After the old hospital closed, the Queensland Government decided to redevelop the site into the "Herston Quarter." This project aims to create a modern area with health facilities, homes for older people, places for research, and student accommodation. It's a big project that is expected to create many jobs.

People in Herston

In 2016, Herston had a population of 2,215 people. The average age of people living in Herston was 29 years old, which is younger than the average age for all of Australia. About half of the people (50.4%) were born in Australia. The next largest group came from China (6.5%).

Most people in Herston (57.7%) spoke only English at home. Other languages spoken included Mandarin (7.1%). When asked about religion, the most common answer was "No Religion" (40.7%), followed by Catholic (18.4%).

By 2021, the population of Herston had grown slightly to 2,311 people.

Historic Places

Herston has several places that are listed for their historical importance:

• 40 Bowen Bridge Road: Brisbane General Hospital Precinct
• Herston Road: Royal Brisbane Hospital Nurses' Homes
• 288 Herston Road: University of Queensland Mayne Medical School
• 309 Herston Road: former Victoria Park Golf Clubhouse

Schools in Herston

The Royal Brisbane and ACT for Kids Campus of the Queensland Children's Hospital School is located inside the hospital area. This school is only for children who are staying in the hospitals and their family members.

There are no other regular schools directly in Herston. The closest government primary and secondary school is Kelvin Grove State College, which is in the nearby suburb of Kelvin Grove.

Local Facilities

St Joan of Arc Catholic Church is located at 47 Clyde Road.

Getting Around

Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital busway station

Brisbane City Council buses serve the suburb, making it easy to travel. The Inner-Northern Busway also runs through the southern part of Herston. This special busway helps buses avoid traffic on busy roads. It has a stop called the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital busway station, which is very convenient for people visiting or working at the hospital.