Fig Tree Pocket, Queensland

Fig Tree Pocket Brisbane,  Queensland
Dalton House, Fig Tree Pocket
Fig Tree Pocket
Coordinates	27°31′39″S152°57′39″E / 27.5275°S 152.9608°E / -27.5275; 152.9608 (Fig Tree Pocket (centre of suburb))
Population	4,345 (2021 census) [1]
• Density	869/km2 (2,251/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4069
Area	5.0 km2 (1.9 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	13.1 km (8 mi) SW of Brisbane CBD
LGA(s)	City of Brisbane (Walter Taylor Ward) [2]
State electorate(s)	Maiwar
Federal division(s)	Ryan
Suburbs around Fig Tree Pocket: Chapel Hill Indooroopilly Chelmer Kenmore Fig Tree Pocket Graceville Sherwood Jindalee Sinnamon Park Seventeen Mile Rocks Oxley Chelmer

Fig Tree Pocket is a riverside western suburb in the City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. ^[3] In the 2021 census, Fig Tree Pocket had a population of 4,345 people. ^[1]

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is the oldest and largest koala sanctuary in the world. It is a tourist and education centre. ^[4]

Geography

The suburb is located on a river pocket along the northern bank of Brisbane River. It is bounded to the east, south and west by the median of the river. ^[5] The north-western boundary, the Centenary Motorway. ^[6] It is 13.1 kilometres (8.1 mi) by road south-west of the Brisbane CBD. ^[7]

Sherwood Reach is the reach of the Brisbane River to the east of the suburb ( 27°31′42″S152°58′18″E / 27.5283°S 152.9716°E / -27.5283; 152.9716 (Sherwood Reach) ), ^[8] while Mermaid Reach is to the west ( 27°31′41″S152°56′55″E / 27.5280°S 152.9486°E / -27.5280; 152.9486 (Mermaid Reach) ). ^[9]

The suburb is zoned for very low density residential, low density residential and rural housing. Restrictions on multi-unit dwellings apply. The majority of Fig Tree Pocket is rated "low risk" from bushfires.^{[ citation needed ]}

The suburb is devoted mostly to low density housing with a large proportion of parks and low levels of noise pollution.^{[ citation needed ]}

History

The large fig tree, 1866

John Oxley explored the Brisbane River in November 1823. He named Mermaid Reach after HM Colonial Cutter Mermaid, which brought his exploration party to Moreton Bay. ^[9]

The suburb takes its name from the Moreton Bay fig trees (Ficus macrophylla). In 1866, one particular fig tree in the area was photographed and described as able to shelter 400 people. ^[10] In 1866, a reserve of 1.6 hectares (4.0 acres) was created around the fig tree. ^{[3] [11]} The tree no longer exists but the circumstances of its disappearance are not known. ^[12]

Fig Tree Pocket State School opened on 4 September 1871. ^{[13] [14]}

A post office opened in 1878. ^[11]

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary was established in 1927 by Claude Reid.

The Glenleighden School opened on 1 February 1979. ^[15]

Brisbane Montessori School opened in 1982. ^[15]

In early 2009, one luxury property sold for A$9.5 million ^[16] and another sold for A$7.15 million. ^[17]

The suburb was one of those in Brisbane which were affected during the 2010–11 Queensland floods. Following the floods, a riverfront estate sold for $8.25 million at Ningana Street in May 2014 which set a record for the highest price achieved after the natural disaster. ^[18]

Demographics

In the 2016 census, Fig Tree Pocket had a population of 4,045 people, 49.9% female and 50.1% male. The median age of the Fig Tree Pocket population was 40 years of age, three years above the Australian median. 66.8% of people living in Fig Tree Pocket were born in Australia, which is very close to the national average of 66.7%. The other top responses for country of birth were England 6.2%, South Africa 4.0%, New Zealand 3.0%, United States of America 1.3%, and India 1.3%. 84.3% of people speak only English at home; the next most popular languages were Mandarin 1.7%, German 0.9%, Afrikaans 0.8%, Spanish 0.7%, and Hindi 0.7%. 47.5% of people aged 15 years and over in Fig Tree Pocket had completed a bachelor's degree or higher, which is significantly more than the national 22.0%. "No Religion" was the top response for religious affiliation, with 31.5% of the population. Catholic and Anglican were the next highest religious affiliations with 22.2% and 15.6% respectively. ^[19]

In the 2021 census, Fig Tree Pocket had a population of 4,345 people. ^[1]

Education

Fig Tree Pocket State School is a government primary (Preparatory to Year 6) school for boys and girls at Cubberla Street ( 27°31′37″S152°57′56″E / 27.5269°S 152.9656°E / -27.5269; 152.9656 (Fig Tree Pocket State School) ). ^{[20] [21]} As at the August 2023 census the school had an enrolment of 506 students, ^[22] with 39 teachers (31.5 full-time equivalent) and 24 non-teaching staff (13.2 full-time equivalent). ^[23]

Mancel College (formerly The Glenleighden School) is a private primary and secondary (Preparatory to Year 12) school for boys and girls at 33 Cubberla Street ( 27°31′39″S152°57′48″E / 27.5274°S 152.9634°E / -27.5274; 152.9634 (The Glenleighden School) ). ^{[20] [24]} It is operated by Language Disorder Australia and provides multi-disciplinary support for students with developmental language disorders. ^[24] In 2022, the school had an enrolment of 126 students with 23 teachers (18 full-time equivalent) and 40 non-teaching staff (30.4 full-time equivalent). ^[25]

Brisbane Montessori School is a private primary and secondary (Preparatory to Year 10) school for boys and girls at Mactier Street ( 27°31′57″S152°57′40″E / 27.5324°S 152.9612°E / -27.5324; 152.9612 (Brisbane Montessori School) ). ^{[20] [26]} In 2022, the school had an enrolment of 199 students with 23 teachers (16.6 full-time equivalent) and 38 non-teaching staff (13.6 full-time equivalent). ^[27]

Fig Tree Pocket is also serviced by two privately run early childhood centres, the Gan Gani kindergarten as well as the Fig Tree Pocket Early Childhood Centre.

There are no government secondary schools in Fig Tree Pocket. The nearest are Kenmore State High School in neighbouring Kenmore to the north-west and Indooroopilly State High School in neighbouring Indooroopilly to the north-east. ^[6]

There are primary and secondary private schools within the neighbouring suburb of Indooroopilly - the Ambrose Treacy College, Brigidine College and St Peters Lutheran College. ^[28]

Amenities

There are no stores of any kind, with the nearest major shopping complex being the Indooroopilly Shopping Centre.^{[ citation needed ]}

Fig Tree Pocket has a 40-acre (16 ha) equestrian club at Fig Tree Pocket Road ( 27°32′06″S152°57′54″E / 27.5350°S 152.9651°E / -27.5350; 152.9651 (Fig Tree Pocket Equestrian Club) ). It has a sand arena, cross-country course and polo field. ^[29]

Fig Tree Pocket Riverside Reserve at 870 Fig Tree Pocket Road ( 27°32′32″S152°58′19″E / 27.5422°S 152.9719°E / -27.5422; 152.9719 (Fig Tree Pocket Riverside Park) ) has a public boat ramp into the Brisbane River ( 27°32′31″S152°58′25″E / 27.5420°S 152.9736°E / -27.5420; 152.9736 (boat ramp) ). ^[30]

Transport

The area is serviced by two Transport for Brisbane bus routes – the 430 and the 445 – both of which have a terminus at Mandalay Park.^{[ citation needed ]}

Attractions

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is at 708 Jesmond Road ( 27°31′57″S152°58′04″E / 27.5325°S 152.9678°E / -27.5325; 152.9678 (Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary) ). ^[31] It is the largest and oldest koala sanctuary in the world and operates as a tourist and education centre. ^[4]

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Fig Tree Pocket (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
2. "Walter Taylor Ward". Brisbane City Council. Archived from the original on 12 March 2017. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
3. "Fig Tree Pocket – suburb in City of Brisbane (entry 43026)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 17 September 2020.
4. "Oldest koala sanctuary". Guinness World Records. Archived from the original on 28 September 2020. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
5. "Queensland Globe; Layer:Boundaries". Archived from the original on 19 December 2017. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
6. "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland . Retrieved 28 September 2020.
7. "Brisbane GPO to Fig Tree Pocket". Google Maps . Archived from the original on 4 May 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
8. "Sherwood Reach – reach in City of Brisbane (entry 48206)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 17 September 2020.
9. "Mermaid Reach – reach in City of Brisbane (entry 21660)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 17 September 2020.
10. "TELEGRAPHIC". The Brisbane Courier . 19 January 1866. p. 2. Archived from the original on 28 September 2020. Retrieved 18 June 2015– via National Library of Australia.
11. "Fig Tree Pocket". Queensland Places. Centre for the Government of Queensland, University of Queensland. Archived from the original on 18 June 2015. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
12. Meadows, Jane (Jane Margaret); Meadows, Jane; Library Board of Queensland (1994), Brisbane's western suburbs : our heritage in focus, State Library of Queensland Foundation, ISBN   978-0-7242-6077-5
13. "Opening and closing dates of Queensland Schools". Queensland Government . Retrieved 17 June 2015.
14. "Agency ID 5217, Fig Tree Pocket State School". Queensland State Archives . Retrieved 18 June 2015.
15. Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN   978-1-921171-26-0
16. Staff Writer (27 April 2010). "Smooth sailing for riverfront homes". City News. News Community Media. Archived from the original on 14 March 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
17. Property Profile Report: 626 Jesmond Road, Fig Tree Pocket Qld 4069 Archived 21 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine onthehouse.com.au. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
18. "Onthehouse.com.au: Your Home for Property Research". www.onthehouse.com.au. Archived from the original on 28 September 2020. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
19. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Fig Tree Pocket (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
20. "State and non-state school details". Queensland Government. 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
21. "Fig Tree Pocket State School". Archived from the original on 3 March 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
22. "Fig Tree Pocket State School | Department of Education". Archived from the original on 10 December 2023. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
23. "School Profile".
24. "The Glenleighden School". Archived from the original on 15 January 2019. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
25. "School Profile".
26. "Brisbane Montessori School". Archived from the original on 20 January 2019. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
27. "School profile | My School". Archived from the original on 16 December 2023. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
28. "Layers: Locality; Schools and school catchments". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 19 December 2017. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
29. "Fig Tree Pocket Equestrian Club". Fig Tree Pocket Equestrian Club. Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
30. "Fig Tree Pocket parks". Brisbane City Council . Archived from the original on 28 September 2020. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
31. "Directions". Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. 19 November 2016. Archived from the original on 28 September 2020. Retrieved 28 September 2020.

External links

• University of Queensland: Queensland Places: Fig Tree Pocket
• "Fig Tree Pocket". BRISbites. Brisbane City Council. Archived from the original on 20 July 2008.
• "Fig Tree Pocket". Our Brisbane. Brisbane City Council. Archived from the original on 3 February 2008.
• Kenmore and District Historical Society Inc. Website archive, State Library of Queensland. Historical society for Kenmore district including Fig Tree Pocket