As part of the development of Townsville, sugar plantations were established at Hyde Park in 1866.[4]
In 1918, Hyde Park was transferred from the Thuringowa Shire to the City of Townsville by a government decree.[5]
Hermit Park State School opened on 16 June 1924.[6] Hermit Park Infants State School was separated from it on 1 February 1955, but closed on 17 December 1993 and became part of the State School again.[6]
St Margaret Mary’s Catholic Primary School was established in 1936 by the Sisters of the Good Samaritan. BishopTerrence McGuire had purchased the Woodlands estate from the Cummins family to use as a convent for the sisters, which was called Saint Philomena’s. The need for secondary education for girls in the area led to the sisters establishing St Margaret Mary’s College, which was officially opened by Bishop Hugh Ryan on 22 February 1963 with an initial enrolment of 50 girls.[7] The primary school closed on 11 December 1987,[6] but the secondary college continues to operate.
Demographics
In the 2016 census, Hyde Park had a population of 1,387 people.[8]
In the 2021 census, Hyde Park had a population of 1,374 people.[1]
Facilities
Hyde Park contains two shopping centres, Castletown Shoppingworld and the Hyde Park Centre located on Woolcock Street.
Hyde Park is also home to the Mater Women's and Children's Hospital, formerly known as the Wesley Park Haven Hospital and before that as the Park Haven Private Hospital (est. 1937). In January 1999 the hospital was acquired by The Wesley Hospital, Brisbane on behalf of the Uniting Church in Queensland. In 2007 it was acquired by the Townsville Sisters of Mercy, and is run under the Mater Health Services North Queensland umbrella organisation.