Rocklea, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rocklea Brisbane, Queensland
The Brisbane Markets within the suburb
Rocklea Location in Queensland
Population	1,672 (2021 census)
• Density	179.8/km2 (466/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4106
Area	9.3 km2 (3.6 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	11.1 km (7 mi) SSW of Brisbane CBD
LGA(s)	City of Brisbane (Moorooka Ward)
State electorate(s)	Miller Toohey Algester
Federal Division(s)	Moreton
Suburbs around Rocklea: Sherwood Corinda Tennyson Yeerongpilly Moorooka Oxley Rocklea Salisbury Willawong Archerfield Coopers Plains

Rocklea is a suburb in the southern part of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It's about 9 kilometres south of the city centre. In 2021, about 1,672 people lived in Rocklea. The suburb is known for being mostly industrial, meaning it has many factories and businesses.

Discovering Rocklea's Location

Rocklea is located in a handy spot, just south of Brisbane's city heart. The Oxley Creek forms the western edge of the suburb. The name Rocklea comes from the "Rocky Waterholes" that were once in the area.

Getting Around Rocklea

The Ipswich Motorway starts here, and Ipswich Road continues north into the city. The Beenleigh railway line also runs through Rocklea, with its own railway station. This makes it easy to travel to and from the suburb.

A Look Back at Rocklea's History

Rocklea was first called Rocky Waterholes Creek. It got its new name, Rocklea, in 1884 when the Beenleigh railway line opened. People thought the old name was too long! The name Rocklea comes from a town in England.

Early Days and Growth

The Rocky Holes Post Office also changed its name to Rocklea in 1885. Rocklea was once the main town for the Shire of Yeerongpilly, a local government area that existed from 1879 to 1925.

Rocklea State School opened its doors to students on 29 September 1885. This was an important step for families living in the area.

Rocklea During World War II

The munitions factory at Rocklea, camouflaged by a false road and leaves over the roof of the buildings, 1943

In November 1941, during World War II, the Rocklea Munitions Works opened. This factory made ammunition for the Australian Army. It was even camouflaged (hidden) from above so enemy planes couldn't easily spot it! Later, in 1943, it was used to fix engines for the US Army Air Force fighting in the Pacific.

The Brisbane Markets

The famous Brisbane Markets officially opened in Rocklea on 31 August 1964. These huge markets, covering 53 hectares, are where fresh fruit, vegetables, and flowers are sold to shops and businesses. Before moving to Rocklea, the markets were in the city centre, but they caused too much traffic!

Recent Events

On 31 July 2009, the last horse harness racing event was held at the Rocklea track.

Rocklea was one of the suburbs most affected by the 2010–2011 Queensland floods. Many businesses and homes were flooded, and it took a long time for the area to recover.

Who Lives in Rocklea?

In 2021, Rocklea had 1,672 residents. The average age of people in Rocklea was 36 years old. About 60.5% of people living there were born in Australia. Other countries where people were born include New Zealand, England, India, China, and Russia.

Most people (69.4%) spoke only English at home. Other languages spoken included Russian, Vietnamese, Mandarin, Tamil, and Arabic. When it came to religion, the most common answer was "no religion" (25%), followed by Catholic (22%) and Anglican (10%).

Learning in Rocklea

Rocklea State School is a government primary school for students from Prep to Year 6. It's located at 19 Elmes Road. In 2017, the school had 38 students.

There isn't a high school in Rocklea itself. Students usually go to nearby high schools like Corinda State High School, Yeronga State High School, or Glenala State High School.

Rocklea's Industries and Businesses

Rocklea is mainly an industrial area. This means it's home to many large companies, especially those involved in transport, partly because Archerfield Airport is close by.

• Commonwealth Engineering built a railway factory here in 1949.
• English Electric also built diesel-electric trains in Rocklea.
• DuluxGroup, a big paint company, has its main paint factory in the suburb.
• The Brisbane Markets are a huge part of Rocklea's industry, selling fresh produce and flowers.

Understanding Flooding in Rocklea

Rocklea is one of Brisbane's suburbs that gets flooded often. Big floods happened in 1974 and again in 2010–2011. When floods happen, oil and other chemicals from industrial areas can wash into the creeks, which is bad for the environment.

After the 2011 flood, the value of homes and land in Rocklea went down a lot. The average house price dropped by almost 24%.