New Farm, Queensland
Encyclopedia
New Farm is an inner suburb of Brisbane
, Australia
, located 2 km east of the Brisbane CBD on a large bend of the Brisbane River
. New Farm is partly surrounded by the Brisbane River, with land access from the north west through Fortitude Valley and from the north through Newstead
.
. The suburb derives its name from the fact that the peninsula was used as a farming area in the early years of Brisbane's history
. Brunswick Street
is the main street running northwest-southeast up the centre of the peninsula. To the south of Brunswick Street the suburb is characterised by large ornate Queenslander
-style houses, shady streets lined with large trees and tall apartment buildings, predominantly along the river. More modest Queenslander-style houses dominate the north of Brunswick Street, where there are fewer large trees and apartments.
The suburb has one main commercial area close to New Farm Park, called 'Merthyr Village'. A wide variety of businesses also operate along Brunswick Street and in adjacent streets. The former electric tramway power station, located at the eastern corner of New Farm Park, has been converted into a community arts and performance space called 'The Powerhouse'. New Farm is known as Brisbane's "Little Italy" as many immigrants from Italian descent first settled in the suburb.
From 1885 to 1897 New Farm's transport needs were met by horse-drawn trams, which operated along Brunswick Street, as far as Barker Street. In 1897 the horse trams were replaced with electric trams and the line was extended, with trams ultimately running as far as Macquarie Street and down to the river at New Farm Park. The electric trams ceased operation on 13 April 1969. Since then the suburb has been served by diesel buses.
New Farm developed a reputation in the late 1980s as a drug-addled, low-rent culture depicted in Andrew McGahan
's grunge novel Praise, which is set largely in the suburb.
Since then, and like many Brisbane suburbs, New Farm has experienced much 'gentrification
' and 'infill development' throughout the 1990s and the years since 2000. However, New Farm maintains its diversity, being known for its long-established Anglo-Saxon and Italian communities (as depicted in Venero Armano's novel Firehead), and its many restaurants and cafes.
On the 23rd of January 2007, part of the movie Fool's Gold, starring Kate Hudson, was shot at New Farm Park. Scenes from the films All My Friends Are Leaving Brisbane
(2007) and Jucy
(2011) have also been shot there.
links New Farm with Norman Park
. New Farm can also be accessed via two CityCat stops (operated by Brisbane Transport
) - at Sydney Street and at New Farm Park.
By Bus The suburb is serviced by several bus routes to and from the city centre.
The Smart Cities: Rethinking the City Centre report proposes building green bridges from Merthyr Road across the Brisbane River to Bulimba
in the east and to Kangaroo Point
in the west.
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...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, located 2 km east of the Brisbane CBD on a large bend of 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...
. New Farm is partly surrounded by the Brisbane River, with land access from the north west through Fortitude Valley and from the north through Newstead
Newstead, Queensland
Newstead is a riverside suburb of the city of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It is situated 3 km north of the Brisbane central business district...
.
Attractions
At the south-eastern end of the peninsula is the historic New Farm ParkNew Farm Park, Brisbane
New Farm Park is a significant historic park in the suburb of New Farm, Brisbane, Australia, located at the southern end of the New Farm Peninsula on the Brisbane River. It covers , and it currently includes grounds, tennis courts, and basketball courts...
. The suburb derives its name from the fact that the peninsula was used as a farming area in the early years of Brisbane's history
History of Brisbane
Brisbane's recorded history dates from the 1700s to the present day. The first European settlement in Brisbane, a penal colony for British convicts, occurred in 1825...
. Brunswick Street
Brunswick Street, Brisbane
Brunswick Street is a main thoroughfare within the suburbs of New Farm and Fortitude Valley in Brisbane, Australia. The street is not entirely roadway but is a pedestrian mall for a hundred metres near its centre....
is the main street running northwest-southeast up the centre of the peninsula. To the south of Brunswick Street the suburb is characterised by large ornate Queenslander
Queenslander (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...
-style houses, shady streets lined with large trees and tall apartment buildings, predominantly along the river. More modest Queenslander-style houses dominate the north of Brunswick Street, where there are fewer large trees and apartments.
History
Though one of Brisbane's oldest suburbs, the peninsula of New Farm was once called `Binkin-ba' by the Aborigines. According to a recent book, Reflections on New Farm, published by the New Farm and Districts Historical Society the area was also a working site of convicts (lime kilns dating back to 1870 are still evident on the river banks) a marine base in World War II and home to many wealthy merchants and lawyers.From 1885 to 1897 New Farm's transport needs were met by horse-drawn trams, which operated along Brunswick Street, as far as Barker Street. In 1897 the horse trams were replaced with electric trams and the line was extended, with trams ultimately running as far as Macquarie Street and down to the river at New Farm Park. The electric trams ceased operation on 13 April 1969. Since then the suburb has been served by diesel buses.
New Farm developed a reputation in the late 1980s as a drug-addled, low-rent culture depicted in Andrew McGahan
Andrew McGahan
Andrew McGahan is a bestselling Australian novelist, best known for his cult first novel Praise, and for his Miles Franklin Award-winning novel The White Earth.-Early life and education:...
's grunge novel Praise, which is set largely in the suburb.
Since then, and like many Brisbane suburbs, New Farm has experienced much 'gentrification
Gentrification
Gentrification and urban gentrification refer to the changes that result when wealthier people acquire or rent property in low income and working class communities. Urban gentrification is associated with movement. Consequent to gentrification, the average income increases and average family size...
' and 'infill development' throughout the 1990s and the years since 2000. However, New Farm maintains its diversity, being known for its long-established Anglo-Saxon and Italian communities (as depicted in Venero Armano's novel Firehead), and its many restaurants and cafes.
On the 23rd of January 2007, part of the movie Fool's Gold, starring Kate Hudson, was shot at New Farm Park. Scenes from the films All My Friends Are Leaving Brisbane
All My Friends Are Leaving Brisbane
All My Friends Are Leaving Brisbane is a 2007 Australian Romance-Comedy film by upcoming Director Louise Alston and written by Stephen Vagg...
(2007) and Jucy
Jucy
Jucy is an Australian comedy feature film produced in 2010 about the womance between two best female friends. The film was written by Stephen Vagg, directed by Louise Alston and produced by Kelly Chapman...
(2011) have also been shot there.
Transport
By Ferry At the river end of Brunswick Street a small cross-river ferry, operated by Brisbane TransportBrisbane Transport
Brisbane Transport is a business unit of Brisbane City Council, operating suburban and urban bus services under the TransLink integrated public transport scheme in Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland, Australia. The origins of Brisbane Transport can be seen as far back as 1885 when horse...
links New Farm with Norman Park
Norman Park, Queensland
Norman Park is a suburb in Brisbane, Australia. It is located 4 km east of the Brisbane central business district.Norman Park has numerous parks and recreational areas for residents in the area...
. New Farm can also be accessed via two CityCat stops (operated by Brisbane Transport
Brisbane Transport
Brisbane Transport is a business unit of Brisbane City Council, operating suburban and urban bus services under the TransLink integrated public transport scheme in Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland, Australia. The origins of Brisbane Transport can be seen as far back as 1885 when horse...
) - at Sydney Street and at New Farm Park.
By Bus The suburb is serviced by several bus routes to and from the city centre.
The Smart Cities: Rethinking the City Centre report proposes building green bridges from Merthyr Road across the Brisbane River to Bulimba
Bulimba, Queensland
Bulimba is an inner suburb of Brisbane, Australia. It is 4 kilometres south-east of the CBD, and is located on the southern bank of the Brisbane River...
in the east and to Kangaroo Point
Kangaroo Point, Queensland
Kangaroo Point is a suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia located directly east across the Brisbane River from the Brisbane central business district.- Geography :...
in the west.