Gordon Park, Queensland
Encyclopedia
Gordon Park is a small residential area in the middle of Brisbane
's northern suburbs and the smallest suburb within Brisbane City Council. Without any major shopping centres or business, it seems like a small town instead of being close to the centre of a major city.
, many beautifully renovated, are a feature of this green and leafy suburb. The median house price in Gordon Park for the 2004 calendar year was $383,750.
. This clan was often referred to by the "whites" as the "Duke of York’s" clan. There were camping grounds around the Breakfast Creek area and the explorers John Oxley
and Allan Cunningham
met members of the clan at the mouth of the Creek in 1824.
The main encampment of the Turrbal clan was in “Yorks Hollow”. This gully passes through Victoria Park and the Royal National Association Showgrounds at Bowen Hills. In 1858 two Aborigines, Dalinkua and Dalpie from the Breakfast Creek area, wrote letters to The Moreton Bay
Courier protesting about the treatment their people received at the hands of the white settlers.
of 264 blocks went to auction on 25 September 1886. Gordon Park Estate of 1063 allotments was advertised for auction on 13 December 1890. 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 names in the suburb relate to General Gordon, the armies he served with, and their sphere of operation. Trams ran to Gordon Park connecting it with Brisbane until they were progressively withdrawn from use, finally ceasing all operations on 13 April 1969. In the mid 1980s residents pushed to retain the locality name after concern that it could fade out of use.
Baptist Church.
, 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 emigrant to Australia. He was awarded the Order of Australia
in 1985 in recognition of his service to the local community. Prior to receiving the award he had received a certificate of merit for services to the incapacitated Servicemen’s Association, an 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.
In terms of musical talent, Gordon Park has had a proportionally large output of talented individuals, including renowned bass players, French hornists, pianists and rappers, often originating from a single family, also historically notable for occasionally providing free concerts at local surgeries.
Pink Bullet bassist and vocalist Maurice Moynihan lives in Gordon Park. Several members from local indie dark wave cult band The Mercy Dolls also call Gordon Park home. They colloquially refer to the suburb in lyrics as Anti-Ramsay Park, an ironic reference to the popular TV Chef, and bemoan its apparent lack of fine dining establishments of quality and/or reputation.
The suburb is also home to the infamous "howlin' huskies" - two Siberian Husky dogs who synchronise their howling with the Ambulance sirens that commute down nearby Lutwyche Road. "Stunt Spoodle" Baxter SanChoiBow, renowned for his sweet jumps and related antics, also calls Gordon Park "home".
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
's northern suburbs and the smallest suburb within Brisbane City Council. Without any major shopping centres or business, it seems like a small town instead of being close to the centre of a major city.
Profile
Gordon Park is about 5 km from Brisbane’s CBD. Over 37% of households in this area consist of couples with children, 40% are couples without children and 18% are single parent families. Stand alone house account for 65% of all dwellings in this area, and units account for a further 28%. Highset QueenslandersQueenslander (architecture)
Queenslander architecture is a modern term for the vernacular type of architecture of Queensland, Australia. It is also found in the northern parts of the adjacent state of New South Wales and shares many traits with architecture in other states of Australia but is distinct and unique...
, many beautifully renovated, are a feature of this green and leafy suburb. The median house price in Gordon Park for the 2004 calendar year was $383,750.
Aboriginal History
The Turrbal clan occupied the northern side of the Brisbane RiverBrisbane River
The Brisbane River is the longest river in south east Queensland, Australia, and flows through the city of Brisbane, before emptying into Moreton Bay. John Oxley was the first European to explore the river who named it after the Governor of New South Wales, Thomas Brisbane in 1823...
. This clan was often referred to by the "whites" as the "Duke of York’s" clan. There were camping grounds around the Breakfast Creek area and the explorers John Oxley
John Oxley
John Joseph William Molesworth Oxley was an explorer and surveyor of Australia in the early period of English colonisation.October 1802 he was engaged in coastal survey work including an expedition to Western Port in 1804-05...
and Allan Cunningham
Allan Cunningham (botanist)
Allan Cunningham was an English botanist and explorer, primarily known for his travels in New South Wales to collect plants.- Early life :...
met members of the clan at the mouth of the Creek in 1824.
The main encampment of the Turrbal clan was in “Yorks Hollow”. This gully passes through Victoria Park and the Royal National Association Showgrounds at Bowen Hills. In 1858 two Aborigines, Dalinkua and Dalpie from the Breakfast Creek area, wrote letters to The Moreton Bay
Moreton Bay
Moreton Bay is a bay on the eastern coast of Australia 45 km from Brisbane, Queensland. It is one of Queensland's most important coastal resources...
Courier protesting about the treatment their people received at the hands of the white settlers.
Urban Development
The Gordon Estate – LutwycheLutwyche, Queensland
Lutwyche is an inner-city residential suburb of Brisbane, located 5 km north of the city's central business district. The suburb is named after Alfred Lutwyche, a judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales who was appointed as Supreme Court judge at Moreton Bay on 21 February 1859 , shortly...
of 264 blocks went to auction on 25 September 1886. Gordon Park Estate of 1063 allotments was advertised for auction on 13 December 1890. The suburb was named after General Gordon
Charles George Gordon
Major-General Charles George Gordon, CB , known as "Chinese" Gordon, Gordon Pasha, and Gordon of Khartoum, was a British army officer and administrator....
who was the hero of the eight-month siege of Khartoum
Khartoum
Khartoum is the capital and largest city of Sudan and of Khartoum State. It is located at the confluence of the White Nile flowing north from Lake Victoria, and the Blue Nile flowing west from Ethiopia. The location where the two Niles meet is known as "al-Mogran"...
in the Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
in the late 19th century. Most of the names in the suburb relate to General Gordon, the armies he served with, and their sphere of operation. Trams ran to Gordon Park connecting it with Brisbane until they were progressively withdrawn from use, finally ceasing all operations on 13 April 1969. In the mid 1980s residents pushed to retain the locality name after concern that it could fade out of use.
Landmarks
In 1926 the Gordon Park Baptist Church started as a tent mission on property at Khartoum Street which was owned by the church. It was originally known as the Gordon Park Mission Church. 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. The President of the Baptist Union of Queensland opened the Church hall in 1961. A new church at 106 Khartoum Street was built which opened on 10 September 1977. The original pulpit from the old church along with a communion tray was donated to the BeenleighBeenleigh, Queensland
Beenleigh is a suburb in the Logan City area of Queensland, Australia. Beenleigh and adjoining suburbs are located near the confluence of the Logan and Albert rivers...
Baptist Church.
Residents of Note
Gordon Park resident, Tom Nash, was born in EssexEssex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1909. He emigrated to Australia at the age of 17 aboard the S.S. Vedic, a ship chartered by the Salvation Army
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
to bring 700 young emigrant to Australia. He was awarded the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
in 1985 in recognition of his service to the local community. Prior to receiving the award he had received a certificate of merit for services to the incapacitated Servicemen’s Association, an RSL
Returned and Services League of Australia
The Returned and Services League of Australia is a support organisation for men and women who have served or are serving in the Australian Defence Force ....
certificate of merit, honorary life membership of the RSL and the Paul Harris Fellowship medal from Rotary International
Rotary International
Rotary International is an organization of service clubs known as Rotary Clubs located all over the world. The stated purpose of the organization is to bring together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help...
. Tom Nash had also been a Brisbane City Council councillor.
In terms of musical talent, Gordon Park has had a proportionally large output of talented individuals, including renowned bass players, French hornists, pianists and rappers, often originating from a single family, also historically notable for occasionally providing free concerts at local surgeries.
Pink Bullet bassist and vocalist Maurice Moynihan lives in Gordon Park. Several members from local indie dark wave cult band The Mercy Dolls also call Gordon Park home. They colloquially refer to the suburb in lyrics as Anti-Ramsay Park, an ironic reference to the popular TV Chef, and bemoan its apparent lack of fine dining establishments of quality and/or reputation.
The suburb is also home to the infamous "howlin' huskies" - two Siberian Husky dogs who synchronise their howling with the Ambulance sirens that commute down nearby Lutwyche Road. "Stunt Spoodle" Baxter SanChoiBow, renowned for his sweet jumps and related antics, also calls Gordon Park "home".
External links
- ourbrisbane.com website - Gordon Park section
- University of Queensland: Queensland Places: Gordon Park
- BRISbites is a growing collection of information bites about topics and resources in Brisbane's suburban history