The Gap, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Gap Brisbane, Queensland
Walton Bridge Reserve at The Gap
The Gap Location in Queensland
Population	17,318 (2021 census)
• Density	1,374/km2 (3,560/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4061
Area	12.6 km2 (4.9 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	10 km (6 mi) NW of Brisbane CBD
LGA(s)	City of Brisbane (The Gap Ward)
State electorate(s)	Cooper
Federal Division(s)	Ryan
Suburbs around The Gap: Upper Kedron Keperra Enoggera Enoggera Reservoir The Gap Ashgrove Brookfield Mount Coot-tha Bardon

The Gap is a suburb located in the north-western part of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It's known for its green spaces and family-friendly feel. In 2021, about 17,318 people called The Gap home.

What's in a Name? The Gap's Geography

The Gap is about 10 kilometers (6 miles) north-west of the center of Brisbane. It got its name because it sits in a valley between two hills: Mount Coot-tha and Enoggera Hill. These hills are part of the Taylor Range. So, it's literally "the gap" between them!

The Gap's History

Early Days and European Settlement

Long ago, the Turrbal people lived in The Gap. The area was covered in thick forests. When Europeans arrived, they started cutting down trees. After the trees were gone, the land was used for farming.

The first land was leased in 1851 to Darby McGrath, who had a sheep farm. The first land was sold in 1858 to P.B. and J. Paten, near where Paten Road is today. In the 1850s, people used tracks that later became Waterworks and Payne Roads to get around. These roads also led to Enoggera Dam, which was built in 1866 to supply water to Brisbane.

Community and Schools Grow

A timber church opened on Waterworks Road in 1873. It was a Primitive Methodist Church. Later, in 1960, a new brick church was started. In 1977, it became The Gap Uniting Church.

The Gap State School opened its doors on January 22, 1912. It was renamed The Gap State School in the 1960s. After World War I, the land was divided into smaller farms for soldiers returning from the war. Many of these farms raised chickens and dairy cows.

The Gap State High School opened on January 25, 1960. Payne Road State School followed on January 27, 1970. St Peter Chanel Catholic Primary School opened on August 29, 1972. Hilder Road State School opened on January 30, 1979.

Local Landmarks and Events

There's a special waterhole, or billabong, between The Gap State High School and Payne Road Primary School. It was a popular spot for swimming. It's been home to turtles, eels, and even platypus over the years! It's called Shepherd's Pool.

The Gap War Memorial is located at Walton Bridge Reserve. It remembers the people who served in World War I and World War II.

On November 16, 2008, a big storm hit The Gap. It was a very strong wind called a microburst. Many trees fell onto homes and roads, and some houses lost their roofs.

The Gap War Memorial at Walton Bridge Reserve, 2010

The Gap's Population

In 2016, The Gap had 16,692 people living there. By 2021, the population had grown to 17,318 people.

Fun Things to Do in The Gap

The Gap has lots of fun things to do, especially outdoors! There are many sports clubs for Soccer, Tennis, Athletics, Swimming, and Golf.

The suburb also has over 45 green parks. Many of these parks have sports areas, playgrounds, walking paths, barbecues, and even special areas where dogs can run freely. Some parks are home to scout clubs and community gardens, like the Yoorala Street Community Garden.

Exploring Nature

At the entrance to Walkabout Creek

Right next to The Gap is Enoggera Reservoir and the Walkabout Creek Discovery Centre. You can do water activities at the Reservoir, like fishing, canoeing, kayaking, and stand-up paddling. There are also places to launch your boat and a swimming area. You can go bushwalking and mountain biking from here, connecting to trails in D’Aguilar Park.

The main entrance to Walkabout Creek is also in The Gap. This area used to be called Brisbane Forest Park. It's now part of D'Aguilar National Park. Here, you'll find an information center and a wildlife education center. You can see many Australian animals, including marsupials, birds, fish, and reptiles. There are even two platypuses named Burrun and Willum who live there!

The Enoggera Creek as it runs through Allamanda Street Park in The Gap, Queensland

The mosaic entry sign at the Yoorala Street Community Garden

Golfing Fun

The Ashgrove Golf Club is located at 863 Waterworks Road. It started in 1939 with nine holes and later grew to eighteen holes. The land was once a dairy farm.

Services and Amenities

The Gap has a small shopping area with various stores. There's also a local Police Station at 965 Waterworks Road. Nearby, in Ashgrove, you can find a Fire & Rescue Station and a Queensland Ambulance Service station.

The Brisbane City Council's mobile library visits The Gap every two weeks. It stops at the sports ground car park at the end of Glenaffric Street.

There are also several churches in The Gap:

• The Gap Uniting Church, 1050 Waterworks Road
• St Mark’s Anglican Church, 1073 Waterworks Road
• The Gap Baptist Church, 1125 Waterworks Road
• St Peter Chanel Catholic Church, 41 Chaprowe Road
• Rivercity Family Church, 59 Settlement Road

Education in The Gap

The Gap is home to several schools for different age groups:

• The Gap State School is a primary school (Prep to Year 6) for boys and girls. It's located at the corner of Waterworks and Settlement Roads.
• Payne Road State School is another primary school (Prep to Year 6) for boys and girls, found at 171 Payne Road.
• Hilder Road State School is a primary school (Prep to Year 6) for boys and girls on Kaloma Road.
• St Peter Chanel Primary School is a Catholic primary school (Prep to Year 6) for boys and girls at 41 Chaprowe Road.
• The Gap State High School is a secondary school (Years 7 to 12) for boys and girls. It's located at 1020 Waterworks Road.

All these schools offer special education programs to support students.

Getting Around The Gap

Most people travel by car in The Gap. However, there's also a good public bus service. The main road through The Gap is Waterworks Road. This road goes east through other suburbs like Ashgrove and Red Hill, and then continues as Musgrave Road into Brisbane city. Waterworks Road was made wider between 1999 and 2003 to help with traffic.

The Gap in Popular Culture

The Gap has even appeared in movies and books!

• In 2009, parts of the movie Jucy were filmed in the suburb.
• Robert Forster (musician), a founding member of the band The Go-Betweens, grew up in The Gap. He wrote about the suburb in his 2016 book, Grant & I.
• David Malouf's novel Johnno mentions The Gap.
• The popular ABC children's TV show Bluey has many scenes inspired by the creator's experiences living in The Gap.

Images for kids

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  A street in The Gap

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  Enoggera Hill at The Gap

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  Walton Bridge Reserve at The Gap

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  Walton Bridge Reserve at The Gap

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  Mount Coot-tha and the Television Towers, and Walton Bridge Reserve