New Farm is an inner northern riverside suburb in the City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.[3] In the 2021 census, New Farm had a population of 12,197 people.[1]

New Farm
BrisbaneQueensland
New Farm Park
New Farm is located in Queensland
New Farm
New Farm
Map
Coordinates27°28′04″S 153°02′54″E / 27.4677°S 153.0483°E / -27.4677; 153.0483 (New Farm (centre of suburb))
Population12,197 (2021 census)[1]
 • Density4,880/km2 (12,640/sq mi)
Postcode(s)4005
Area2.5 km2 (1.0 sq mi)
Time zoneAEST (UTC+10:00)
Location2.8 km (2 mi) E of Brisbane CBD
LGA(s)City of Brisbane
(Central Ward)[2]
State electorate(s)McConnel
Federal division(s)Brisbane
Suburbs around New Farm:
Fortitude Valley Teneriffe Teneriffe
Kangaroo Point New Farm Hawthorne
Kangaroo Point East Brisbane Norman Park

Geography

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The suburb of New Farm (peninsula in upper part of image) including New Farm Park is located on the Brisbane River.

The suburb is located 2 kilometres east of the Brisbane CBD on a large bend of the Brisbane River.[4] New Farm is partly surrounded by the Brisbane River, with land access from the north-west through Fortitude Valley and from the north through Newstead. Merthyr is a neighbourhood within New Farm; until 1975 it was a separate suburb.[5]

 
An interwar Queenslander in New Farm

The suburb has an eclectic mix of 19th century colonial constructions; 20th century traditional Queenslander and Federation homes; and modern architectural hybrids. New Farm is home to Brisbane's most impressive collection of art deco buildings.[6] As the population density increases and apartment, unit and duplex housing continue to exceed its share beyond 70%[7] of the local dwelling mix, detached housing is increasing in demand and price.[8]

At the south-eastern end of the peninsula is the historic New Farm Park. Brunswick Street is the main street running northwest–southeast up the centre of the peninsula. To the south of Brunswick Street the suburb is characterised by large ornate Queenslander-style houses, shady streets lined with large trees and tall apartment buildings, predominantly along the river. More modest Queenslander-style houses dominate the north of Brunswick Street, where there are fewer large trees and apartments.[citation needed]

The suburb has one main commercial area close to New Farm Park, called 'Merthyr Village'. A wide variety of businesses also operate along Brunswick Street and in adjacent streets. The former electric tramway power station, located at the eastern corner of New Farm Park, has been converted into a community arts and performance space called 'The Powerhouse'. New Farm is known as Brisbane's "Little Italy" as many immigrants from Italian descent first settled in the suburb. The Brisbane City Council operates a public library at 135 Sydney Street.[9] The library opened in 1975 and offers publicly accessible Wi-Fi.[10]

History

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View of New Farm c.1885

Though one of Brisbane's oldest suburbs, the peninsula of New Farm was once called Binkinba (place of the land tortoises) by the indigenous Turrbal tribe of Brisbane.[11]

The suburb derives its name from the fact that the peninsula was used as a farming area in the early years of Brisbane's history.[12] Commandant Patrick Logan established a new farm in the area in 1827 as part of the Moreton Bay penal colony.[13] The area was also a working site of convicts (lime kilns dating back to 1870 are still evident on the river banks).[14]

Politician and judge Samuel Griffith built his house 'Merthyr' in the suburb in 1870.[13]

From 1885 to 1897, New Farm's transport needs were met by horse-drawn trams, which operated along Brunswick Street, as far as Barker Street.[citation needed] In 1897, the horse trams were replaced with electric trams and the line was extended, with trams ultimately running as far as Macquarie Street and down to the river at New Farm Park. The electric trams ceased operation on 13 April 1969. Since then the suburb has been served by diesel buses.[citation needed]

New Farm State School was opened on 21 January 1901.[15][16]

On 29 November 1919, 24 river frontage subdivided allotments between Merthyr Road and Sydney Street were advertised to be auctioned by Cameron Bros Auctioneers. A map advertising the auction indicated that the home of Sir Samuel Griffith was adjacent to the advertised lots.[17][18]

On 24 April 1920, 5 allotments on Welsby Street were advertised to be auctioned on 27 April 1920 at 11am by Cameron Bros Auctioneers. A map advertising the auction indicated that the lots were close to the new tramway.[19][20]

On 6 May 1920, 5 residential sites and 2 cottages were advertised to be auctioned on Monday 10 May 1920 by Cameron Bros Auctioneers. A map advertising the auction indicated that the lots and cottages were located between St Clair House and Heal Street.[21][22]

In 1923, the Catholic Church purchased a house to celebrate mass. The Holy Spirit Church opened on 1 June 1930, enabling the Sisters of Mercy to open the Holy Spirit School on 7 July 1930 in the house.[16] The house was replaced with a purpose-built school building costing £4,000. In September 1937 the new school guilding was blessed and opened by Archbishop of Brisbane, James Duhig.[23]

There was a marine base established in World War II and the suburb was home to many wealthy merchants and lawyers.[14]

Spastic Centre School opened on 12 February 1951. It was renamed New Farm Special School in 1974. It closed on 16 December 1994.[16]

New Farm developed a reputation in the late 1980s for street prostitution[24] and as a drug-addled, low-rent culture depicted in Andrew McGahan's grunge novel Praise, which is set largely in the suburb.[25]

Since then, and like many Brisbane suburbs, New Farm has experienced much 'gentrification' and 'infill development' throughout the 1990s and the years since 2000. However, New Farm maintains its diversity, being known for its long-established Anglo-Saxon and Italian communities (as depicted in Venero Armanno's novel Firehead), and its many restaurants and cafes.[26]

On 23 January 2007, part of the movie Fool's Gold, starring Kate Hudson, was shot at New Farm Park. Scenes from the films All My Friends Are Leaving Brisbane (2007) and Jucy (2011) have also been shot there.[citation needed]

Demographics

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At the 2011 census, New Farm recorded a population of 11,330.[27] This meant New Farm had the highest population density in Greater Brisbane at the time with approximately 5,861.7 people per square kilometre.[28]

In the 2016 census, New Farm had a population of 12,542 people.[29]

In the 2021 census, New Farm had a population of 12,197 people.[1] With 5% of household couples identifying as same-sex, New Farm is home to one of Queensland's largest LGBT communities.[30]

Heritage listings

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New Farm has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

Education

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New Farm State School is a government primary (Prep–6) school for boys and girls at corner of James & Heal Streets (27°27′37″S 153°02′42″E / 27.4602°S 153.0451°E / -27.4602; 153.0451 (New Farm State School)).[47][48] In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 449 students with 32 teachers (27 full-time equivalent) and 19 non-teaching staff (12 full-time equivalent).[49]

Holy Spirit School is a Catholic primary (Prep–6) school for boys and girls at 36 Villiers Street (27°27′54″S 153°02′45″E / 27.4651°S 153.0458°E / -27.4651; 153.0458 (Holy Spirit School)).[47][50] In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 255 students with 21 teachers (17 full-time equivalent) and 10 non-teaching staff (5 full-time equivalent).[49]

There are no secondary schools in New Farm; the nearest was Kelvin Grove State College[51] until the start of 2020 when the new Fortitude Valley State Secondary College opened.[52]

Amenities

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Brisbane CBD seen from New Farm Park

There are a number of parks in the area:

Transport

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By Ferry New Farm can be accessed via two CityCat stops – at Sydney Street and at New Farm Park. At the river end of Brunswick Street a small cross-river ferry, operated by Brisbane Transport used to link New Farm with Norman Park. However, the service was removed in July 2020, upsetting many Norman Park residents.[54]

By Bus The suburb is serviced by several Transport for Brisbane bus routes. This includes BUZ services 196 and 199, running cross-town via the city centre, as well as the peak-only 195 to the city.

The Smart Cities: Rethinking the City Centre[55] report proposes building green bridges from Merthyr Road across the Brisbane River to Bulimba in the east and to Kangaroo Point in the west.

Notable residents

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "New Farm (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.  
  2. ^ "Central Ward". Brisbane City Council. Archived from the original on 18 February 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  3. ^ "New Farm – suburb in City of Brisbane (entry 47498)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
  4. ^ "New Farm (entry 47498)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
  5. ^ "Merthyr (entry 21697)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
  6. ^ New Farm News. "New Farm: A Time Capsule to the Art Deco Era". Archived from the original on 22 January 2022. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  7. ^ Thompson, Lila. "New Farm: Dwelling Types". profile.id. I.D. CONSULTING PTY LTD. Archived from the original on 17 June 2017. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
  8. ^ "New Farm Property Market, House Prices & Suburb Profile". realestate.com.au. REA Group Ltd. Archived from the original on 25 December 2016. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
  9. ^ "New Farm Library". Public Libraries Connect. 15 December 2017. Archived from the original on 29 January 2018. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  10. ^ "Queensland Public Libraries Statistical Bulletin 2016-17" (PDF). Public Libraries Connect. November 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 January 2018. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  11. ^ Petrie & Petrie 1904, p. 82.
  12. ^ Barrett, Rosanne. "A Riverside Jaunt in Brisbane". Wall Street Journal Asia.
  13. ^ a b Gregory, Helen; Dianne Mclay (2010). Building Brisbane's History: Structure, Sculptures, Stories and Secrets. Warriewood, New South Wales: Woodslane Press. pp. 158–160. ISBN 978-1-921606-19-9.
  14. ^ a b c Grant, Gloria; Benjamin, Gerard (2008). Reflections on New Farm. Brisbane: G&G Books. ISBN 978-0-9805868-0-0.
  15. ^ "Opening and closing dates of Queensland Schools". Queensland Government. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  16. ^ a b c Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
  17. ^ "Merthyr Estate, New Farm" [Map]. Collections. State Library of Queensland.
  18. ^ "Advertising". The Telegraph. No. 14, 650. Queensland, Australia. 8 November 1919. p. 11. Retrieved 27 August 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  19. ^ "5 choice residential sites, New Farm" [Map]. Collections. State Library of Queensland.
  20. ^ "Advertising". The Brisbane Courier. No. 19, 426. Queensland, Australia. 24 April 1920. p. 8. Retrieved 27 August 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  21. ^ "St. Clair Estate, New Farm" [Map]. Collections. State Library of Queensland.
  22. ^ "Advertising". The Telegraph. No. 14, 802. Queensland, Australia. 6 May 1920. p. 12. Retrieved 27 August 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  23. ^ "School History". Holy Spirit (New Farm). Archived from the original on 29 February 2020. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  24. ^ "Select Sex Industry Statistics" (PDF). pla.qld.gov.au/. Prostitution Licensing Authority. December 2011. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 March 2019. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  25. ^ Ching, Gillian (2 September 2019). "A Tribute to Andrew McGahan". Weekend Notes. Archived from the original on 31 December 2022. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  26. ^ Zebrahood. "New Farm, Brisbane". Zebrahood. Archived from the original on 31 December 2022. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  27. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "New Farm (State Suburb)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 19 January 2022.  
  28. ^ Katherine Feeney (2 August 2012). Brisbane booming in the middle and round the edges Archived 3 August 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Brisbane Times. Fairfax Media.
  29. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "New Farm (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.  
  30. ^ Mannheim, M. "ABS Data". Brisbane Same Sex Couples. Archived from the original on 19 January 2022. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  31. ^ "Residence, Abbott Street (entry 601020)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  32. ^ "Cairnsville (entry 600259)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  33. ^ "Feniton (entry 650078)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  34. ^ "Village Twin Cinemas (entry 602101)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  35. ^ Brisbane City Council. "Local Heritage Places". Wynberg. Archived from the original on 22 January 2022. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  36. ^ "650043". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  37. ^ "Remains of the Langshaw Marble Lime Works (entry 601885)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  38. ^ "Julius Street Flats New Farm (entry 601895)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  39. ^ "CSR Refinery (former) (entry 600261)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  40. ^ "Bertholme (entry 600263)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  41. ^ "Glenugie (entry 600262)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  42. ^ "Santa Barbara (entry 601547)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  43. ^ "Glenfalloch Apartments". Brisbane Heritage Register. Brisbane City Council. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  44. ^ Brisbane City Council. "The Moorings". Local Heritage Places. BCC. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  45. ^ "New Farm Park (entry 602402)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  46. ^ "Amity (entry 600264)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  47. ^ a b "State and non-state school details". Queensland Government. 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  48. ^ "New Farm State School". Archived from the original on 26 April 2013. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  49. ^ a b "ACARA School Profile 2017". Archived from the original on 22 November 2018. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  50. ^ "Holy Spirit School". Archived from the original on 4 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  51. ^ "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  52. ^ Stone, Lucy (27 January 2020). "For the first time in 50 years, a new high school opens in inner-city Brisbane". Brisbane Times. Archived from the original on 29 February 2020. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  53. ^ a b c d e f g h "Land for public recreation - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 20 November 2020. Archived from the original on 22 November 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  54. ^ Moore, Tony (February 2021). "Brisbane commuters fight to have cross-river ferry returned". Archived from the original on 22 October 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  55. ^ "Smart Cities: Rethinking the City Centre" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 August 2007. Retrieved 6 October 2007.
  56. ^ "Stroll Down Memory Lane at These New Farm Heritage Houses (Part 2 of 2)". New Farm News. Archived from the original on 18 January 2022. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
  57. ^ Robertson, S. "Basket muzzle recommended" (PDF). Village News. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 March 2022. Retrieved 23 February 2022.
  58. ^ "Fernside | Heritage Places". heritage.brisbane.qld.gov.au. Archived from the original on 24 February 2024. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  59. ^ "1 Oxlade Drive, New Farm | Heritage Places". heritage.brisbane.qld.gov.au. Archived from the original on 24 February 2024. Retrieved 24 February 2024.

Sources

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  • "New Farm". Queensland Places. Centre for the Government of Queensland, University of Queensland.