Shire of Moggill War Memorial, at the intersection of Moggill Road and Brookfield Road, Kenmore 1925Kenmore War Memorial, 2021
European settlement began in the 1840s and was part of a sheep and cattle run which extended from Milton to Mount Crosby. In the 1850s land was released to new settlers from Britain in 15 to 20 acre lots. During the 1850s and 1860s areas around Kenmore and Brookfield provided Brisbane with timber and there were also small farms producing a variety of crops.[8]
Around 1880 Andrew Todd purchased 100 acres in the centre of what is called Kenmore today.[8]
In the 1890s the Queensland Parliament approved the construction of a rail line from Indooroopilly to Brookfield, running through the southern side of Kenmore following the valley of Cubberla Creek and thence roughly parallel to the present alignment of Kersley Road. However the line was never constructed.[9]
Kenmore Provisional School opened on 9 July 1900. On 1 January 1909, it became Kenmore State School.[10][11]
In the early 1900s, dairy farming began to be a major farming activity.[8] In 1910 Chinese market gardeners moved in and grew vegetables.[8]
In the early 1950s Hooker's bought dairy farming land around Dumbarton Drive and this began the modern development of Kenmore. In 1960 roads were upgraded.[8]
Kenmore Library opened in 2010 as part of an extension of the Kenmore Village shopping centre.[15]
Demographics
In the 2016 census, Kenmore had a population of 8,960 people.[16]
In the 2021 census, Kenmore had a population of 9,675 people, 51.2% female and 48.8% male. The median age of the Kenmore population was 40. 65.2% of people living in Kenmore were born in Australia, compared to the national average of 66.9%; the next most common countries of birth were England 5.2%, South Africa 3.7%, China 2.9%, New Zealand 2.4%, India 2%. 79.1% of people spoke only English at home; the next most common languages were 4.1% Mandarin, 1.5% Korean,1% Cantonese, 1% Spanish, 0.9% Japanese.[1]
Heritage listings
Kenmore has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:
Kenmore has numerous parks[31] and playing fields. It has easy access to outdoors activities in surrounding suburbs, including walking tracks and roads to Mt Coot-tha lookout, Brisbane Botanic Gardens and the planetarium; boating ramps into the Brisbane River and horse riding facilities in Fig Tree Pocket and Brookfield.
It has a variety of sporting venues that are available for use. The largest and easiest to access is Akuna Oval, which has areas for soccer, AFL and rugby, as well as extensive walking tracks throughout the area. Other venues that can be rented are the Kenmore Primary School[32] tennis courts and some facilities at Kenmore South Primary School.[33] Community classes are often held at various areas around Kenmore during term-time and these classes range from yoga to fencing to pilates. There is also a women-only gym, Curves International, on Brookfield Road and a Jett's Gym, on Marshall Lane.
Kenmore is dissected by Moggill Creek. The Moggill Creek Catchment Group organises working bees to rid the creek area of rubbish and introduced plant species, which are not suited to the area.[35]
The Rotary Club of Kenmore is non-political, non-denominational and open to all cultures, races and creeds.
The main road through Kenmore is Moggill Road. The retail centre of Kenmore is clustered around the roundabout where Brookfield and Moggill Roads intersect. Another transport hub is at the Kenmore Tavern complex, on the corner of Marshall Lane and Moggill Road.
A motorway extension known as the Kenmore Bypass has been proposed, to alleviate congestion along Moggill Road during peak commuting hours, but has met widespread opposition from local residents because of the inevitable resumption of residential properties, loss of amenity and disruption associated with building a major new road through an established residential area.[38][39][40]
