Murarrie, Queensland

Murarrie is located in the eastern suburbs on the southern bank of the Brisbane River. It is bounded to the north by the median of the Brisbane River,{{cite web |title=Queensland Globe; Layer:Boundaries |url=https://qldglobe.information.qld.gov.au |access-date=22 May 2022 |archive-date=19 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171219175447/https://qldglobe.information.qld.gov.au/ |url-status=live }} to the east and south by the river's tributary Bulimba Creek (historically known as Doughboy Creek or Doboy Creek) which has its mouth at {{Coord|-27.4291|153.1293|type:river_region:AU-QLD|display=|name=Bulimba Creek (mouth)}}.{{cite web |title=History of Brisbane's Murarrie |url=http://www.ourbrisbane.com/suburbs/murarrie/history |access-date=2008-05-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081231042038/http://www.ourbrisbane.com/suburbs/murarrie/history |archive-date=2008-12-31}}{{Citation|last1=Duke |first1=Norman C |last2=Lawn |first2=P. |last3=Roelfsema |first3=C. M. |last4=Phinn |first4=S. |last5=Zahmel |first5=K.N. |last6=Pedersen |first6=D. |last7=Harris |first7=C. |last8=Steggles |first8=N. |last9=Tack |first9=C. |date=2003 |title=Assessing historical change in coastal environments: Port Curtis, Fitzroy River Estuary and Moreton Bay regions |publisher=CRC for Coastal Zone, Estuary and Waterway Management (Australia) |page=160 |url=https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:178297 |access-date=9 April 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190724031645/https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:178297 |archive-date=24 July 2019}} It is then bounded to the south-west and west by Wynnum Road, Creek Road, the Cleveland railway line, Barrack Road, Lytton Road, Colmslie Road (formerly Chemical Works Road) and then north to the river.{{Queensland Globe|access-date=10 April 2020}}

The Gateway Motorway passes through the suburb, entering from the south-east (Tingalpa) and exiting via the Sir Leo Hielscher Bridges (previously known as the Gateway Bridge) over the river to Eagle Farm.

Murarrie railway station ({{Coord|-27.4647|153.1053|type:railwaystation_region:AU-QLD|display=|name=Murarrie railway station}}) is located on the Cleveland railway line of the Queensland Rail City network.{{cite QPN |23533 |Murarrie |railway station in City of Brisbane |access-date=10 April 2020}} The disused Doboy railway station (also known as Buruda railway station and Birt's siding) is on the line at ({{Coord|-27.4533|153.1150|type:railwaystation_region:AU-QLD|display=|name=Doboy (Buruda) railway station}}); no buildings remain at the site.{{cite QPN |10241 |Doboy (Buruda) |railway station in the City of Brisbane |access-date=10 April 2020}}

The land use is mixed being predominantly industrial but with an area of suburban housing in the south-west or the suburb.{{cite web |title=Layers: Locality; Protected areas and forests; Land use |url=https://qldglobe.information.qld.gov.au/ |access-date=24 March 2024 |website=Queensland Globe |publisher=Queensland Government}}

The district was originally known as Mooraree after Mooraree House, a home built by Christopher Porter in 1861.{{cite web |title=Murarrie |website=Queensland Places |publisher=Centre for the Government of Queensland, University of Queensland |url=http://queenslandplaces.com.au/murarrie |access-date=8 April 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200322102602/https://queenslandplaces.com.au/murarrie |archive-date=22 March 2020}} The name is thought to be mudherri, a word from the Yuggera language (Yugarabul dialect) meaning sticky or muddy. The name of the locality and the railway station were changed to Murarrie in 1907.{{cite news |title=Change of Name.|date=9 September 1907 |newspaper=The Telegraph |location=Queensland, Australia |via=Trove |page=4 |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article174937217 |access-date=9 April 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200915190201/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/174937217 |archive-date=15 September 2020}}

It is uncertain when the Queensport Hotel (now Queensport Tavern) was established; the hotel claims it was 1864, making it one of Brisbane's oldest continuously operated hotels.{{Cite web|url=https://www.queensporttavern.com.au/|title=QueenSport Tavern & Motel|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200229195128/https://www.queensporttavern.com.au/|archive-date=29 February 2020|url-status=live}} The present hotel building at 49 Gosport Road (now in the suburb of Hemmant) ({{Coord|-27.4404|153.1302|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|display=|name=Queensport Tavern}}) was constructed in 1890-1891 for publican Martin Kavanagh by Brisbane architect Charles McLay and was one of his first private commissions. It is listed on the Brisbane Heritage Register.{{Cite BrisbaneHR|2224|Queensport Hotel|access-date=9 April 2020}} The Lytton Hotel was operating in 1878 and Kavanagh bought the Lytton Hotel in 1879.{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article169508225|title=TINGALPA AND LYTTON.|date=30 December 1879|newspaper=The Telegraph|access-date=9 April 2020|url-status=live|location=Queensland, Australia|page=2|via=Trove|archive-date=15 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200915190159/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/169508225}}{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article169508509|title=Advertising|date=24 December 1879|newspaper=The Telegraph|access-date=9 April 2020|url-status=live|location=Queensland, Australia|page=4|via=Trove|archive-date=15 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200915190200/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/169508509}} Kavanagh had been living in the district growing sugarcane since at least 1874.{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18332437|title=Classified Advertising|date=5 September 1874|newspaper=The Queenslander|access-date=9 April 2020|location=Queensland, Australia|page=1|via=Trove|archive-date=15 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200915190204/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/18332437|url-status=live}} Kavanagh's daughter Bridget continued to operate the Lytton Hotel when her father opened the Queensport Hotel.{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3526920|title=LICENSING COURTS.|date=4 June 1891|newspaper=The Brisbane Courier|access-date=9 April 2020|location=Queensland, Australia|page=3|via=Trove|archive-date=22 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220522133634/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/3526920|url-status=live}}

The Queensland Freezing and Food Export Company established a meatworks at Queensport in 1881.{{cite news |date=21 May 1881 |title=SUMMARY FOR EUROPE |newspaper=The Brisbane Courier |location=Queensland, Australia |via=Trove |page=6 |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article920976 |access-date=10 April 2020}}

In 1889, Queensport Aquarium opened in Hemmant (the present-day location is Aquarium Avenue in Murarrie, {{Coord|-27.447|153.102|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|display=|name=Queensport Aquarium}}).{{cite web |title='Tiger, Roller-Coasters and Special Effects: Brisbane's 19th-Century Dreamworld'. |url=http://lifedeathsunshinestate.blogspot.com.au/2015/04/tigers-roller-coasters-special-effects.html |access-date=6 November 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150614093257/http://lifedeathsunshinestate.blogspot.com.au/2015/04/tigers-roller-coasters-special-effects.html |archive-date=14 June 2015}} It had a zoo, an aquarium and dance halls and other entertainments. Visitors arrived by riverboats until the 1893 flood during which the animals were rescued but the attractions were damaged closed down. It had closed by the late 1890s, but a dance hall continued to operate until 1901.{{cite web |title=Queensland places |url=http://queenslandplaces.com.au/hemmant |access-date=22 September 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110302142352/http://queenslandplaces.com.au/hemmant |archive-date=2 March 2011}}

In 1900, Gibson Island was used as a burial site for some of the victims of the bubonic plague epidemic due to concerns that the bodies of the dead could infect the living, so there was an initial reluctance to bury the dead in normal cemeteries (cremation not being available in Queensland at that time). The Colmslie Plague Hospital had been rapidly constructed in Morningside to handle plague victims. The dead were transferred by boat to Gibson Island for burial. The bodies were wrapped in sheets soaked in carbolic acid and their coffins were filled with a mix of quicklime and water which has the effect of killing micro-organisms. The authorities carried out the burials quickly and family members could not be present nor visit the graves. The number and location of those graves are now unknown. The policy of burying the dead on Gibson Island was subsequently changed as it was felt to be inhumane.{{cite web |last=Cronin |first=Danielle |date=2019-05-23 |title=Brisbane's lost plague cemetery: Who is buried on Gibson Island? |website=Brisbane Times |url=https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/brisbane-s-lost-plague-cemetery-who-is-buried-on-gibson-island-20190516-p51nzq.html |access-date=2020-04-08 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200408133459/https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/brisbane-s-lost-plague-cemetery-who-is-buried-on-gibson-island-20190516-p51nzq.html |archive-date=8 April 2020}}{{cite web |title=Colmslie Hospital During Brisbane's Plague Epidemic |language=en-AU |website=Morningside News |url=https://morningsidenews.com.au/colmslie-hospital-during-brisbanes-plague-epidemic/ |access-date=2020-04-08 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200310070247/https://morningsidenews.com.au/colmslie-hospital-during-brisbanes-plague-epidemic/ |archive-date=10 March 2020}}

In order to provide a straighter deeper channel in the lower reaches Brisbane River, it was decided in 1889 to relocate the mouths of creeks and eliminate all of islands by a combination of removal by dredging and incorporation as part of the river bank.{{cite web |date=1889 |title=Brisbane River Improvements |publisher=Queensland Government |type=Map |url=https://gisservices.information.qld.gov.au/arcgis/rest/directories/historicalscans/cad_scans/cad-map-brisbane-river-improvements-sh1-1889.jpg |access-date=10 April 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200410012814/https://gisservices.information.qld.gov.au/arcgis/rest/directories/historicalscans/cad_scans/cad-map-brisbane-river-improvements-sh1-1889.jpg |archive-date=10 April 2020}} In the case of Doughboy Creek (now Bulimba Creek) and Gibson Island, it was decided to relocate the creek mouth then at approximately {{Coord|-27.4440|153.1096|type:river_region:AU-QLD|display=|name=Bulimba Creek (original creek mouth)}} (to the west of Gibson Island) to the eastern end of Gibson Island (its current mouth) by closing the original mouth with a training wall diverting the flow of the creek into the Aquarium Passage ({{Coord|-27.4394|153.125562|type:waterbody_region:AU-QLD|display=|name=Aquarium Passage}}) which separated Gibson Island from the southern bank of the Brisbane River.{{cite QPN |713 |Aquarium Passage |passage in the City of Brisbane |access-date=10 April 2020}} The Doughboy training wall was built from 1900 to June 1902 and was {{Convert|7040|ft||abbr=}} long.{{Citation |last1=Duke |first1=Norman C |last2=Lawn |first2=P. |last3=Roelfsema |first3=C. M. |last4=Phinn |first4=S. |last5=Zahmel |first5=K.N. |last6=Pedersen |first6=D. |last7=Harris |first7=C. |last8=Steggles |first8=N. |last9=Tack |first9=C. |date=2003 |title=Assessing historical change in coastal environments: Port Curtis, Fitzroy River Estuary and Moreton Bay regions |pages=27,29,153,157,160,164 |publisher=CRC for Coastal Zone, Estuary and Waterway Management (Australia) |url=https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:178297 |access-date=9 April 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190724031645/https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:178297 |archive-date=24 July 2019}} As a result of the training wall, an isthmus (approximately {{Convert|104|m||abbr=}} wide as at 2020) formed at the original mouth of the creek permanently connecting Gibson Island to Murarrie.{{Google maps |title=Isthmus connecting Gibson Island to Murarrie |url=https://www.google.com.au/maps/place/27%C2%B026'36.7%22S+153%C2%B006'40.9%22E/@-27.4435132,153.1091713,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x0:0x0!7e2!8m2!3d-27.4435183!4d153.1113604 |access-date=10 April 2020}} Paringa Road now crosses the isthmus to provide access to the industrial facilities that were developed circa 1980s on the former island. A spur railway line (now abandoned) was also developed to the north of Paringa Road to provide these facilities with a link to the Cleveland railway line. The line terminated at {{Coord|-27.4324|153.1231|type:railwaystation_region:AU-QLD|display=|name=Terminus of railway line}} beside the Brisbane River.{{Google maps |title=Terminus of the railway line on Gibson Island |url=https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-27.4374787,153.1176738,15.31z |access-date=10 April 2020}} Sections of track are still visible along the route as at 2020.{{Google maps |title=Visible track segments on the railway line on Gibson Island |url=https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-27.4374787,153.1176738,2469m/data=!3m1!1e3 |access-date=10 April 2020}}

Murarrie State School opened on 2 July 1928.{{Citation |author=Queensland Family History Society |date=2010 |title=Queensland schools past and present |edition=Version 1.01 |publisher=Queensland Family History Society |isbn=978-1-921171-26-0}}

In 1961, the Murarrie Church of Christ opened at 11 Billungah Street. In 1990, it was sold and is now a church of the Plymouth Brethren.{{Cite web |title=Murarrie Church of Christ {{!}} Murarrie |url=https://www.qldreligiousplaces.net.au/View.php?id=4075&Murarrie%20Church%20of%20Christ%20Murarrie |access-date=2024-03-24 |website=Queensland Religious Places Database}}{{Cite web |title=Plymouth Brethren Christian Church {{!}} Murarrie |url=https://www.qldreligiousplaces.net.au/View.php?id=7172&Plymouth%20Brethren%20Christian%20Church%20Murarrie |access-date=2024-03-24 |website=Queensland Religious Places Database}}

On 11 August 1975, Queensport and Gibson Island were officially designated as neighbourhoods within Murarrie by the Queensland Place Names Board.

St Clare's Anglican Church was dedicated on 11 August 1985 by Bishop Ralph Wicks. The church building was relocated from Primrose Parade, Wynnum, to 16 Penelope Street in Murarrie ({{Coord|-27.4569|153.1029|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|display=|name=St Clare's Anglican Church (former)}}), where it was originally St Margaret's Anglican Church Hall which operated from 1964 to 1985. The closure of St Clare's was approved on 5 September 2009 by Archbishop Phillip Aspinall.{{cite web |author=Anglican Church of Southern Queensland |title=Closed Churches |url=https://www.anglicanarchives.org.au/churches/ |access-date=3 July 2020 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403003329/https://www.anglicanarchives.org.au/churches/ |archive-date=3 April 2019}}{{cite web |last1=Beitz |first1=Myrtle |last2=Greenhill |first2=Jill |date=May 2010 |title=St Margaret's Anglican Church Hall |url=http://www.wmhs.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/2010_May.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200914083155/http://www.wmhs.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/2010_May.pdf |archive-date=14 September 2020 |access-date=14 September 2020 |website=Newsletter |publisher=Wynnum Manly Historical Society |pages=6–7}} It was subsequently redeveloped as housing.{{cite web |title=16 Penelope Street, Murarrie |website=Google Maps |type=Street View |url=https://www.google.com/maps/@-27.4570666,153.1027628,3a,75y,25.8h,87.79t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sWJuoSUN79hi1XcvzP4v3tg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en&shorturl=1 |access-date=2020-09-14 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200915190205/https://www.google.com/maps/@-27.4570666,153.1027628,3a,75y,25.8h,87.79t/data=%213m6%211e1%213m4%211sWJuoSUN79hi1XcvzP4v3tg%212e0%217i13312%218i6656?hl=en&shorturl=1 |archive-date=15 September 2020}}

In 1995, News Corporation established a printing facility at 724 Lytton Road (north-west corner with Metroplex Avenue, {{Coord|-27.4560|153.0967|type:city_region:AU-QLD|display=|name=News Corp Australia (Murarrie)}}). Four large printing presses were imported from Germany, capable of printing 80,000 newspapers an hour. It had a staff of 400 people. Brisbane's two newspapers, The Courier-Mail and The Sunday Mail, were printed there until News Corporation moved its printing operations to Yandina in 2022.{{Cite news |title=Stop press: End of 'golden age' as News Corp puts Murarrie up for auction |url=https://www.inqld.com.au/business/2022/03/11/stop-press-end-of-golden-age-as-news-corp-puts-murarrie-on-auction-block |access-date=2024-03-24 |work=InQueensland}}{{Cite web |title=Still vacant, a monument to printed news’ golden age |url=https://www.gxpress.net/article/7792/still-vacant-a-monument-to-printed-news-golden-age |access-date=2024-03-24 |website=www.gxpress.net |language=en}}{{Cite news |date=14 July 2020 |title=News Corp print operations to be consolidated |url=https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/news-corp-print-operations-to-be-consolidated/news-story/a75d4438272ca498ff9eba0080d78e00 |access-date=24 March 2024 |work=The Courier-Mail}}{{Cite news |last=Seselja |first=Edwina |date=2020-07-21 |title=Jobs to go as News Corp shuts down Brisbane press and heads to Sunshine Coast |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-07-21/news-corps-murarrie-printing-press-to-close/12476056 |access-date=2024-03-24 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}

In the {{CensusAU|2011}}, the population of Murarrie was 3,958, 50.2% female and 49.8% male. The median age of the Murarrie population was 34 years of age, three years below the Australian median. 70.5% of people living in Murarrie were born in Australia, compared to the national average of 69.8%; the next most common countries of birth were New Zealand 4.9%, England 3.5%, South Africa 1.2%, Fiji 1.1%, Scotland 1%. 81.9% of people spoke only English at home; the next most common languages were 1% Hindi, 1% Mandarin, 0.9% Cantonese, 0.9% Vietnamese, 0.8% Korean.{{Census 2011 AUS|id=SSC31190|quick=on|name=Murarrie|access-date=24 March 2024}}

In the {{CensusAU|2016}}, Murarrie had a population of 4,303 people.{{Census 2016 AUS|id=SSC32099|name=Murarrie (SSC)|access-date=20 October 2018|quick=on}}

In the {{CensusAU|2021}}, Murarrie had a population of 4,946 people.{{Census 2021 AUS|id=SAL32081|name=Murarrie (SAL)|access-date=28 February 2023|quick=on}}

File:Murarrie State School, 2024.jpg

Murarrie State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at 50 Garrett Street ({{coord|-27.4619|153.1009|type:edu_region:AU-QLD|name=Murarrie State School}}).{{cite web |date=9 July 2018 |title=State and non-state school details |publisher=Queensland Government |url=https://data.qld.gov.au/dataset/state-and-non-state-school-details/resource/5b39065c-df32-415c-994c-5ff12f8de997 |access-date=21 November 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181121065959/https://data.qld.gov.au/dataset/state-and-non-state-school-details/resource/5b39065c-df32-415c-994c-5ff12f8de997 |archive-date=21 November 2018}}{{Cite web |date=2021-02-16 |title=Murarrie State School |url=https://murarriess.eq.edu.au/ |access-date=2024-03-24 |website=Murarrie State School |language=en}} In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 76 students with 8 teachers (5 full-time equivalent) and 9 non-teaching staff (5 full-time equivalent).{{cite web |title=ACARA School Profile 2017 |url=http://www.acara.edu.au/docs/default-source/default-document-library/school-profile-20172c7b12404c94637ead88ff00003e0139.xlsx?sfvrsn=0 |access-date=22 November 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181122010027/http://www.acara.edu.au/docs/default-source/default-document-library/school-profile-20172c7b12404c94637ead88ff00003e0139.xlsx?sfvrsn=0 |archive-date=22 November 2018}}

There are no secondary schools in Murarrie. The nearest secondary school is Balmoral State High School in Balmoral.

{{reflist}}

• {{Citation |author=Queensland Cooperative Bacon Association |date=1926 |title=Murarrie Bacon Factory |publisher=The Association |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/12502180}}

{{commons category|Murarrie, Queensland}}

• {{cite web |title=Murarrie |publisher=Centre for the Government of Queensland, University of Queensland |website=Queensland Places |url=http://queenslandplaces.com.au/murarrie}}
• {{cite web |title=Murarrie Information |url=http://www.murarrie.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161213112129/http://www.murarrie.com/ |archive-date=13 December 2016}}

{{Suburbs of Brisbane City Council}}

Category:Suburbs of the City of Brisbane