Highgate Hill, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Highgate Hill Brisbane, Queensland
Toonarbin, Highgate Hill
Highgate Hill Location in Queensland
Population	6,229 (2021 census)
• Density	4,790/km2 (12,400/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4101
Elevation	60 m (197 ft)
Area	1.3 km2 (0.5 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	4.5 km (3 mi) SSW of Brisbane CBD
LGA(s)	City of Brisbane (The Gabba Ward)
State electorate(s)	South Brisbane
Federal Division(s)	Griffith
Suburbs around Highgate Hill: West End South Brisbane South Brisbane West End Highgate Hill South Brisbane St Lucia St Lucia Dutton Park

Highgate Hill is a suburb in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It's located close to the Brisbane River. In 2021, about 6,229 people lived here. It's known for its hills and many apartment buildings.

Exploring Highgate Hill's Landscape

Highgate Hill is built on rolling hills. The highest point, also called Highgate Hill, is 64 meters above sea level. This suburb, along with West End and South Brisbane, sits on a piece of land almost surrounded by the Brisbane River. The river forms Highgate Hill's southern edge.

From the main road, Dornoch Terrace, the land slopes steeply down to the river. Highgate Hill has many apartment buildings, some taller than 10 stories. This building style became popular in the 1960s.

A Look Back at Highgate Hill's Past

Real estate map of Stephens Paddock Estate (first section), Highgate Hill, 1890

View of Highgate Hill around 1902

Before European settlers arrived, the Highgate Hill area was a hunting ground for local Aboriginal people. They had a camp near Dorchester Street. A special gathering place, called a corroboree ground, was in Baynes Street. The Aboriginal name for Highgate Hill was Beenung-urrung, meaning "frilled lizard."

The banks of the Brisbane River were once covered in thick rainforest. There were tall fig trees, hoop pines, and many types of ferns and orchids. Some small parts of this original plant life can still be found in the gullies leading to the river.

In the early days of Brisbane, convicts cut down timber on Highgate Hill. This wood was used for building in the new town.

One of the first European families to live here was George Wilson's family in the 1860s. He might have named the area Highgate Hill, possibly after a place in London. The name first appeared in 1864 for a land sale. Early residents had to collect rainwater or get water from springs. This problem was solved in 1889 when the Highgate Hill Service Reservoir was built. This reservoir is still used today.

In 1902, electric trams came to Gladstone Road, helping the suburb grow. By 1929, Highgate Hill was considered a very desirable place to live in Brisbane. More apartments were built between the two World Wars, increasing the number of homes.

In 1949, the Park Presbyterian Church was built on Hampstead Road. It later became the Park Uniting Church for the Tongan community in Brisbane. After World War II, more development happened. The 22-story Torbreck building, Brisbane's first apartment tower, was finished in 1962.

Sometimes, new building projects have caused protests from the community. People have protested to protect bushland and old heritage houses.

Who Lives in Highgate Hill?

In 2021, Highgate Hill had a population of 6,229 people. The average age of people living here was 34 years old. Many people who live in Highgate Hill were born in Australia. Other common birthplaces include England, Greece, New Zealand, China, and India. Most people speak English at home, but Greek, Mandarin, and Vietnamese are also spoken.

Getting Around Highgate Hill

The view down Dornoch Terrace in 1902 showing development along the ridge and near the river

Highgate Hill has good public transport with many bus routes. Most residents can easily walk to a bus stop. About 4.4% of people use public transport to get to work or school.

Some bus routes include:

• Number 192: UQ Lakes - Highgate Hill - City
• Number 196: New Farm - Fairfield Gardens
• Number 198: Highgate Hill local bus

The closest train stations are South Bank and Dutton Park railway station.

Schools Near Highgate Hill

There are no schools directly in Highgate Hill.

The closest primary schools are West End State School in West End and Dutton Park State School in Dutton Park.

For high school, students can go to Brisbane State High School in South Brisbane or Brisbane South State Secondary College in Dutton Park.

There are also private schools in the areas surrounding Highgate Hill.

Places to Visit and Things to Do

The Park Church Tongan Congregation is located on Hampstead Road.

Parks and Green Spaces

Highgate Hill has a small park at its highest point. This park offers great views of the city and surrounding hills. It's a popular spot, especially in summer, because of the cool breezes.

Lyons Playground Park, also known as Paradise Park, is a well-equipped small park. It also has a community garden where people can grow plants together.

The Brydon Street park leads down to the river. This area is a small part of the bushland that was saved from development in 2002.

Highgate Hill in Books and Art

Highgate Hill has inspired artists and writers!

• The children's novel The Highgate Hill Mob (1994) tells stories about four kids living in the suburb.
• Artist Stephen Nothling painted many pictures of houses on Louise Street in Highgate Hill.
• Poet Robert Hughes lived on Jones Street and wrote a book called "Highgate Hill" about his experiences there.

Historic Places in Highgate Hill

Highgate Hill has several places that are listed for their historical importance. These places are protected because they show us what the area was like in the past. One example is Kinauld, a residence on Dornoch Terrace.

Entrance to the Kinauld residence on Dornoch Terrace, 2015

Famous People from Highgate Hill

Many interesting people have lived in or are connected to Highgate Hill, including:

• Ron Archer (a famous cricketer) was born here.
• Bill Hayden (who used to be the Governor-General of Australia) was born and spent his early years here.
• Daphne Mayo (a talented artist and sculptor) lived in Highgate Hill.