Gordon Park, Queensland
Template:Use Australian English Template:Use dmy dates Template:GeoGroup Template:Infobox Australian place Gordon Park is a northern suburb in the City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.<ref name=qpnl>Template:Cite QPN</ref> In the Template:CensusAU, Gordon Park had a population of 4,390 people.<ref name=Census2021/>
Geography
Gordon Park is located Template:Convert from the Brisbane CBD and is bordered by Kedron Brook to the east and south, and Stafford Road to the north.<ref name="globeother">Template:Cite web</ref>
Gordon Park shares an Australia Post postcode of 4031 with neighbouring suburb Kedron.
History
The suburb was named after General Gordon who was the hero of the eight-month siege of Khartoum in the Sudan in the late 19th century. Most of the street names in the suburb relate to General Gordon, the armies he served with, and their sphere of operation (for example, Gordon Street, Khartoum Street, and Baker Street).<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref>
The Gordon Estate – Lutwyche of 264 blocks went to auction on 25 September 1886.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
The Metropolitan Freehold Land and Building Company Limited advertised Gordon Park Estate for auction on 13 December 1890. It consisted of 1063 allotments (mostly of 16 to 20 perches). This estate was bounded by Stafford Road to the north, Gordon Street to the east, Kedron Brook to the south and Burnaby Street (now Burnaby Terrace) to the west, encompassing almost all of the present day suburb except for the south-western corner.<ref>Template:Cite archive</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> However, the auctioneer G.T. Bell only sold 73 lots for an average price of £26 3s 7d (total £1,2917 10s).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
On 27 March 1920, auctioneers Cameron Brothers offered 61 allotments in the south-west of the current suburb in the area of Granville Terrace (now Bedford Street), Aberdeen Terrace and Thistle Street (these did not form part of the 1890 subdivision).<ref>Template:Cite archive</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In June 1920, the auctioneers offered further blocks to the south of the March 1920 sales, in the area of Granville Terrace (now Bedford Street), Stirling Street and Montrose Street.<ref>Template:Cite archive</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
On 18 September 1920, auctioneers Isles, Love & Co offered 150 allotments in the Glenkedron South Estate Section 2 (in the north-east of the current suburb). The allotments were in First Avenue (now Suez Street), Second Avenue (now Swan Street), Third Avenue (now Goulburn Street), Fourth Avenue (now Jack Street), Fifth Avenue (now Barron Street) and Seventh Avenue (now Rose Lane).<ref>Template:Cite archive</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
On 6 May 1922, auctioneers Cameron Brothers offered 98 allotments for sale in the north-west of the current suburb in the area of Main Happy Valley Road (Stafford Road), Haig Street, Burnaby Street (now Burnaby Terrace), Turner Road (now Alva Terrace) and Victoria Terrace. These were part of the ninth second of the Gordon Park estate that had been first offered in 1890.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
On 11 November 1922, auctioneers Cameron Brothers offered 47 allotments in Section 1A of the Glen Park estate (as first offered in 1890). These allotments were in the area of Cowper Street, Hill Street (now Highland Street), Beaconsfield Terrace, Richmond Street and Khartoum Street.<ref>Template:Cite archive</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
On 8 December 1923, auctioneers Cameron Brothers offered 45 home sites in the area of Granville Terrace (now Bedford Street), Aberdeen Terrace and Thistle Street.<ref>Template:Cite archive</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
On 10 May 1924, auctioneers Isles, Love & Co offered 24 remaining allotments in the Glenkedron South Estate in the north-east of the current suburb, which had been previously offered at auction in September 1920.<ref>Template:Cite archive</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> All 24 allotments were sold.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In 1924, the Realty Development Company were selling suburban blocks (ranging from 16 to 20 perches) in the Tramway Extension Estate. This estate was bounded by Stafford Road to the north and Hill Street (now Highland Street) to the south and included Burnaby Street (now Burnaby Terrace), Turner Road (now Alva Terrace) and Victoria Terrace (and was part of the estate that was first offered in 1890 and again in 1922).<ref>Template:Cite archive</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In 1926, the Gordon Park Baptist Church started as a tent mission on property at Khartoum Street which was owned by the church.<ref name=":0" /> It was originally known as the Gordon Park Mission Church. On 27 March 1926, a church building was officially opened on the corner of Khartoum and Hamilton Streets in the Grove Park Estate (approx Template:Coord).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The church rented a house, which became the home of the pastors on the corner of Groom and Thistle Streets until a manse was purchased and officially opened on 9 May 1953.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The President of the Baptist Union of Queensland opened the church hall in 1961. A new church at 106 Khartoum Street (Template:Coord) opened on 10 September 1977.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The original pulpit from the old church along with a communion tray was donated to the Beenleigh Baptist Church.Template:Citation needed
On 28 July 1929, Archbishop James Duhig laid the foundation stone of a new Catholic church and school. He returned to bless and open the new church and school on 3 November 1929. The building was on two levels with the school on the lower level with a capacity of 200 students and the church on the upper level with a capacity of 250 people. The intention was that a new larger church would be built later and the school occupy both levels of the original building. St Carthage's Catholic Primary School opened on 8 July 1930; it was operated by the Sisters of Mercy. On 26 June 1966, the present brick church facing Beaconsfield Terrace was opened by Archbishop Patrick O’Donnell. The new buildings were designed by architects Corbett and Ryan and cost over $92,000, including furnishings. In November 1974, the Sisters of Mercy ceased to staff the school apart from one Sister for religious instruction. It was one of the first of the schools in the Brisbane Archdiocese to transition to lay control under headmaster Edward Benito Pender. However, the school was closed by the archdiocese in 1976 as it was felt that the enrolment of 86 students was insufficient to make the school financially viable.<ref name="qfhs">Template:Citation</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="BHR779" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
On Saturday 19 October 1929, a site in Beaconsfield Terrace (near the junction with Cowper Street, approx Template:Coord) was dedicated for a future Methodist church.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On Saturday 20 September 1930 there was a stump capping ceremony as construction commenced on the church hall building.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The hall was officially opened on Saturday 1 November 1930.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In November 1938, the Brisbane City Council announced that the tram to Gordon Park would be extended from Lutwyche Road via Bradshaw Street, crossing Kedron Brook into Thistle Street.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Trams ran to Gordon Park connecting it with Brisbane until they were progressively withdrawn from use, finally ceasing all operations in Brisbane on 13 April 1969.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
St John's Anglican Church on the corner of Khartoum Street and Cowper Street (approx Template:Coord) was dedicated on 2 August 1959 by Archbishop Reginald Halse.<ref name="gregorys1975">Template:Cite book</ref> Its closure on 15 March 1987 was approved by Assistant Bishop George Browning.<ref name="ClosedAnglicanChurches">Template:Cite web</ref>
On 11 August 1975, Gordon Park ceased to be a separate suburb. However residents lobbied against this decision and, on 18 December 1992, Gordon Park was reinstated as a suburb.<ref name="qpnl" />
Demographics
In the Template:CensusAU, Gordon Park had a population of 4,231 people.<ref name=Census2016>Template:Census 2016 AUS</ref>
In the Template:CensusAU, Gordon Park had a population of 4,853 people, 51.5% female and 48.5% male. The median age of the Gordon Park population was 36 years of age, 2 years below the Australian median age at 38 years. 77.3% (3.4 rise from 2016) of people living in Gordon Park were born in Australia, compared to the national average of 66.9%; the next most common countries of birth were England 3.1% and New Zealand 2.7%. 86.2% of people spoke only English at home; the next most popular languages were 1.4% Italian, 1.3% Spanish, and 1.0% Mandarin.<ref name=Census2021>Template:Census 2021 AUS</ref>
Heritage listings
Gordon Park has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:
- former St Carthage's Catholic School building, 29 Aberdeen Terrace (Template:Coord)<ref name="BHR779">Template:Cite BrisbaneHR</ref>
- Alexander Barron's house, 29 Jack Street (Template:Coord)<ref name="BHR780">Template:Cite BrisbaneHR</ref>
Education
There are no schools in Gordon Park. The nearest government primary schools are in Stafford, Wooloowin and Kedron. The nearest government secondary school is Kedron State High School.<ref name="globe">Template:Queensland Globe</ref>
Amenities
St Carthage's Catholic Church is at 115 Beaconsfield Terrace (Template:Coord).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Parks
There are a number of parks, including:
- Amelia Park (Template:Coord)<ref name="PublicRecreation">Template:Cite web</ref>
- Archer Street Park (Template:Coord)<ref name="PublicRecreation" />
- Gordon Park Playground Park (Template:Coord)<ref name="PublicRecreation" />
- Hickey Park (Template:Coord)<ref name="PublicRecreation" />
- Kokoda Park (Template:Coord)<ref name="PublicRecreation" />
- Montrose Street Park (Template:Coord)<ref name="PublicRecreation" />
- Thistle Street Park (no.74) (Template:Coord)<ref name="PublicRecreation" />
- Wally Bourke Park (Template:Coord)<ref name="PublicRecreation" />
Notable residents
Gordon Park resident, Thomas Charles Nash, was born in Essex, England in 1909. He emigrated to Australia at the age of 17 aboard the S.S. Vedic, a ship chartered by the Salvation Army to bring 700 young emigrants to Australia. He was awarded the Order of Australia in 1985 in recognition of his service to the local community.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Prior to receiving the award he had received a certificate of merit for services to the incapacitated Servicemen's Association, a RSL certificate of merit, honorary life membership of the RSL and the Paul Harris Fellowship medal from Rotary International. Tom Nash had also been a Brisbane City Council councillor.Template:Citation needed