Annerley: A Suburb Brimming With History

Annerley used to be regarded as a suburb that needed some “facelifting.” The good news is that after gentrification, plenty of Queenslanders have been restored thus giving the suburb an uplifted, eclectic touch. Unbeknownst to some, the suburb also has plenty of heritage-listed places, aside from the social housing in the area.

Hefferan Park Air Raid Shelter
260 Annerley Rd.

During World War II, the United States of America used Queensland as their support base for the Pacific War and Brisbane, being the major city in the state, had lots of people pouring into the city at the time. The Brisbane City Council then took over the responsibility of building air raid shelters and this particular one in Annerley is one of the few surviving air raid shelters out of 17 built in Brisbane.

Digby Denham’s Residence
391 Annerley Rd.

Mr Digby Denham was the Premier of Queensland and Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly. His house on Annerley Rd is a landmark residence in the area.

Annerley Army Reserve Depot
158 Dudley St.

A barracks built from 1914-1954, this place was set up to accommodate military men during their militia and cadet training. However, the site is no longer owned by the Department of Defence. In 2004, the Queensland Heritage Council allowed the site to be used for residential purposes.

Stephens Shire Office
15 Ealing St.

The Shire of Stephens was a local government area in the inner southern suburbs of Brisbane. It has eight localities including the one in Annerley, along with the ones located in Fairfield, Greenslopes, Holland Park West, Moorooka, Tarragindi, Yeerongpilly and Yeronga. In 1925, the Shire of Stephens was abolished and it became part of Brisbane. Today, the site has been altered for use as a residence.

These are just some of the historic places in the suburb that is worth a visit. Although some of these may have evolved, knowing that they hold so much history adds more value and interest to the suburb. There are also plenty of period homes that contribute to the aesthetics of the suburb.