Karana Downs, Queensland
Encyclopedia
Karana Downs is a suburb of Brisbane's west in south-east Queensland, Australia, 22 km from Brisbane's CBD.
The semi-rural, leafy suburb is bordered by the Brisbane River
to the south and east, and Mount Crosby
to the west.
The people of Karana Downs are represented in the Queensland Parliament by Bruce Flegg
the Liberal Party member for Moggill.
The suburb is serviced by Mt Crosby State School, built in 1984. Karana Downs was developed from the areas of Kholo, Lake Manchester, and Mount Crosby with 5 square kilometres of land being divided in 1973.
As of the 2001 Census, there were 5,177 people residing in Karana Downs. Between the 1996 census and 2001 census, there was a 0.3% population increase.
Originally a suburb of the Shire of Moreton
then later Ipswich
, in the 1990s residents lobbied to be integrated into Brisbane City Council, and in 1998 the suburb was rezoned to Brisbane.
The Karana Downs Country Club and 18 Hole Golf Course is a major landmark, and this formed the original plans for the Karana Downs development. There are plans to redevelop the golf course into a medium density residential area - BUT, these plans were refused by Brisbane City Council on 27 October 2011.
Kookaburra Park is a large park on the bank of the Brisbane River - prior to the 2010–2011 Queensland floods
, it included a boat ramp, children's play area, amphitheatre, fishing platform, and off-leash dog area. Virtually the entire park was destroyed by flood-waters and it remains closed to all but pedestrian traffic. Karana Downs also has many more parks such as Dumburru Park, Kupi Park, Heritage Park, Burrun Park, Murri Park, Lion's Nature Trail and Illawong Reserve. Many of the streets and parks in Karana Downs bear Aboriginal names.
and Anstead
, to Bellbowrie
, where commuters can link up with the city council bus service.
The semi-rural, leafy suburb is bordered by the Brisbane River
Brisbane 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...
to the south and east, and Mount Crosby
Mount Crosby, Queensland
Mount Crosby is a mountain and outer suburb of Brisbane, Australia located south-west of the Brisbane CBD.-Geography:The Brisbane River, Mount Crosby and the adjoining State Forest are the dominant natural features of the area.-History:...
to the west.
The people of Karana Downs are represented in the Queensland Parliament by Bruce Flegg
Bruce Flegg
Dr Bruce Flegg is the Queensland Shadow Ministerfor Education, Training and Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Partnerships and the Member for Moggill having been elected in 2004 and re-elected in 2006 and 2009....
the Liberal Party member for Moggill.
The suburb is serviced by Mt Crosby State School, built in 1984. Karana Downs was developed from the areas of Kholo, Lake Manchester, and Mount Crosby with 5 square kilometres of land being divided in 1973.
As of the 2001 Census, there were 5,177 people residing in Karana Downs. Between the 1996 census and 2001 census, there was a 0.3% population increase.
Originally a suburb of the Shire of Moreton
Shire of Moreton
The Shire of Moreton was a local government area in South East Queensland, Australia, located about southwest of Queensland's capital, Brisbane...
then later Ipswich
Ipswich, Queensland
Ipswich is a city in South-East Queensland, Australia. Situated along the Bremer River Valley approximately 40 kilometres away from the state's capital Brisbane. The suburb by the same name forms the city's Central Business District and administrative centre...
, in the 1990s residents lobbied to be integrated into Brisbane City Council, and in 1998 the suburb was rezoned to Brisbane.
Recreation
NB NB NB The recent application to rezone and subdivide the Karana Downs Country Club land has been refused by Brisbane City Council (SEE: Karana Waters Application A002696611 on Brisbane City Council website - Planning and Development).The Karana Downs Country Club and 18 Hole Golf Course is a major landmark, and this formed the original plans for the Karana Downs development. There are plans to redevelop the golf course into a medium density residential area - BUT, these plans were refused by Brisbane City Council on 27 October 2011.
Kookaburra Park is a large park on the bank of the Brisbane River - prior to the 2010–2011 Queensland floods
2010–2011 Queensland floods
A series of floods hit Australia, beginning in December 2010, primarily in the state of Queensland including its capital city, Brisbane. The floods forced the evacuation of thousands of people from towns and cities. At least seventy towns and over 200,000 people were affected. Damage initially was...
, it included a boat ramp, children's play area, amphitheatre, fishing platform, and off-leash dog area. Virtually the entire park was destroyed by flood-waters and it remains closed to all but pedestrian traffic. Karana Downs also has many more parks such as Dumburru Park, Kupi Park, Heritage Park, Burrun Park, Murri Park, Lion's Nature Trail and Illawong Reserve. Many of the streets and parks in Karana Downs bear Aboriginal names.
Public transport
Due to the distance of Karana Downs to the centre of Brisbane, the suburb lacks a public bus service, however, in late 2006, a taxi van with a capacity of 10 people, started ferrying people every 20 minutes from 6:30am to 9am from Karana Downs, and nearby Mount CrosbyMount Crosby, Queensland
Mount Crosby is a mountain and outer suburb of Brisbane, Australia located south-west of the Brisbane CBD.-Geography:The Brisbane River, Mount Crosby and the adjoining State Forest are the dominant natural features of the area.-History:...
and Anstead
Anstead, Queensland
Anstead is an outer suburb of Brisbane, Australia located south-west of the Brisbane CBD. Anstead is located on the northern bank of the Brisbane River....
, to Bellbowrie
Bellbowrie, Queensland
Bellbowrie is a suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Bellbowrie lies 17 kilometres west-southwest of Brisbane's city centre. It is a rapidly developing semi-rural area due to Brisbane's growth heading in a westwards direction....
, where commuters can link up with the city council bus service.