Looking north-west from Mowbray Park in East Brisbane towards Kangaroo Point and the CBD
East Brisbane is located 4.8 kilometres (3.0 mi) south-east of the CBD. It is mostly residential, with some small commercial areas, and has many original Queenslander houses.
Major roads include Lytton Road, Wellington Road, and Latrobe Street in the north, and Vulture Street and Stanley Street in the south of the suburb. The eastern side of the suburb rises to a small hill with some views over Woolloongabba and the CBD and falls away to Norman Creek.
History
In 1851, Reverend Thomas Mowbray became among the first to buy land in East Brisbane. He purchased 13 acres that were later developed into Mowbraytown.
The first bridge was built across the mouth of Norman Creek in 1855. Prior to its completion, residents wanting to access Norman Creek had to detour to Stones Corner to use the bridge.
The significant housing areas in East Brisbane were founded during the Brisbane property boom of the 1880s. For example, one such development was the Heathfield Estate, which was released in 1886.
East Brisbane State School opened on 10 July 1899, following the official opening ceremony on 8 July 1899. The school celebrated its 50th anniversary with a jubilee carnival in November 1949.
In 1881, 232 blocks of land were advertised as Longlands Estate to be auctioned on 26 November 1881 by auctioneer David Love. The estate covers an area now in East Brisbane, including Fisher, Longlands and Norman Street.
In 1886, blocks of land were advertised as East Woolloongabba to be auctioned on 6 November 1886 by Arthur Martin & Co. auctioneers.
Brisbane East State School opened on 10 July 1899. It was later renamed East Brisbane State School.
Langlands Estate, a subdivision of 1289 allotments, was advertised for auction on 13 July 1889 by Dansie & Chandler auctioneers.
Mowbray Park, a large park alongside the Brisbane River, was established in 1904. On 24 January 1920 swimming baths in the Brisbane River was created alongside the park. The baths were closed in August 1940 due to poor water quality because sewage was being pumped into the Brisbane River at Pinkenba downstream but due to the river being tidal it could be carried upstream to East Brisbane.
Church of England Grammar School (informally known as Churchie) opened on 8 February 1912. It was subsequently renamed Anglican Church Grammar School.
Until 13 April 1969 electric trams operated by the Brisbane City Council served the suburb, running along Stanley Street from Woolloongabba, into Lisburn, Elfin and Latrobe Street and thence into Lytton Road, and on to Bulimba. Trolley-buses, also operated by the City Council operated along Stanley Street until March.
Demographics
In the 2011 census, East Brisbane had a population of 5,598 people.
In the 2016 census, East Brisbane had a population of 5,934 people. Of these 53.0% were male and 47.0% were female. Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people made up 1.3% of the population. The median age for the suburb is 31 while the most prominent age group is the 20–24-year-olds who make up 12.4 per cent of the suburb. 63.2% of people were born in Australia, compared to the national average of 69.8%. The most common countries of birth were New Zealand 3.6%, England 3.2%, India 1.5%, Brazil 1.3% and China (excludes SARs and Taiwan) 1.0%. 74.3% of people only spoke English at home. Other languages spoken at home included Spanish 1.8%, Mandarin 1.6%, Portuguese 1.2%, Nepali 1.1% and Italian 1.1%.
In the 2021 census, East Brisbane had a population of 6,186 people.
Public transport to the suburb is now predominantly provided by regular bus services and frequent CityCat services, which leave from Mowbray Park. The suburb is also an easy walk from the Woolloongabba bus station and the Coorparoo Railway Station.
Notable people
Notable people from or who have lived in East Brisbane include:
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^"ROLL CALL ANSWERED". Brisbane Telegraph. Queensland, Australia. 5 November 1949. p. 7 (THEATRE). Archived from the original on 28 May 2022. Retrieved 3 February 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Classified Advertising". The Brisbane Courier. Vol. XXXVI, no. 7, 434. Queensland, Australia. 9 November 1881. p. 4. Archived from the original on 28 May 2022. Retrieved 15 May 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Advertising". The Telegraph. No. 4, 391. Queensland, Australia. 3 November 1886. p. 5. Archived from the original on 28 May 2022. Retrieved 15 May 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Advertising". The Telegraph. No. 5, 220. Queensland, Australia. 6 July 1889. p. 11. Archived from the original on 28 May 2022. Retrieved 15 May 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
^"MOWBRAY PARK BATHS". Daily Standard. No. 2207. Queensland, Australia. 26 January 1920. p. 2. Archived from the original on 28 May 2022. Retrieved 30 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
^"FOUR CITY BATHS TO BE CLOSED". The Telegraph. Queensland, Australia. 9 August 1940. p. 9 (CITY FINAL LAST MINUTE NEWS). Archived from the original on 28 May 2022. Retrieved 30 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
^Bonnin, Nancy (1979). "Baylebridge, William (1883–1942)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Australian National University. Archived from the original on 22 September 2015. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
^"Cycle Escort For Funeral". The Telegraph. Queensland, Australia. 13 November 1947. p. 12 (CITY FINAL LAST MINUTE NEWS). Archived from the original on 28 May 2022. Retrieved 16 April 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
^Markwell, Donald (2012). "Robinson, Eric Laidlaw (1929–1981)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Australian National University. Archived from the original on 26 September 2015. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
^Armstrong, Judith (2002). "Tritton, Lydia Ellen (1899–1946)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Australian National University. Archived from the original on 18 August 2017. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
^Crane, Helen (2012). "Walsh, Robert John (1917–1983)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Australian National University. Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
