St Lucia is a riverside suburb in the City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.[3] In the 2016 census St Lucia had a population of 12,574 people.[1] The University of Queensland is the main attraction of St Lucia, with the university, and residential colleges covering a large proportion of the suburb. St Lucia is home to a diverse range of people and families. Typically, the student population of St Lucia is high, especially in dwellings in the immediate vicinity of the university, but the suburb is also home to wealthy professionals and families.[citation needed]

St Lucia
BrisbaneQueensland
Hawken Drive shopping precinct, 2012
St Lucia is located in Queensland
St Lucia
St Lucia
Coordinates27°29′54″S 153°00′34″E / 27.4983°S 153.0094°E / -27.4983; 153.0094 (St Lucia (centre of suburb))
Population12,574 (2016 census)[1]
 • Density2,733/km2 (7,080/sq mi)
Postcode(s)4067
Area4.6 km2 (1.8 sq mi)
Time zoneAEST (UTC+10:00)
Location7.3 km (5 mi) SW of Brisbane GPO
LGA(s)City of Brisbane (Walter Taylor Ward)[2]
State electorate(s)Maiwar
Federal division(s)Ryan
Suburbs around St Lucia:
Toowong West End Highgate Hill
Taringa St Lucia Dutton Park
Indooroopilly Yeronga Fairfield

Geography edit

St Lucia is located 7.3 kilometres (4.5 mi) by road southwest of the Brisbane GPO.[4] The suburb sits on a peninsula, bounded on the north, east and south by the median in a bend of the Brisbane River.[5] The eastern third of the suburb is occupied by the main campus of the University of Queensland. The flatter area on the northern side is primarily medium to high density residential including some high-rise apartments on the river-front. The more hilly area in the centre and south is mainly low-density, family-occupied residential. The south-west is occupied by the St Lucia Golf Course.

Ironside is a neighbourhood within the suburb (27°30′00″S 153°00′00″E / 27.5°S 153.0000°E / -27.5; 153.0000 (Ironside)).[6]

The Elbow is the name for the easternmost part of the suburb (27°30′04″S 153°01′12″E / 27.5011°S 153.02°E / -27.5011; 153.02 (The Elbow)), where the Brisbane River makes a sharp bend.[7]

There are two reaches of the Brisbane River surrounding the suburb:

Six Mile Rocks are rocks in Brisbane River to the south of the suburb (27°30′15″S 153°00′34″E / 27.5041°S 153.0094°E / -27.5041; 153.0094 (Six Mile Rocks)).[10]

Three creeks flow through the suburb:

History edit

 
Estate map of Princess Bridge Estate, St. Lucia

The area was originally part of Indooroopilly and later part of Toowong. Originally known as Indooroopilly Pocket, for a short time it was called Toowong South and part of the area was hived off as Lang Farm.

Sugar plantations were established in the area in the 1860s. William Alexander Wilson, born in St Lucia in the West Indies, purchased the Coldridge Plantation in 1882 and renamed it St Lucia Sugar Plantation. It was subdivided in 1883 for housing and the name was transferred to the subdivision.[14]

Toowong Mixed State School opened on 10 October 1870. It was renamed Indooroopilly State School in 1879 and then Indooroopilly Pocket State School in 1888. It was renamed Ironside State School in October 1904 after the neighbouring estate of John Dunmore Lang.[15][16]

Demographics edit

In the 2011 census, St Lucia had a population of 11,195 people.[citation needed]

In the 2016 census, St Lucia had a population of 12,574 people, 52.0% were female and 48.0% were male..[1] The median age of the St Lucia population was 23 years, 15 years below the Australian median. Children aged under 15 years made up 8.6% of the population and people aged 65 years and over made up 8.3% of the population. The most notable difference was in the group aged between 15 and 24 years; in St Lucia this group comprises 47.2% of the population, compared to 12.8% nationally.[1] 46.2% of people living in St Lucia were born in Australia, compared to the national average of 66.7%; the next most common countries of birth were China (9.9%), Malaysia (5.9%), Singapore (3.6%), England (2.6%), and Indonesia (2.5%). 55.1% of people spoke only English at home; the next most popular languages were Mandarin Chinese (14.0%), Malay (3.4%), Indonesian and Cantonese (2.4% each), and Vietnamese (2.1%).[1] The most common response for religion in St Lucia was No Religion (39.7%), followed by Catholicism (14.8)%, "Not stated" (10.4%), Anglicanism (8.6%), and Islam (7.1%).[1]

Heritage listings edit

 
The Pink Palace, St Lucia
 
Modern architecture in St Lucia

St Lucia has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

Although never heritage-listed, one of St Lucia's most iconic homes was the so-called The Pink Palace at 272 Swann Rd until it was demolished in 2016.[22][23]

Education edit

 
University of Queensland, St Lucia

Ironside State School is a government primary (Prep–6) school for boys and girls at 2 Hawken Drive (27°30′03″S 152°59′45″E / 27.5009°S 152.9959°E / -27.5009; 152.9959 (Ironside State School)).[24][25] In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 1,486 students with 73 teachers (66 full-time equivalent) and 32 non-teaching staff (20 full-time equivalent).[26]

There are several high schools close to St Lucia, although there is no secondary school in St Lucia. The nearest secondary schools are Indooroopilly State High School,[27] St Peters Lutheran college, Brisbane Boys College and the Queensland Academy of Science, Mathematics and Technology (QAMST).

Amenities edit

Several small shopping precincts are located throughout the suburb but otherwise the suburb is residential. With the main precinct being a strip of stores that runs along Hawken Drive, This particular strip is home to the local IGA Supermarket, many international restaurants, a medical centre, dentist office and a post office/news-agency. With Friday nights being the most popular time for these restaurants as many of the residents like to eat out.[28][29]

 
St Lucia Golf Links, St Lucia

St Lucia Golf Links is an 18-hole pay-and-play public golf course located on the corner of Indooroopilly Road and Carawa Street. The golf course is one of Brisbane's oldest and has hosted several Queensland Open and PGA tournaments. The layout suits golfers of all levels.[30]

The University gives public access to their swimming pools, tennis courts and other amenities, although a fee will be charged when using some of these facilities.[31][32] The Schonell Theatre host many performances that members of the public can buy tickets to go and see.[33]

Events edit

Every Saturday morning at 7AM the free St Lucia 5 km parkrun takes place near the University of Queensland opposite the UQ Aquatics Centre on Sir William Macgregor Drive.[34]

Transport edit

 
Guyatt Park Ferry Terminal, St Lucia
 
Eleanor Schonell Bridge

By Bus, St Lucia can be accessed from the western suburbs and Brisbane CBD, with routes terminating at the University of Queensland. There is also a NightLink service, a safety initiative which provides buses with security on board all night Fridays and Saturdays. The Eleanor Schonell Bridge, a dedicated bus/pedestrian/bicycle bridge, connects the University with Dutton Park and carries buses from the southern suburbs, CBD and Royal Brisbane Hospital to the Lakes Bus Station on St Lucia campus.

By Ferry, The CityCat stops at two terminals in St Lucia, the Guyatt Park CityCat Terminal and University of Queensland Terminal.

By Bicycle, St Lucia has bicycle routes that utilise the residential streets between the University of Queensland and Toowong.

By Road, St Lucia has three major thoroughfares which all lead to the University of Queensland. These are Swann Road, Sir Fred Schonell Drive and The Esplanade.

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "St Lucia (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.  
  2. ^ "Walter Taylor Ward". Brisbane City Council. Archived from the original on 12 March 2017. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
  3. ^ "St Lucia – suburb in City of Brisbane (entry 46115)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  4. ^ Google (9 June 2021). "Brisbane GPO to St Lucia" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
  5. ^ "Queensland Globe; Layer:Boundaries". Archived from the original on 19 December 2017. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  6. ^ "Ironside – locality unbounded in City of Brisbane (entry 16829)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  7. ^ "The Elbow – locality unbounded in City of Brisbane (entry 33926)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  8. ^ "St Lucia Reach – reach in City of Brisbane (entry 32110)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  9. ^ "Cemetery Reach – reach in City of Brisbane (entry 6769)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  10. ^ "Six Mile Rocks – rock in City of Brisbane (entry 31014)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  11. ^ "Toowong Creek – watercourse in City of Brisbane (entry 34967)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  12. ^ "Carmody Creek – watercourse in City of Brisbane (entry 6285)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  13. ^ "Sandy Creek – watercourse in City of Brisbane (entry 48118)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  14. ^ "St Lucia (entry 46115)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
  15. ^ Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
  16. ^ "History". Ironside State School. Archived from the original on 8 August 2019. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  17. ^ "University of Queensland, Great Court Complex (entry 601025)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 6 July 2013.
  18. ^ "Union College (entry 602504)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 6 July 2013.
  19. ^ "Vida and Jayne Lahey's House (entry 600316)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 6 July 2013.
  20. ^ "650060". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  21. ^ "Langer House (entry 600317)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 6 July 2013.
  22. ^ Shearer, Paula (10 March 2013). "The Pink Palace at St Lucia, a monument to '80s excess, for sale". Herald Sun. Archived from the original on 8 August 2019. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  23. ^ Cooper, Nathanael (22 January 2016). "Iconic St Lucia mansion Pink Palace to be reduced to rubble". Brisbane Times. Archived from the original on 8 August 2019. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  24. ^ "State and non-state school details". Queensland Government. 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  25. ^ "Ironside State School". Archived from the original on 8 March 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  26. ^ "ACARA School Profile 2017". Archived from the original on 22 November 2018. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  27. ^ "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  28. ^ "IGA Marketplace St Lucia". igastlucia.com.au. Archived from the original on 4 May 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  29. ^ "Home". St Lucia Village Medical. Archived from the original on 1 March 2020. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  30. ^ "St Lucia Golf Links". Archived from the original on 7 August 2014. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  31. ^ "Aquatic Centre FAQs". UQ Sport. Archived from the original on 13 May 2020. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  32. ^ "Home". UQ Sport. Archived from the original on 11 May 2020. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  33. ^ "Schonell Theatre". Archived from the original on 19 February 2020. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
  34. ^ "St Lucia parkrun". parkrun. Archived from the original on 17 March 2020. Retrieved 28 April 2020.

External links edit