“Fancy running the country from your veranda?” That’s probably what former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd thought. We are standing in Norman Park. This park and its surrounding suburb offer more than meets the eye.
Norman Park is a suburb in the City of Brisbane. It is located 6.3 kilometres east of the CBD. Norman Park borders East Brisbane, Coorparoo, Camp Hill, Morningside and Hawthorne.
Norman Park got its name in the 1890s. The name comes from nearby Norman Creek and Queensland Governor Henry Wylie Norman.
Let’s step back in time. Norman Park’s story began with early settlers in 1853. Louis Hope received a land grant of about 40 acres in 1854. He was a grazier and owned the Ormiston Sugar Mill.
Development was initially slow. The 1893 Brisbane floods almost stopped it. Norman Park’s industries included dairying, leather, and brooms.
Norman Park State School opened in 1900. It started with 52 students, a principal, and three teachers.
From 1912 to 1926, a steam tram connected to the Queensland Government Railway here. The Belmont Shire Council ran it first. The Brisbane City Council reinstated the service in 1925 but suspended it again in 1926.
A major housing subdivision occurred in 1922. It included 364 lots on land once owned by Louis Hope. Still, Norman Park remained rural until after World War II. Rapid development followed due to public housing construction.
In the 1940s and 1950s, land reclamation created parks and playing fields in low-lying areas.
The Anglican Church of the Transfiguration was built in 1924. Archbishop Gerald Sharp laid the foundation stone. It served as a World War I memorial. The final service was held in 2010. The heritage-listed church was sold and redeveloped as a private home.
The Baptist Sunday school and hall opened in 1936. Younger members of the Jireh Baptist Church initiated it.
Several schools have come and gone in Norman Park. Our Lady of the Assumption Primary School closed in 1973. Norman Park Uniting Christian School operated briefly in the 1980s. The Agnew School opened in 2003 but relocated to Wakerley in 2008.
Norman Park has a few heritage-listed sites. These include Norman Park State School. Also Eulalia, and the former Brisbane City Council Tramways Substation No 9.
Norman Park offers various public transport options. Bus routes and the Cleveland railway line serve the suburb. The Norman Park Ferry Terminal once provided cross-river service but closed in 2020.
Walking and cycling are popular here. The Norman Creek Cycleway offers great opportunities. Several citywide cycle routes pass through the suburb.
Kevin Rudd, a former Australian Prime Minister, once owned a property in Norman Crescent. He apparently liked to run the country from his back veranda.
Norman Park blends history, community, and modern life. Its evolution from rural beginnings to a thriving suburb is remarkable. Take a moment to appreciate this blend. Norman Park is more than just a green space. It’s a place with a story.