Newstead, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Newstead Brisbane, Queensland
Wyatt Street, Newstead
Newstead Location in Queensland
Population	7,496 (2021 census)
• Density	8,300/km2 (21,000/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4006
Area	0.9 km2 (0.3 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	3.6 km (2 mi) NE of Brisbane CBD
LGA(s)	City of Brisbane (Central Ward)
State electorate(s)	McConnel
Federal Division(s)	Brisbane
Suburbs around Newstead: Bowen Hills Albion Hamilton Bowen Hills Newstead Bulimba Fortitude Valley Fortitude Valley Teneriffe

Newstead is a cool suburb located in the inner northern part of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It sits right by the Brisbane River. In 2021, about 7,496 people called Newstead home.

Where is Newstead?

Newstead is about 3.6 kilometers (or 2.2 miles) north-east of the main city center of Brisbane. It has Breakfast Creek to its north and the Brisbane River to its east.

The northern and western parts of Newstead are mostly for businesses. The areas closer to the river are becoming more and more places where people live.

Newstead's Past

Rotunda in Newstead Park looking over the Brisbane River

Newstead got its name from Newstead House. This house was built in 1846 by a pioneer farmer named Patrick Leslie. He named it after Newstead Abbey in England.

Today, Newstead is a fancy place to live. But in the past, it was a busy industrial area. There were timber yards, asbestos factories, wharves (docks), and wool storage buildings. These used to fill the eastern side of the suburb.

A tall iron structure on Skyring Terrace is a reminder of the old Gasworks Newstead. This gasworks started in 1887. It was Brisbane's second gas factory. The iron structure itself was actually built in 1873 at a different gasworks.

Trams and Transport History

Newstead used to have trams! Horse-drawn trams started running here in 1885. Later, electric trams took over in 1897. They ran along Commercial Road until 1962. They also ran along Ann and Wickham Streets until 1969.

There was a big tram and bus depot in Newstead called Light Street depot. It opened in 1885 and closed in the mid-1990s. This made it one of Queensland's longest-running industrial sites. Most of the old depot is gone now. But a special three-way train track switch from the depot is kept at the Brisbane Tramway Museum.

Oldest Bowls Club

In 1888, the Booroodabin Bowls Club was started. It's the oldest bowls club still running in Queensland! The name Booroodabin is an Aboriginal word. It means place of the she-oaks.

Schools in the Past

Breakfast Creek State School opened on July 7, 1890. It closed on August 11, 1961. After it closed, a special school for students with different learning needs moved into the buildings. It was called Newstead Special School and closed in 1996.

Railway Line

Newstead also had a railway line called the Bulimba Branch line. It opened in 1897 and closed in 1990. This line helped connect the industries, wool stores, and docks along the river. You can still see some parts of the old railway line in the wool stores area.

Australian American Memorial

Newstead Park has the Australian American Memorial. This memorial remembers how the United States helped defend Australia during World War II. General Douglas MacArthur had his main office in Brisbane during the war.

The first stone for the memorial was placed on May 3, 1951. This was during Coral Sea week. The Battle of the Coral Sea was a big naval battle fought in May 1942. The completed memorial was shown to the public on May 3, 1952.

Newstead's People

In 2021, Newstead had a population of 7,496 people. The number of people living in Newstead has grown a lot over the years. For example, in 2006, there were only 415 people.

Learning in Newstead

There are no schools right inside Newstead. But there are primary schools nearby. These include New Farm State School and Ascot State School. For high school, students can go to Fortitude Valley State Secondary College. Other high schools like Kelvin Grove State College and Kedron State High School are also options.

Fun Places and Things to Do

Gasworks Newstead precinct

The Booroodabin Bowls Club, also known as "The Boo," is a great place for lawn bowls.

The Gasworks Newstead area is now a cool place to visit. It has restaurants, cafes, shops, and a supermarket. There's even a public plaza inside the old gas holder structure!

Newstead House is Brisbane's oldest house that is still standing. It was built for Patrick Leslie in 1846. It has beautiful gardens that overlook the creek. The gardens are now a public park called Newstead Park. You can visit the house for a fee, but the park is free.

Close by is the famous Breakfast Creek Hotel. It's a very old and interesting building.

Getting Around Newstead

You can get around Newstead by bus, run by Transport for Brisbane. There's also a ferry service called RiverCity Ferries. It connects Newstead to Bulimba across the river. You can also catch a "CityCat" ferry, which is a fast catamaran service, to get to the city.