Stafford, Queensland

Stafford is a northern suburb of the City of Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland, Australia.[4]

Stafford
Brisbane, Queensland
Population6,041 (2011 census)[1]
 • Density1,777/km2 (4,600/sq mi)
Postcode(s)4053
Area3.4 km2 (1.3 sq mi)
Location6 km (4 mi) NNW of Brisbane CBD
LGA(s)City of Brisbane
(Marchant Ward;[2] McDowall Ward)[3]
State electorate(s)Stafford
Federal Division(s)Brisbane, Lilley, Petrie
Suburbs around Stafford:
Everton Park Stafford Heights Kedron
Everton Park Stafford Gordon Park
Enoggera Alderley Grange

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. 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 there younger families are increasing there.

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 the 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]

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.[5][6] A map produced to advertise the sale shows the land for sale being off Main Stafford (or Happy Valley) Road, near Clifford St.[6]

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 tram line extension) built in Brisbane.

One of the original large employers of local workers, Gibson's Tannery[7] (also known as Scotia Works), closed in 1982 to make way for the Stafford City Shopping Centre, which opened in 1983 and extended in 1997. Previously, the Stafford Road shopping strip at the tram terminus was the local centre.

At the 2011 census Stafford had a population of 6,041 people.[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:

Sporting clubs

The Wilston Grange Australian Football Club has played Australian rules football at Hickey Park in Stafford since 1964.[9] The Past Brothers competes in the South East Division junior competitions, playing out of Gibson Park in Stafford.

Demographics

In the 2011 census, the population of Stafford was 6,041, 52% female and 48% male.[1] The median age of the Stafford population was 34 years, 3 years below the Australian median. 77.7% of people living in Stafford were born in Australia, compared to the national average of 69.8%; the next most common countries of birth were New Zealand 3%, England 2.3%, Philippines 1.4%, India 0.9%, Italy 0.6%. 86.1% of people spoke only English at home; the next most common languages were 1.3% Italian, 0.6% Punjabi, 0.6% Cantonese, 0.6% Mandarin, 0.5% Spanish.[1]

References

  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Stafford (State Suburb)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
  2. "Marchant Ward". Brisbane City Council. Brisbane City Council. Archived from the original on 12 March 2017. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
  3. "McDowall Ward". Brisbane City Council. Brisbane City Council. Archived from the original on 12 March 2017. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
  4. "Stafford (entry 48308)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  5. "Advertising". The Telegraph (17, 364). Queensland, Australia. 28 July 1928. p. 20 (SECOND EDITION). Retrieved 26 November 2019 via National Library of Australia.
  6. "Gourock Estate, Kedron". hdl:10462/deriv/264291. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  7. Two men and a child pose with a horse and cart on a road at Stafford, Brisbane, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, retrieved 1 June 2016
  8. "Stafford State School (entry 601667)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 6 July 2013.
  9. "Wilston Grange Australian Football Club - Home". gorillas-com.wildapricot.org. Retrieved 13 April 2020.

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