Stafford, Queensland

For the electoral district, see Electoral district of Stafford.
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Stafford
Brisbane, Queensland
Stafford State School, 2015
Stafford is located in Queensland
Stafford
Stafford
Coordinates27°24′44″S 153°00′37″E / 27.4122°S 153.0102°E / -27.4122; 153.0102 (Stafford (centre of suburb))
Population6,978 (2021 census)[1]
 • Density2,052/km2 (5,320/sq mi)
Postcode(s)4053
Area3.4 km2 (1.3 sq mi)
Time zoneAEST (UTC+10:00)
Location9.1 km (6 mi) N of Brisbane CBD
LGA(s)City of Brisbane
(Marchant Ward and[2] McDowall Ward)[3]
State electorate(s)Stafford
Federal division(s)
Suburbs around Stafford:
Everton Park Stafford Heights Kedron
Everton Park Stafford Gordon Park
Enoggera Alderley Grange

Stafford is a northern suburb in the City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.[4] In the 2021 census, Stafford had a population of 6,978 people.[1]

Geography

Stafford is predominantly a residential suburb, including some original Queenslander-style homes and a significant number of post-war Queensland Housing Commission homes on quarter-acre blocks built around the 1940s and 1950s.[citation needed]

Stafford lies to the west of Lutwyche Road, along the banks of Kedron Brook. Being an area of that age, many of Stafford's residents are elderly, but younger families are increasingly moving there.[citation needed]

Sparkes Hill (27°24′41″S 153°00′05″E / 27.4115°S 153.0013°E / -27.4115; 153.0013 (Sparkes Hill)) is in the south-west of the suburb and is 96 metres (315 ft) above sea level.[5][6] The water reservoir on the top of the hill holds 94 megalitres (3.3×10^6 cu ft), which 16% of Brisbane's water supply.[7]

History

Queensland Housing Commission house at Stafford, August 1949

Stafford was originally called Happy Valley. It is possible that the name originates from the fact that Sir Thomas Brisbane for whom the city is named was an officer in the Staffordshire Regiment – a Stafford Knot is featured in the city's coat-of-arms. A public move to rename the area after the English county of Staffordshire in 1885 and 1886 led to its current name.[4]

Stafford State School opened on 25 May 1886.[8] On 24 January 1955 the Stafford Infants State School opened removing the younger children from the main. The infant school closed on 9 December 1977 and the younger children became part of the main school again.[8]

In 1928, in what is now known as Stafford, 20 sites at Gourock Estate, Kedron, being resubs of 1 to 20 (subs A & B easements) of sub 1 of portion 96, Parish of Kedron, were advertised for auction by Isles, Love & Co. Auctioneers.[9][10] A map produced to advertise the sale shows the land for sale being off Main Stafford (or Happy Valley) Road, near Clifford St.[10]

Between 1940 and 1968 Stafford was served by electric trams operated by the Brisbane City Council. This was the last completely new tram line (as distinct from the tram line extension) built in Brisbane.[citation needed]

The Stafford Church of Christ was established through an outreach of the Kedron Church of Christ in the early 1950s commencing with Bible schools. Land at 610 Stafford Street (27°24′28″S 152°59′56″E / 27.4077°S 152.9990°E / -27.4077; 152.9990 (Fellowship Baptist Church of Christ)) was purchased circa October 1952.[11] In January 1953, an old army hut was relocated to the site to be converted to a chapel.[12] The new chapel was dedicated early in March 1954.[13][14] In 1963, the Stafford church became independent of the Kedron church.[15] It is now known as the Fellowship Baptist Church of Christ.[16]

Queen of Apostles Catholic Primary School opened on 30 January 1962. In 1969, it opened its second campus for the younger students in neighbouring Stafford Heights to the north.[8][17][18]

Construction commenced on the water reservoirs on top of Sparkes Hill in 1973 and was completed in 1978.[7]

One of the original large employers of local workers, Gibson's Tannery[19] (also known as Scotia Works), closed in 1982 to make way for the Stafford City Shopping Centre, which opened in March 1984. The center was extended again in 1997, which opened in December of that year to include a new food court and the first 10-screen cinema complex in Brisbane at the time, operated by Australian Multiplex Cinemas.[20] Previously, the Stafford Road shopping strip at the tram terminus was the local centre.[citation needed]

Demographics

In the 2016 census, Stafford had a population of 6,561 people.[21]

In the 2021 census, Stafford had a population of 6,978 people, 51% female and 49% male. The median age of the Stafford population was 35 years, 3 years below the Australian median. 75.2% of people living in Stafford were born in Australia, compared to the national average of 66.9%; the next most common countries of birth were England 2.9%, New Zealand 2.7%, India 1.4%, Philippines 1.1%, South Africa 0.7%. 82% of people spoke only English at home; the next most common languages were 1% Mandarin, 0.8% Italian, 0.6% Hindi, 0.6% Spanish, 0.6% Cantonese.[1]

Heritage listings

Group of children dressed up for a patriotic concert at Stafford State School, Brisbane, 1915

Stafford has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

Education

Stafford State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at 314 Stafford Road (27°24′39″S 153°01′03″E / 27.4107°S 153.0174°E / -27.4107; 153.0174 (Stafford State School)).[23][24] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 264 students with 32 teachers (25 full-time equivalent) and 33 non-teaching staff (19 full-time equivalent).[25] It includes a special education program.[23]

Queen of Apostles Catholic Primary School is a Catholic primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls. The school has two campuses. The upper campus (3-6) is at 10 Thuruna Street (27°24′16″S 153°00′29″E / 27.4044°S 153.0080°E / -27.4044; 153.0080 (Queen of Apostles Primary School (upper campus))) while the lower campus (Prep-2) is at 46 Chuter Street in Stafford Heights .[23][26] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 486 students with 40 teachers (28 full-time equivalent) and 35 non-teaching staff (17 full-time equivalent).[25]

There is no secondary school in Stafford. The nearest government secondary schools are Everton Park State High School in neighbouring Everton Park to the west and Kedron State High School in neighbouring Kedron to the east.[27]

Amenities

There are a number of parks in the suburb, including:

Sporting clubs

The Wilston Grange Australian Football Club has played Australian rules football at Hickey Park in Stafford since 1964.[29] The Past Brothers competes in the South East Division junior competitions, playing out of Gibson Park in Stafford.[citation needed]

References

  1. ^ a b c Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Stafford (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023. Edit this at Wikidata
  2. ^ "Marchant Ward". Brisbane City Council. Archived from the original on 12 March 2017. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
  3. ^ "McDowall Ward". Brisbane City Council. Archived from the original on 12 March 2017. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
  4. ^ a b "Stafford – suburb in City of Brisbane (entry 48308)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  5. ^ "Mountain peaks and capes – Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 12 November 2020. Archived from the original on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  6. ^ "Sparkes Hill – mountain in Brisbane City (entry 31584)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  7. ^ a b "Water security boost for Brisbane's north | Seqwater". Seqwater. Archived from the original on 20 March 2020. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  8. ^ a b c Queensland schools past and present. Version 1.01. Queensland Family History Society. 2010. ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0.
  9. ^ "Advertising". The Telegraph. No. 17, 364. Queensland, Australia. 28 July 1928. p. 20. Archived from the original on 29 May 2022. Retrieved 26 November 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ^ a b "Gourock Estate, Kedron" (1928) [Map]. Collections. State Library of Queensland.
  11. ^ "Lord Mayor to attend church civic service". Brisbane Telegraph. Queensland, Australia. 4 October 1952. p. 21. Archived from the original on 10 June 2024. Retrieved 30 May 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. ^ "CHURCH HEAD AT HOSPITALS". Brisbane Telegraph. Queensland, Australia. 17 January 1953. p. 21. Archived from the original on 10 June 2024. Retrieved 30 May 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. ^ "SPURT IN PRESBYTERIAN BUILDING PROGRAMMES". Brisbane Telegraph. Queensland, Australia. 27 February 1954. p. 9. Archived from the original on 10 June 2024. Retrieved 30 May 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. ^ "PAPUANS TO SING". Brisbane Telegraph. Queensland, Australia. 13 March 1954. p. 24. Archived from the original on 10 June 2024. Retrieved 30 May 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  15. ^ Haigh, George (1983). Churches of Christ in Queensland: 100 years venturing in faith. Historical Committee, Conference of Churches of Christ in Queensland. pp. 126–130. ISBN 978-0-909116-38-5.
  16. ^ "Fellowship Baptist Church – Stafford". Fellowship Baptist Church – Stafford. Archived from the original on 24 May 2022. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  17. ^ "School Profile". Queen of Apostles Catholic Primary School. Archived from the original on 6 December 2020. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  18. ^ "Queen of Apostles School" (PDF). Queen of Apostles Catholic Primary School. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 March 2020. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  19. ^ Two men and a child pose with a horse and cart on a road at Stafford, Brisbane, 1900, archived from the original on 29 May 2022, retrieved 12 March 2021
  20. ^ "BARGAINS AVAILABLE". North-West News. Queensland, Australia. 9 December 1998.
  21. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Stafford (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018. Edit this at Wikidata
  22. ^ "Stafford State School (entry 601667)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 6 July 2013.
  23. ^ a b c "State and non-state school details". Queensland Government. 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  24. ^ "Stafford State School". Archived from the original on 22 February 2017. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  25. ^ a b "ACARA School Profile 2018". Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority. Archived from the original on 27 August 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  26. ^ "Queen of Apostles Primary School". Archived from the original on 9 March 2014. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  27. ^ "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  28. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "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.
  29. ^ "Wilston Grange Australian Football Club – Home". gorillas-com.wildapricot.org. Archived from the original on 24 September 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
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