Northgate, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Northgate Brisbane, Queensland
A view of Northgate in 2014
Northgate Location in Queensland
Population	4,876 (2021 census)
• Density	1,478/km2 (3,830/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4013
Area	3.3 km2 (1.3 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	11.2 km (7 mi) NE of Brisbane CBD
LGA(s)	City of Brisbane (Northgate Ward)
State electorate(s)	Nudgee
Federal Division(s)	Lilley
Suburbs around Northgate: Virginia Banyo Banyo Nundah Northgate Banyo Nundah Nundah Brisbane Airport

Northgate is a suburb located in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It's part of the City of Brisbane area. In 2021, about 4,876 people lived in Northgate.

Exploring Northgate's Land

Northgate has both areas for homes and areas for businesses and factories. You can find older homes built between the two World Wars on Northgate Hill. This is a higher area west of the train station.

There are also many homes built after World War II on the flatter land. This flat area stretches out towards Moreton Bay and Nudgee Beach.

Northgate's Past: A Quick Look

Female workers at the Golden Circle cannery in 1948

Northgate got its name from its railway station. The station was first called North Coast Junction. This was because it was where the North Coast railway line split off from the Sandgate railway line.

In 1890, the railway department changed the station's name to Northgate. They combined "North" from "North Coast" and "gate" from "Sandgate". The suburb then took its name from this new station.

Community Buildings and Churches

The Northgate-Virginia School of Arts opened in 1922. It had a public hall and a library. Later, the Brisbane City Council took it over and it became the Northgate-Virginia Municipal Library. It had over 10,000 books! Today, it's back to being a public hall called Northgate Hall.

Northgate Methodist Church, around 1947

Northgate Methodist Church opened in 1928. It later became Northgate Uniting Church in 1977. The church building was eventually sold and turned into a house.

St Peter's Mission Anglican Church opened in 1947 but closed in 1991. The building is no longer there.

Golden Circle and Schools

The famous Golden Circle company started as a group of fruit growers in the 1940s. They opened a large pineapple cannery in Northgate in 1947.

In 1949, a new train station was built near the cannery. It was named Bindha, which is an Aboriginal word meaning "food".

St John's School, a Catholic primary school, opened in 1952. It was run by the Presentation Sisters. However, fewer students enrolled over time, and the school closed at the end of 1995.

Northgate State School, a government primary school, opened its doors in 1959.

St John's Catholic Church was built next to St John's School. It opened in 1962 and was dedicated as a war memorial for the Royal Australian Navy.

Who Lives in Northgate?

In 2021, Northgate had a population of 4,876 people. About 49.7% were female and 50.3% were male. The average age of people in Northgate was 34 years old.

Children under 15 made up 16.9% of the population. People aged 65 and over made up 9.6%.

Most people (72.1%) living in Northgate were born in Australia. Other common birthplaces included New Zealand (4.8%), England (3.1%), and India (3%). Most people (82.9%) spoke only English at home.

Learning in Northgate

Northgate State School is a primary school for students from Prep to Year 6. It's located on Amelia Street. In 2017, it had 258 students. Even though it's called Northgate State School, it's right on the border with Nundah.

There are no high schools directly in Northgate. Students usually go to Earnshaw State College in Banyo or Aviation High in Hendra.

Places to Visit and Things to Do

Northgate Hall in 2011

The Northgate Hall is a community building on the corner of Scott and Ridge Streets. The Brisbane City Council manages it, and you can hire it for events.

St John's Catholic Church is located on Nudgee Road. It is part of the Mother of Mercy parish.

Sports in the Area

The Norths Rugby League football club is nearby in Nundah. This club has helped train famous Australian football players like Billy Slater, Greg Inglis, and Cooper Cronk.

The Golden Circle Factory

A Golden Circle pineapple label from around 1947

Northgate is home to the large Golden Circle processing plant. This factory is on Earnshaw Road. It's about 1 kilometre long and covers 16.5 hectares of land.

The factory processes all the Golden Circle foods you find in stores across Australia. It used to have a café where visitors could try Golden Circle products. That café is now closed, but there are new ones in Capalaba and Morayfield.

Getting Around Northgate

Northgate Railway Station in 2012

Northgate railway station is a very important train station. It's where the Shorncliffe and North Coast lines meet.

You can catch frequent trains from Northgate to the city, Shorncliffe, and Caboolture. Many express trains stop here, making it easy for passengers to switch between lines.

Transport for Brisbane also runs bus services (like the "306" and "307") through Northgate.

Bindha railway station is another train station on the Shorncliffe line. It's located on the border between Northgate and Virginia.

Famous People from Northgate

• Steven Bradbury – He won a gold medal in speed skating at the 2002 Winter Olympics.
• The Australian singers, The Bee Gees, went to Northgate State School. They used to live in a place called Cribb Island, which was later removed to build the Brisbane Airport runway.