Geebung, Queensland
Template:Short description Template:Use dmy datesTemplate:Use Australian English Template:GeoGroup Template:Infobox Australian place Geebung is a northern suburb in the City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.<ref name=qpnl>Template:Cite QPN</ref> In the Template:CensusAU, Geebung had a population of 4,850 people.<ref name=Census2021/>
Geography
The suburb is centred on its railway station on the Caboolture railway line.Template:Citation needed
History
The suburb takes its name from its railway station, which in turn was named after the fruit of the plant Persoonia media, known as "jibung" in the Dharuk language.<ref name="qpnl" />
The Geebung Baptist church was initiated with a stump capping ceremony on Saturday 7 February 1925, prior to this services had been held in the war memorial hall.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On Saturday 14 February 1925, the church was opened in a ceremony attended by 150 people. It was made of weatherboard and could seat about 100 people. The church (including fencing, the organ, the seating etc.) cost Template:Australian pound having spent Template:Australian pound for the land.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> A new church was built in 1969.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In May 2012 the Geebung Baptist congregation merged with the Sandgate Baptist congregation, selling their existing churches and establishing a new church, Connect Baptist Church at Deagon.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In August 2013, the Geebung Baptist church was purchased by the Tonga Houʻeiki Church for $1.5 million, although the decision to purchase was controversial within the Tongan congregation.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
During World War II, the southern piece of Geebung was host to the Chermside Army Camp, which occupied land that includes part of the present day Marchant Park.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Two years after the war, ISAS (Industrial Sales and Service) assembled war surplus Nissen huts for their business on Robinson Road in north Geebung. In 1949, the Brisbane City Council zoned that territory for general industry.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Geebung State School opened on 27 January 1953.<ref name="qfhs">Template:Citation</ref>
Geebung Methodist Church opened in 1955 at 38 Railway Parade (corner of Bayview Terrace, Template:Coord). In 1977, it became part of the Uniting Church in Australia, following the amalgamation of many Methodist, Presbyterian and Congregational Churches.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> A new Geebung Uniting Church was opened in Simla Avenue on 1 October 1983 by the Moderator of the Queensland Uniting Church, Lewis Born.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":3" /> The 1955 church building is still extant and, as at 2021, is occupied by the Endeavour Foundation which provides disability support services.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
St Kevin's Catholic Church opened at 251 Newman Road opened on 6 May 1962.<ref name=":2" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
On Saturday 28 September 1963, Archbishop Philip Strong laid the foundation stone for St Mary the Virgin Anglican Church at 44-46 Innes Street (Template:Coord).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The church was officially opened and dedicated on 16 November 1963 by Archbishop Strong and consecrated on 24 March 1974 by Archbishop Felix Arnott. Its closure on 23 July 2000 was approved by Assistant Bishop Appleby.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> As at September 2020, it is used as a residence.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
St Kevin's Catholic Primary School opened in January 1964.<ref name="qfhs" />
The R H Kirkley Education Centre opened on 21 May 1979 was opened as a school for students requiring significant educational support due to intellectual and other disabilities. It was later renamed R H. Kirkley Special School and then Geebung Special School on 1 January 1986.<ref name="qfhs" />
In 2013, there was a significant fossil discovery. The fossils were the remains of a rare 50-million-year-old crocodile-like species and several other animals.<ref name="pff">Template:Cite news</ref>
Geebung railway station underwent a significant upgrade in 2014, with the construction of a new road bridge replacing the previous level crossing.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Demographics
In the Template:CensusAU, the population of Geebung was 4,620: 51.1% female and 48.9% male. The median age of the Geebung population was 37 years, the same as the national median. 77.5% of people living in Geebung were born in Australia, compared to the national average of 69.8%; the next most common countries of birth were New Zealand 4.5%, England 2.6%, India 1.4%, Philippines 1.1%, China 0.6%. 86.9% of people spoke only English at home; the next most popular languages were 0.9% Italian, 0.9% Mandarin, 0.8% Punjabi, 0.8% Hindi, 0.5% Samoan.<ref name=Census2011>Template:Census 2011 AUS</ref>
In the Template:CensusAU, Geebung had a population of 4,626 people.<ref name=Census2016>Template:Census 2016 AUS</ref>
In the Template:CensusAU, Geebung had a population of 4,850 people.<ref name=Census2021>Template:Census 2021 AUS</ref>
Heritage listings
Heritage-listed sites in Geebung include:
- Geebung State School, 250 Newman Road (Template:Coord)<ref>Template:Cite QHR</ref>
- Gerns Factory Residence, 39 Buhot Street East (Template:Coord)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Education
Geebung State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at 250 Newman Road (Template:Coord).<ref name="SchoolList2018">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 318 students with 24 teachers (19 full-time equivalent) and 18 non-teaching staff (11 full-time equivalent).<ref name="ACARA2017">Template:Cite web</ref> It includes a special education program.<ref name="SchoolList2018" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Geebung Special School is a special primary (Early Childhood-6) school for boys and girls at Beau Vista Street (Template:Coord).<ref name="SchoolList2018" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 100 students with 34 teachers (28 full-time equivalent) and 45 non-teaching staff (26 full-time equivalent).<ref name="ACARA2017" />
St Kevin's School is a Catholic primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at 249 Newman Road (Template:Coord).<ref name="SchoolList2018" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 271 students with 23 teachers (17 full-time equivalent) and 16 non-teaching staff (9 full-time equivalent).<ref name="ACARA2017" />
There is no secondary school in Geebung. The nearest government secondary schools are Aspley State High School in neighbouring Aspley to the north-west, Craigslea State High School in Chermside West to the south-west and Wavell State High School in neighbouring Wavell Heights to the south.<ref name="globe">Template:Queensland Globe</ref>
Amenities
Churches
St Kevin's Catholic Church is at 251 Newman Road (corner of Deborah Street, Template:Coord).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":2">Template:Cite web</ref>
Geebung Uniting Church is at 59-61 Simla Avenue (corner of Mayflower Street, Template:Coord).<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Wavell Heights Wesleyan Methodist church holds its services at the Geebung Uniting Church.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It is part of the Wesleyan Methodist Church.<ref name=":12">Template:Cite web</ref>
Tonga Houʻeiki Church is at 27 Innes Street (Template:Coord).<ref name=":0" />
Parks
There are a number of parks, including:
- 7th Brigade Park (Template:Coord)<ref name="PublicRecreation">Template:Cite web</ref>
- Bowden Park (Template:Coord)<ref name="PublicRecreation" />
- Copperfield Street Park (Template:Coord)<ref name="PublicRecreation" />
- Downfall Creek Reserve (Template:Coord)<ref name="PublicRecreation" />
- Geebung Park (Template:Coord)<ref name="PublicRecreation" />
- Kingtel Place Park (Template:Coord)<ref name="PublicRecreation" />
- Magenta Street Park (Template:Coord)<ref name="PublicRecreation" />
- O Callaghan Park (Template:Coord)<ref name="PublicRecreation" />
- Rainbow Lorikeet Park (Template:Coord)<ref name="PublicRecreation" />
- Thompson Street Park (Template:Coord)<ref name="PublicRecreation" />
Transport
Geebung railway station and Sunshine railway station provides access to regular Queensland Rail City network services to Brisbane and Ipswich, as well as Caboolture and the Sunshine Coast.Template:Citation needed
On the day of the Template:CensusAU, 15.6% of employed people travelled to work on public transport and 62.1% by car (either as driver or as passenger).<ref name="Census2011" />
References
Further reading
- Geebong Story - Being the history of Geebung and including the Zillman's Waterholes, Sandgate, Downfall Creek, Deadman's Gully, Cabbage Tree Creek, Happy Valley and Virginia from early settlement to the end of World War I. by Kath Ballard, Geebung Qld 1995.
- Geebung Story: The Next Fifty Years - Being the history of Geebung (with other name for three years) and surrounding north side suburbs including Nundah, Albion, Zillmere, Virginia, Chermside and Sandgate. Embracing Brisbane to the Pine River and beyond and to the bayside areas with an enormous number of WW2 years of both Australian and American, including a previously unrecorded Chermside Camp map with story and photographs. Every page with names, names, names. by Kath Ballard, Geebung Qld 1998.
