Remembered as a place of cannons but where did the name Cannon Hill really come from? Cannon Hill. It is a suburb with a fascinating story. Let’s explore its origins.
Cannon Hill’s history began long before British settlement. Aboriginal people first inhabited this land. Sadly they were displaced in 1861.
Later settlers used some of the land for farming and grazing. However much of the area remained bushland. The name Cannon Hill likely comes from Cannon Hill House. This residence stood on Wynnum Road.
The Weedon family lived there from 1867. But a fire destroyed it in 1926. Thornhill Weedon named the house after two fallen trees. People said they resembled a cannon.
In 1889 the Cleveland railway line opened. It ran through Cannon Hill to Cleveland. Land near the station was then offered for sale.
Cannon Hill State School opened in 1915. It marked a new chapter for the growing community.
The Cannon Hill Progress Association wanted a School of Arts. They started fundraising in 1917. A land parcel was reserved for it. Construction began in 1922. By 1923 the Cannon Hill School of Arts was complete. It provided a hall and a library.
Archbishop James Duhig blessed new buildings in 1925. These included the Catholic presbytery and St Finbar’s Convent.
Cannon Hill Presbyterian Church opened in 1930. William Robert Black provided financial help. The timber building was designed by George Trotter. In 2002 the property was sold and converted into a home.
Brisbane’s sale yards moved to Cannon Hill in 1931. They were next to the abattoir. People considered them a paradise compared to the old yards. The yards prevented bruising of cattle. Meat production became more hygienic.
Blessed Oliver Plunkett School opened in 1947. The Presentation Sisters ran it. After Oliver Plunkett’s canonisation the school was renamed Saint Oliver Plunkett School. Lay leadership replaced the Presentation Sisters in 1986.
St Boniface’s Anglican Church Room opened around 1952. It later closed.
Cannon Hill Kmart Plaza opened in 1973. Kmart is still in the original building.
In 1994 Hendra virus transmission occurred at Cannon Hill. Bats infected horses in a paddock. The infected mare caused an outbreak. Horse trainer Vic Rail died. The paddock is now housing and parkland.
The Cannon Hill Saleyard closed in 1991. It had operated for 60 years. The land was redeveloped for housing and an office park. The administration building was moved to Mount Gravatt showground.
Today Cannon Hill offers many facilities. Cannon Hill Kmart Plaza and Cannon Central Shopping Centre provide shopping options. The Cannon Hill School of Arts still serves the community.
Cannon Hill is well-connected by transport. The Cannon Hill railway station provides access to Brisbane and Cleveland. The Cannon Hill bus station offers routes to various destinations.
So Cannon Hill has transformed over the years. From its early days to its modern amenities. The name Cannon Hill carries a rich history. It is a testament to the community’s growth and resilience.