Kalinga, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kalinga Brisbane, Queensland
Memorial gates at Kalinga Park
Kalinga Location in Queensland
Postcode(s)	4030
Elevation	10 m (33 ft)
Area	0.9 km2 (0.3 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	9.7 km (6 mi) NNE of Brisbane CBD
LGA(s)	City of Brisbane (Hamilton Ward)
State electorate(s)	Clayfield
Federal Division(s)	Brisbane
Suburbs around Kalinga: Wavell Heights Nundah Nundah Kedron Kalinga Clayfield Kedron Wooloowin Clayfield

Kalinga is a small suburb located in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It is part of the City of Brisbane. In 2016, about 2,126 people lived there.

Exploring Kalinga's Location

Kedron Brook, west from Shaw Road bridge, 2013

Kalinga is bordered by a stream called Kedron Brook to its north. A special bikeway, the Kedron Brook bikeway, runs along the stream. This bikeway has two bridges that connect Kalinga to nearby areas. One bridge goes to Shaw Park in Wavell Heights. The other bridge leads to Toombul Terrace in Nundah. There is also a third footbridge over the creek that connects to Carew and New Street in Nundah.

The land in Kalinga is mostly flat, sitting about 10 meters (33 feet) above sea level. An underground tunnel, part of the M7 Airport Link, passes beneath the suburb. Most of Kalinga is used for homes and parks. You can find a mix of small apartment buildings and houses here. Some of the older houses are in a special style called "Queenslanders."

Kalinga's Past: A Look at History

Real estate map of Kedron Park estate, 1888

The name Kalinga comes from an Aboriginal word, Ngalinnga. This word likely comes from the Yuggera language, Turrbal dialect, and means "belonging to us."

One important historical building in the area is Kedron Lodge. This was the home of a famous person named Alfred Lutwyche. In 1888, a large piece of land that used to belong to Justice Alfred Lutwyche was sold. This land was called the Kedron Park Estate.

Entertainment in Early Kalinga

Advertising for Kalinga Theatre, 1956

Around 1920, an outdoor movie theater opened in Kalinga on Lodge Street. It was later enclosed in 1929 and could seat 400 to 500 people. This theater had a few different names over the years, like Kalinga Picture Palace and Star Theatre. Sadly, it burned down in the early 1960s. A petrol station was later built on that spot.

Remembering History at Kalinga Park

Opening Ceremony, Kalinga Park Memorial Gates, 23 October 1920

On October 23, 1920, special war memorial gates were opened at Kalinga Park. These gates were built to remember the local men who served in World War I. Brigadier-General L.C. Wilson officially opened the gates, and many people attended the ceremony. The gates were designed by Andrew Lang Petrie.

Transport and Community Buildings

From 1927 to 1962, an electric tram service ran through Kalinga. This tram connected the suburb to other parts of Brisbane.

In 1928, a Presbyterian Hall was opened in Kalinga. Later, in 1933, Kedron Lodge was used as a temporary Catholic Church. A new Catholic church, St Anne's, was built and opened in 1935. It was designed in a Spanish style and could hold 500 people. A presbytery (a home for priests) was also built next to the church in 1937.

The Kalinga Scout group started in 1938. During World War II, they used the post office building from a military camp in Kalinga Park as their hall. St Anne's Catholic School opened in 1948 but closed in 1966.

Caravan made from a converted aircraft, 1950

In 1950, a mechanic named Henry William Endres built a unique caravan. He made it from an old airplane! It was 37 feet long and had two bedrooms, a bathroom, and a kitchen.

In 1983, the Presbyterian Church and Hall on Emma Street were bought by a different Presbyterian group. Kalinga was known as a neighborhood within Wooloowin for many years. However, on October 16, 2015, Kalinga officially became its own suburb. This happened after local residents asked for it.

Who Lives in Kalinga?

Kalinga is home to a diverse community. Here's a quick look at the people who live there:

• 2016 Census:
  • Population: 2,126 people.
  • Gender: 49% male, 51% female.
  • Median Age: 38 years old.
  • Children (under 15): 23.5% of the population.
  • Seniors (65 and over): 12.3% of the population.
  • Birthplace: 73.2% of people were born in Australia. Other common birthplaces included England, New Zealand, India, South Africa, and the Philippines.
  • Languages: 84.7% of people spoke only English at home. Other languages included Italian, French, Polish, Punjabi, and Mandarin.
  • Religion: The most common religions were Catholic (31.7%), No Religion (27.1%), and Anglican (15.1%).

• 2021 Census:
  • Population: 2,144 people.
  • Gender: 48.6% male, 51.4% female.
  • Median Age: 39 years old.
  • Birthplace: 76.9% of people were born in Australia. Other common birthplaces included England, New Zealand, South Africa, the Philippines, and the United States.
  • Languages: 88.9% of people spoke only English at home. Other languages included Italian, Japanese, Dutch, Thai, and Mandarin.
  • Religion: The most common religions were No Religion (36.7%), Catholic (31.4%), and Anglican (11.7%).

Important Places in Kalinga

Kedron Lodge, 2008

Kalinga has several places that are important for their history. These are called "heritage-listed" sites. They include:

• Kalinga Park at 100 Bertha Street.
• Kedron Lodge at 123 Nelson Street.

Churches and Community Hubs

Kalinga Presbyterian Church, 2013

• St Anne's Catholic Church is located at 127 Nelson Street.
• The Wooloowin Presbyterian Church (formerly Kalinga Presbyterian Church) is at 78 Emma Street. It is the only church of its kind in Queensland.

Parks and Recreation

Kalinga has many parks where people can relax and play:

• Brook Road Park at 20 Terrace Street.
• Dalkeith Park at 98 Kent Road.
• Emma Street Park at 95 Emma Street.
• Henry Street Park at 69 Shaw Road.
• Kalinga Park at 48 Kalinga Street.
• Melrose Park at 76 Rose Street.
• Nelson Street Park at 159 Nelson Street.

The Kalinga Bowls Club is found within Melrose Park. The Kalinga Scouts have their hall inside Kalinga Park, near the Bertha Street entrance.

Learning in and Around Kalinga

There are no schools directly in Kalinga. However, there are several schools very close by:

• Primary Schools: Eagle Junction State School in Clayfield and Wooloowin State School in Wooloowin.
• Secondary Schools: Kedron State High School is just over the border in Kedron.
• Private School: Clayfield College is a popular private school nearby that offers both primary and secondary education.

Famous People from Kalinga

One notable person who lived in Kalinga was Justice Alfred Lutwyche.

Images for kids

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  Southern side of Kalinga, on Dawson Street (2021).

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  Wide and tree-lined streets along Nelson Street, west from Bertha Street (2021).

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  Common housing style around Kalinga, 147–149 Judge Street (2021).

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  Wide and tree-lined streets, of two-story wooden housing on Bertha Street (2021).

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  Saint Anne's Catholic Church, 127 Nelson Street (2021).

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  Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia, 78 Emma Street, from Shaw Road (2021).

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  Kedron Brook parkland accessed from Emma Street (2021).

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  Dalkeith Park, 98 Kent Street with Rose Street (2021).

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  Melrose Park, 76 Rose Street, with skate park, bowls, children's area, and cricket oval (2021).

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  Scout den, Kalinga Park (2021).