History Kangaroo Point, Queensland

the queensland navy s main stores below kangaroo point cliffs, gunship paluma moored in brisbane river in 1890s.



kangaroo point ferry terminal ca. 1928

before british settlement, kangaroo point occupied turrbal people. 1 of earliest suburbs settled in brisbane , subsequently, 1 of brisbane s oldest suburbs, rich in history , character. had reputation violent , rowdy street gangs around 1900s, number of street riots.

in 1823, explorer john oxley described kangaroo point jungle, fringed mangroves higher land open forest, covered grass . during time of subsequent convict settlement (1825–41), kangaroo point cleared , used cultivation of crops. subsequently, area opened free settlement, first land sales taking place on 13 december 1843. among purchasers captain j.c.wickham, police magistrate. surveyor james warner built first house @ kangaroo point in 1844.

kangaroo point s first school opened in 1861 church of england. came under control of board of education in 1867 , consisted of boys department , girls department. separate girls , infants school opened on 2 march 1874. replaced kangaroo point girls school , kangaroo point infants school both opened on 20 january 1890. kangaroo point boys school, girls school , infants school closed on 28 april 1950 , amalgamated become kangaroo point state school. kangaroo point state school closed on 30 june 1965. located on site of old southbank institute of tafe, on corner of river tce , main st. in january 2010 site redeveloped parkland.

in 1887, yungaba immigration centre built on main street @ kangaroo point replace poor facilities @ existing centre in william street.

for many years suburb dominated factories of heavy engineering businesses, particularly involved in maritime industry, such evans deakin, buzzacott & co , evans, anderson, phelan & co. evans deakin built largest ship ever constructed on brisbane river, 66,000 tonne oil tanker robert miller, became adrift in river during 1974 brisbane flood. last vessel built evans deakin oil rig called southern cross. company vacated site in 1976, later being redeveloped high-rise accommodation.

stone quarried cliffs , used building material. until 1930s, evans anderson & phelan built steam locomotives @ kangaroo point works queensland railways, works not located near railway, completed locomotives delivered along main street on temporary track.

until federation of australian colonies in 1901, queensland navy s main storage facility located in suburb. first ship-based radio transmission in australia made between hmas gayundah , buildings in 1903. naval stores buildings occupied royal australian navy until 1959, , australian army until 1984. heritage-listed buildings used adventure company focussing on river activities , rock climbing.

the opening of story bridge in july 1940 significant development of suburb. trolleybuses operated brisbane city council linked suburb fortitude valley via story bridge 1953 1969, running along main street woolloongabba , other eastern suburbs.