The police were called to the scene at approximately 9:00 p.m. on the 27th of April, following the discovery of the woman’s body. A 53-year-old man known to the deceased woman has been helping police with their enquiries.
Residents in the area have expressed shock at the news, stating that they did not hear any commotion leading up to the discovery. Neighbours also noted that they did not know the woman well and that it had been quiet in the area until police crews arrived on the scene.
“I didn’t hear anything the night it happened. I didn’t know them. I stayed away,” Deseray Allam, a resident of the same unit complex since 1992, said. Another neighbour expressed similar sentiments, stating that they were shocked to hear of the death.
A crime scene has been established, and police forensic units have since left the scene. However, officers remain at the unit to guard the area while investigations continue to determine the cause of the woman’s death.
The Annerley community is in shock over the tragic incident, and police are urging anyone with information to come forward.
The police have not yet released any further information, but updates are expected in the coming days as investigations progress.
Did you know that Stephens Park Estate near the Junction Park State School commemorated 100 years following its public auction as a residential precinct?
In January 2023, the areas covering the streets of Ipswich Road, Waldheim Street, Blacket Street (formerly Thomas Street), Stephens Street, Linville Lane, Military Close, Dudley Street East, View Street, Lewisham Street (formerly Creek Street), Ekibin Road (formerly Ekibin Street), Willis Street, Arnwood Place (formerly the Road to Greenslopes), Lambton Street (formerly Rose Street), Lothian Street (formerly Jane Street), Bower Street, Real Street and Annerley Road, went up for auction with 95 “beautiful breezy building blocks.”
The estate was advertised in the newspaper as a “Parklike Residential area immediately surrounding the residences of “Messrs W. and T. Stephens” on Waldheim Street. The residence has been recognised as a local heritage site by Brisbane City Council in 2004.
Thomas Stephens emigrated to Sydney from Liverpool. After marrying Anne Connah, the pair set out to live in Brisbane where they raised 12 children. He became a successful Brisbane businessman, alderman and mayor of the city, who also served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland.
His eldest son, William, also tracked the same path and was regarded as “a real old-time southsider” who was born on Stanley Street.
“In my boyhood, the locality between the Clarence Corner and Fiveways was known as One Mile Swamp, there was little or no settlement at Woolloongabba — it was nearly all forest. There were two or three kilns out there, where they used to make bricks by hand. Bigholes were dug out for clay,” he told The Telegraph in 1923.
“The site of the Brisbane cricket ground was in lowly lying Government reserve. I can remember that Mr. ‘Paddy’ Perkins, when Minister for Lands, proposed to out up tho reserve into allotments and sell it. There was such an outcry against it, however, that the sale, although advertised was cancelled. The East Brisbane State school occupies part of the original reserve.”
Blockside & Ferguson Limited handled the auction and sale of the Stephens Park Estate under easy terms of: “£5 cash deposit, and £1 per month for every £50 of the purchase money or part thereof, interest 6 per cent on half-yearly balance, final payment in 36 months.”
After three days of the auction, Blockside & Ferguson reported a “very satisfactory” sale of 47 allotments. The rest of the properties were negotiated during private sales.
Prior to the separation, the Stephens Division, which had Annerley as its centre, was mostly a rundown suburb filled with dairy farms and the lands within the Collins Estate belong to the Parish of Yeerongpilly. However, after the 1880s, parcels of land were being auctioned off to the public.
The Collins Estate was established for residential development after ratepayers succeeded in their petition to create the Stephens Division as a separate entity from the Yeerongpilly Division.
Photo Credit: State Library of Queensland
In June 1887, Collins Estate was auctioned off by Hooker, Son & Elliott with 199 suburban allotments. The section covered blocks of land near Ipswich Road in the west and Ekibin Road in the south. It comprised five streets: Rose, Jane, Alice, Annie and Mary. These were later renamed to Lambton Street, Lotian Street, Bower Street, Real Street and Gustavson Street.
In its advertisements, Collins Estate’s selling points were its “rich chocolate soil” set among a “beautiful gentle slope.” This made the land ideally suited for growing fruits and vegetables.
Photo Credit: National Library of Austraia
This area was apparently the “envy of passersby” for its excellent roads. The coveted location was close to Junction Hotel, the first hotel in Annerley, and the tramway. These facets made the estate the most convenient place to build a home or business.
The auction resulted in 53 sales within two hours with a rate between £25 to £92 per land. The auction was well-attended and was considered a success.
Junction Hotel, an Annerley landmark and one of the most popular pubs in the south of Brisbane, is set for a renovation into a stylish pub with a beautiful courtyard and a children’s play area.
Under the design made by Craig W Chandler, Junction Hotel will soon have an extension on the southeast section of the property. A glass atrium will be integrated into the hotel’s facade on Annerley Rd whilst the bottle shop will be retrofitted as a smaller space.
The planners said that the new design will not increase the floor size of the hotel nor will it also change the heritage-listed property’s appearance. A fig tree close to the property will not be impacted by the development as well.
Photo Credit: DA A006180494
“The proposal is consistent with the Moorooka-Stephens District Neighbourhood Plan as it is a at compatible scale with existing and likely future surrounding buildings and is consistent with the Neighbourhood Plan outcomes,” VGF Town Planners stated in the development application (DA A006180494).
“The proposed development maintains and enhances the site’s position as a high-quality place for residents and visitors of Annerley to live, work and recreate.”
Photo Credit: DA A006180494
Photo Credit: DA A006180494
“The site is highly accessible, situated within a District Centre and at the confluence of arterial roads, yet in proximity to nearby residential uses. The proposed development will continue to contribute, as it does, as a continuing and fully functional hotel, providing and delivering significant benefits of an enhanced, updated quality to the locality.
“To elaborate, the proposed development will contribute significant benefits to the area and will improve convenience and comfort of existing levels of hotel and other patronage attending the site for social and recreational purposes, and their continued quiet appreciation and enjoyment of the facility at yet further improved levels of satisfaction.”
Council is still assessing the DA filed on the 20th of December 2022. A spokesperson, however, stated that a possible revision of the plans could be recommended to preserve the heritage site.
Did you know that the heritage-listed Stephen’s Farm homestead on Waldheim St in Annerley was once the home of William Stephens, who helped shape what was then the borough of South Brisbane?
William acquired the property in the late 1880s through his father, Thomas Blacket Stephens, a wealthy businessman who was the sixth Treasurer of Queensland. The older Stephens owned heaps of properties and businesses in Brisbane and the Shire of Stephens was actually named for him.
When he passed away, his son managed his estate and continued the family’s legacy and influence.
Following his marriage to Pauline Anna Caroline Effey in 1900, William built a family house for £300 not far from his father’s old house on Ipswich Road, Annerley. He named the house “Waldheim,” which means “home in the forest” in German.
William Stephens was the first mayor of the South Brisbane borough. Photo Credit: National Library of Australia
Waldheim Through the Years
Waldheim was originally believed to share a double gate to the left of the Junction Park State School and a laneway. Built as a timber structure with a corrugated iron roof, the house had distinct slim posts on the verandah and an elegant, decorative entryway.
The house remained in the Stephens family even after William’s death in 1925 due to a stroke. A few years before William died, however, the Stephen’s Farm homestead was subdivided and put up for sale via public auction.
In 1938, Pauline then sold Waldheim to George Hudleston Hurlstone Hardy, an entomologist and the founder of the Entomological Society of Queensland. After Hardy, Waldheim’s ownership was transferred to the Overseas Missionary Fellowship as the private residence of the State Secretary.
Between the 1950s to the 1970s, the property’s owners changed hands many times until it was turned into The Clansmen Restaurant, a sophisticated venue for many parties and celebrations in Annerley.
Old-time residents in the area, remember The Clansmen Restaurant all too well.
“The Clansmen used to make an amazing dessert called Edinburgh Fog. Whipped cream with Drambuie through it. Yum.”
“The Clansmen was 5 stars! I remember at the Clansmen all the females got a red rose in their menu and no prices, the males got no roses but got prices.”
“What a great night out at the Clansmen, known for its extensive wine cellar under the dining rooms.”
Did you know that a confusing road sign, indicating that Mt Gravatt is to the west instead of southeast of Annerley from that point, has been standing on a roundabout along Ekibin Rd for more than two years? Traffic reporter Olympia Kwitowski recently posted a tweet about it.
Ms Kwitowski said in an interview that she regularly sees this Annerley road sign because she has lived all her life near the Jessica Andrews park on Ekibin Rd. She pointed out the mistake, which indicated that Mt Gravatt is to the west instead of southeast of Annerley.
After sharing the sign on Twitter, Ms Kwitowski received feedback that most of the locals haven’t really paid attention to the mistake. Some netizens said they’ve never noticed the wrong arrow pointing to Mt Gravatt despite using the road frequently.
However, those who did notice the mistake said that it has been that way for more than two years.
Ms Kwitowski’s tweet caught the attention of Queensland Transport Minister Mark Bailey who tagged Brisbane City Council to look into fixing the confusing sign.
Hey @brisbanecityqld… Mt Gravatt is south-east of the Ekibin Rd Annerley roundabout, not west… can someone rectify as quickly as possible so Santa doesn’t get lost?? 🎅🎄
From a grain merchant to the 18th Premier ofQLD. He refused a knighthood. His family refused a state funeral. Get to know Digby Denham, the man who named Annerley.
Boggo Junction. Ekibin. Richmond. Ipswich Road. These are just some of the names by which the area we now know as ‘Annerley’ has been known over the years. It got so confusing that Hon Digby Denham, who led the Stephens Division Board and went on to become the 18th Premier of QLD, finally decided to name the district “Annerley,” after a township in Surrey, England.
Who is Digby Denham?
Mr Digby Denham from Somerset, England arrived in South Australia in 1881 and went into business with John Melliday & Co. as a produce and grain merchant. He owned the first house built in Annerley when he expanded the business to Brisbane in 1886.
Ingleside in Annerley Photo Credit: State Library of Queensland
Known as Ingleside, the house along 391 Annerley Road, located in a prominent and elevated area, was where Mr Denham and his wife, Alice Maud, raised their three children. He lived in this home until his death in 1944.
Mr Denham became a well-known businessman in Brisbane and started other money-making ventures with companies in Rockhampton, Clifton, and Warwick.
In 1893, he became a member of the Stephens Divisional Board which functions as the local government to provide public services. Mr Denham chaired this board for four years and then he was elected into the Legislative Assembly in 1902.
He heavily opposed the state income tax proposed by then-Premier Sir Robert Philp. Yet when Mr Denham became the premier from 1911 to 1915, his views on taxes changed and believed they should be higher.
As a public servant, Mr Denham also served as the minister for agriculture, public works, railways, and for public lands at various times in his career. He was the home secretary under the Philp administration and succeeded William Kidston as the premier.
Mr Denham’s major work was the 1910 Land Act which streamlined the legislation of the past 50 years to lessen the confusion. He refused a knighthood in 1913 and his family also refused a state funeral when he passed away. Instead, the Denhams held a private memorial at their family home in Annerley.
Photo Credit: National Library of Australia
The House of Digby Denham Today
After Denham’s term, Annerley, formerly farmland, experienced a property boom that saw many housing developments in the suburb.
Meanwhile, Ingleside became the home of other families over the years. It went up for sale in 2018 for $1,325,00. Its former owners, Don and Lesley Berkman, lived in the house for nearly three decades.
But after Don passed away, his daughter, Kathryn Berkman, said that the family decided to sell the heritage-listed house where they made many happy memories. The Berkmans took great care of the property and only made renovations to the lower level, with the modern kitchen.
“Back in 2002, I listed an old Queenslander on Ferndale St for sale. The homeowner contacted our office to sell her home because back in 1926 my grandfather, Robert Matthews had sold her father the land. Obviously her loyalty to her family and their experience with R. Matthews and Son was such that she felt compelled to use our office again in 2002. It was a very significant moment for me as I realized that the memory of quality and ethics in business had remained with her for three generations, and I had a responsibility to our reputation not to let anyone down.”
Russell Matthews
Queen Elizabeth first visited Brisbane only two years after her coronation in 1954 and returned in 1963, 1970, 1982, 1988, and 2011. Not many businesses in Brisbane have traded throughout the late Queen’s life, but there’s one business in Annerley, Matthews Real Estate, that was born when she was just six years old and is still going strong as it approaches its 90th year.
Having been trading for three decades already, the first Auction House for the business was in a converted plumber’s shed at 632 Ipswich Rd. They sold the shop to Esso petroleum in 1965 and moved across the road, renting office space at 653 Ipswich Rd.
In 1983, they purchased the current location on the corner of Cracknell Rd, at 678 Ipswich Road, moving to part of one of Annerley’s original buildings at Chardon’s Corner.
Generations at the Helm
First established in August 1933 as R. Matthews & Son Pty Ltd, the company was established by father-and-son tandem Robert and Leslie Matthews, who worked under local agent John Coleman before striking out on their own.
Leslie was a real estate clerk who was training at John Coleman auctioneers in Brisbane CBD. At the time, the hustle and bustle at the city centre was increasingly spreading outwards, towards Annerley, especially along Ipswich Rd.
Robert spent more than 40 years in the Army as a Staff Sergeant Major and drill instructor, before retiring and getting into the real estate business. A well-respected local, he also worked as a will executor.
Trevor, Robert’s grandson, joined the business at the age of 21, after his father, Leslie, died. Trevor was later joined by his brother, Ken.
Ken and Trevor, the third generation of Matthews at the helm. Photo Credit: Supplied
“I was only 20 when my father died and I really didn’t have much experience in the industry,” Trevor said. “His death launched me into the role of Principal and I had to figure it out as I went along.
“If it weren’t for a few trusted business advisors that my father knew through the REIQ, we may have had to pack it in back then. We’re lucky now as we go through a proper succession that we are able to lean on the FBA and other trusted advisors once again for assistance,” he added.
Robert Matthews served as a Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ) board member in 1938, under then-Chairman Ray White.
Robert Matthews and the REIQ Board, 1930s Photo Credit: Supplied
In 1947, Leslie also became an REIQ board member like his father, and he was on the Board again in 1951.
The father-and-son team of Robert and Leslie was active in many community groups like the Mt Gravatt Show Society, the Tarragindi Progress Association, and various bowling clubs.
Trevor also became an REIQ board member like his father and grandfather in 1991 and eventually earned his Life Member status with the peak body.
From the inception of the original Southern Suburbs Branch, including his time as President of the branch, Trevor has been a member of several REIQ committees and the Multiple Listing Service when it was first introduced to Queensland. He is still a member of the Professional Standards Tribunal Appeals Committee.
Preparing for the Future at Matthews Real Estate
Photo Credit: Supplied
Trevor’s son, Russell, and daughters, Kerry and Michelle, as well as Ken’s children, Darren and Melissa, currently make up the heart, brain, and soul of Matthews Real Estate.
Trevor and Ken’s better halves, Lyn and Kay, are also in the real estate business. Sons-in-law Kieran and Simon work in the same industry as well.
Each member of the new generation brings something new and fresh into the mix.
“Respect for the past doesn’t mandate doing everything exactly as it has always been done – we wouldn’t still be here if we did that,” Russell said.
“Making changes to business practices is what we must do to stay relevant. Respect for the past (our family) shows in our motivation, our desire to match their hard work with hard work of our own,” he added.
As the fourth generation of Matthews, led by Russell, ensure that the family business remains on course, the fifth generation is either training to be in the industry or pursuing a path elsewhere, whilst still getting some work experience with the family business.
“Everyone can be involved in one way or another, from a minor level to a high achievement level, with experience,” Trevor said of the family’s business dynamics. “There seems to be something for all interests and education levels.”
Complementing Each Other’s Strengths and Interests
Russell says the differences in their personalities and life experiences complement the time-honoured values that make their business unique.
One of Russell’s listings in the Australian Property Investor Magazine, December 2016.
For Kerry Matthews Forsythe, for example, being involved in the family business has also led her to pursue her interest in history.
It was a teenager’s bedroom wall at a Moorooka listing that led Kerry to her unique pursuit of maintaining an online album of Brisbane’s historic wallpapers and carpets.
The distinctive wallpaper in the room had been there since the 1960s and it featured a captivating red-lipped siren. Kerry just couldn’t stop looking at it. She took a photo so she could save it for posterity.
The wallpaper that started Kerry Matthews Forsythe’s unique collection
Today, Kerry has an impressive collection of images of old wallpapers, tiles, carpets, door handles, and light fittings that she regularly posts on the Matthews Real Estate Annerley’s Facebook page.
As the person in charge of social media for their company, Kerry said she has a platform where she can celebrate older styles and designs to show what she appreciates in a home.
She thinks it’s also a great way to preserve a moment in time, or an era, before it disappears.
“I just think it’s important to celebrate whatever era you’re in, whether it’s a Queenslander from the 1900s or something that’s mid-century modern, it’s nice to appreciate the design features of each one and what they have to offer.”
She believes that the memories also help people relate to a place and ultimately help them make a sale.
“People maybe think I’m a little bit strange, but I think generally people love to see that stuff. They may not want to keep it but they certainly appreciate being able to see it,” Kerry shared.
“There are definitely people who like to be visually reminded of their childhood… It’s just this immediate recollection of another time and another place. It’s usually good memories for people of something that doesn’t exist in their life anymore,” she added.
Russell thinks the synergy makes them uniquely prepared to take on the mantle of leadership as they step into the future.
“We are probably more prepared than any other generation has been, going into this generational transition. Dad (Trevor) was shocked with the sudden death of his Dad and being an accidental business owner much earlier than expected, and had to juggle all of that and learn on the fly.”
“We’re very lucky that we have his guidance and can learn at a practical pace. Also, (for the girls) starting later in our lives with previous work and life experiences to bring to the company is extremely helpful too.”
“Michelle is now in charge of the day-to-day running of the business with an active role across all divisions of the company.”
Acknowledging that sometimes, disagreements do arise, Trevor says it’s all par for the course.
“Luckily family ties are pretty strong and we all want to ensure good relationships remain at the end of the day,” he said.
Lasting Legacy
The family says the legacy of generations of hard work put into the business is a driving force to do even better.
In a show of loyalty that transcends the passing of time, generations of clients have trusted generations of Matthews.
“The legacy has its own weight. It’s not a burden, it’s more that the weight can give you some real momentum and push you to do your best. We still have people coming in to do business with us because their parents or grandparents did business with our previous generation.”
“We love that, those clients are very special to us – we really value their loyalty, especially with so many agents to choose from.”
“Our long history gives our business credibility in our community. We are careful to always live up to that, to take care of this reputation that we have inherited and see that it is deserved and survives,” he added.
“A legacy is something that many never get to be a part of … yet we can see Matthews Real Estate being transitioned before our very eyes.”
Significant Recognition as a Family Business
In 1992, Matthews Real Estate was hailed as one of the Top 10 Real Estate agencies in Australia, based on a national survey. They were the only company from Queensland to make the cut from a shortlist of 400 real estate agencies.
In 2019, the company was recognised as a Family Business Australia Hall of Famer for the company’s highly-regarded brand, reflecting “quality, value, integrity, professional spirit.”
Although 70 per cent of companies in Australia are family-run, just three per cent of that slice of the pie lasts for four generations, placing the Matthews family as one of the lucky few in a rare league that has withstood the test of time — in their case, for nearly 90 years.
Asked about luck, Russell said: “There is a famous quote which says ‘the harder I work, the luckier I get.’ We work hard for our luck. It also helps that “shelter” is a basic human need.”
As luck would have it, Brisbane’s oldest suburban real estate agency that’s still operating as an independent, family-run business has been working hard for their good fortune indeed.
Round up the whole family for a bigger and better Annerley Junction Fest! This annual community event brings established businesses, stall owners, food vendors, and local performers together for some fun in the sun in 2022’s “Spring into Annerley.”
Apart from market stalls where locals can shop for good deals, guests can expect food trucks and heaps of activities for kids and grown-ups, running on Saturday, 8 Oct 2022, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., at Ipswich Road junction.
Photo Credit: Annerley Junction Fest/Facebook
The programs lined up for this year’s celebration include:
Live Music featuring Junction Park Parentals, Revelation Groove, and The Worm Turns
Fashion Show and performance by the crazily talented Sellma Soul along with the gorgeous students of Yeronga State High School
Model Railway (JPSS Hall) – All Gauge Model Railway Club Inc
Talent Show
Art Show
Garden Party & Jumping Castle at the Braille House along with a Shinkondo Dojo – Aikido Brisbane (martial arts) demonstration, Dara Chair Yoga, and the Yeronga Girl Guides & The Kurilpa Scout Group presentation
Kids Activities and Face Painting
Kids Story Time at the Annerley Library
Annerley 5 Neighbourhood Watch with Crime Prevention Officers demonstration with a police vehicle for kids to explore
Fire Truck exploration
This is a sustainable event so guests are encouraged to bring their own bags, keep cups and refillable water bottles whilst shopping, watching or joining in the activities. Recycling bins will be set up so you can deposit bottles.
Disability helpers will be all around the junction to provide assistance. The Annerley Junction Fest is a truly inclusive and accessible event.
“There are so many diverse and exciting things that happen in our community. Annerley Junction Fest is a wonderful opportunity to discover them together,” said Jeff Brunn, the chairperson for 2022.
Grab your tickets to this FREE event to win a fantastic prize when you register your intent to attend. Don’t forget to share your photos on social media with #junctionfest2022!
Annerley has evolved from an area of dairy farms to become a very important hub connecting the south and east of Brisbane down towards Logan and across to Cleveland and Ipswich.
Aerial view of Annerley c.1934 | Photo Credit: John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland
In 1842, Brisbane was opened for free settlement. In the ensuing period of rapid development, Annerley became a vital part of the evolving jigsaw puzzle.
The establishment of Boggo Road in the 1850s created a vital connection between the One Mile Swamp (now known as Woolloongabba) and Ipswich Road via a pathway leading to the top of the Boggo ridge.
The Boggo area is where Annerley now lies.
Thomas Blacket Stephens was one of the earliest settlers in the area. After moving from Sydney in the early 1850s, he built his original house, Cumbooquepa, on a block of land on a ridge overlooking the Brisbane River to the north.
Cumbooquepa is a one-storey house built of masonry and timber, with terracota-tiled and corrugated iron hip roofs.
Cumbooquepa. Photo Credit: Public domain / Wikimedia Commons
Cumbooquepa eventually became part of Somerville House.
In 1856, Mr Stephens acquired a 206-acre land in the Coorparoo area and another block of land on Ekibin Creek in 1857. The boundaries of these lands would later become Ekibin and Sexton Roads, respectively.
Mr Stephens later would go on to become one of Brisbane’s first orchardists in Brisbane’s south side. He established one of the earliest wool scour and tanneries in the district, which he built on Ekibin Creek.
Junction of Ipswich and Annerley Roads c.1915 | Photo Credit: John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland
The area at the junction of Boggo Road and Ipswich Road didn’t have an official name until 1892, when the members of Stephens Division Board with Honourable Digby Denham (later Premier of Queensland) officially named the district Annerley, after a town of the same name located in Surrey, England.
The Thompson Estate
Prior to the separation of Queensland from New South Wales in 1859, Annerley belonged to the Parish of Yeerongpilly in the County of Stanley.
A survey conducted at the time defined the boundaries of the then-District of Boggo, a bustling area where a population of farmers and market gardeners thrived.
The boundaries were defined to include Ipswich road, the cemetery, Rocky Waterholes Creek, and the Brisbane River.
In 1859, additional blocks of land were sold to Joseph Thompson, James Toohey, and John Cockerill. After acquiring the land, Mr Thompson ventured into entrepreneurship, shipping 40,000 pine shingles to Melbourne.
Floods at Thompson Estate, Stones Corner, 1887 | Photo Credit: John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, Negative number: 55976
Mr Thompson would then subdivide his paddocks in the mid-1880s to create the Thompson Estate.
Another significant residential estate established during the time is the St Kilda Estate, which is bounded by Annerley Road, Ipswich Road, and Cornwall Street.
Evolution of Public Transport
Instrumental to the introduction of public transport in Brisbane’s south side was John Soden. He was known for his horse-drawn omnibuses.
In 1879, he purchased Hardcastle’s Hotel, opposite the present-day Chardon’s Hotel, where he opened a small shop and established a mail delivery service.
The mail service initially ran between Brisbane and Rocky Waterholes (Rocklea) but residents soon requested him to expand his service into a regular public run.
In the early 1880s, Mr Soden did just that. At the height of his run, he had a total of 25 buses servicing his routes which included Highgate Hill, Boggo Road, Rocklea, and Mt. Pleasant (now Holland Park).
Workmen in front of a horsedrawn bus, ca 1895 | Photo Credit: John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, Negative number: 6155
From horse-drawn buses, public transport moved to electric trams which began in Brisbane in 1897 and extended to Cornwall that same year.
By 1899, the service had expanded to Mary Street (Dudley Street) on Ipswich Road before further extending in 1914 to Chardon’s Corner.
The arrival of electric trams spurred the transformation of Annerley into a residential area.
The introduction of the railway line from South Brisbane to Corinda in 1884 also played a role in the suburb’s transformation by bringing more settlers into Annerley.
At the time, the closest station was Fairfield. In 1895, after the 1893 flood, the station was moved to its present location. Another station north of Annerley also opened at the present Dutton Park.
Some 19th- and 20th-century Development Milestones
A postal office was established at Boggo in 1880. It was named Boggo Post Office two years later, before it became Annerley Post Office in November 1892, following the official naming of the district to Annerley.
In 1886, Saint Philip’s Anglican Church was dedicated. A 1905 storm damaged the church, although it was later rebuilt and re-dedicated. The current church was consecrated in 1955.
Mary Immaculate Church | Photo Credit: LukeMoloney, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0> / Wikimedia Commons
Other churches established in the area include the Thompson Estate Methodist Church (1888), the Mary Immaculate (1914), and the Annerley Congregational Church (1925).
In 1871, Chardon’s hotel opened its doors at the corner of Cracknell Road and Ipswich Road.
In 1883, Princess Alexandra Hospital was opened, named after the wife of Queensland Lady Diamantina Roma, Bowen’s first governor.
In April 1888, The Thompson Estate Provisional School opened on Oxford Street. From 52 students, the school grew and expanded to a hall on Regent Street. After it moved to Waldheim St in 1893, it officially became a state school.
Other notable schools established in early Annerley include the Ipswich Road Convent School (1917), and Our Lady’s College (1964).
In 1957, the Annerley public library opened at 448 Ipswich Road. Designed in 1956 by architect James Birrell, it is now listed on the Brisbane Heritage Register.
21st-century Annerley
From its dairy farm roots to its development as Brisbane transportation and migration patterns evolved, Annerley has established its place as a significant growth hub in the corridor connecting Brisbane’s south and east sectors.
Based on the 2021 census, Annerley has a population of 11,935 people. Majority of the population are between the ages of 24 to 33 years, with the median age at 33 years old.
