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Fairfield

History of Brisbane's Fairfield

Fairfield's history has been compiled as a part of the BRISbites community history project.

Aboriginal history

Before white men came to the Fairfield area, Aborigines fished in the waterholes and hunted in the scrub. The Aborigines in this area were probably originally the Coorparoo clan of the Jagara tribe.

In adjacent Annerley, there was a campsite in the Franklin/Horatio Street area and a Bora or dance ring in the area near Hamlet Street. Another campsite near Boggo Road Jail, in Dutton Park, existed at least into the 1870s.

Throughout the early development, the area remained populated with Aborigines and the members of other tribes moved into the area as well. The Illustrated London News from June 6th, 1853, reported a battle between the Logan, Bribie and Ningy tribes at nearby Burnetts Swamp.

Urban development

Urban development in Fairfield began as part of the area known as Boggo, which spread from Chardon’s Corner to Rocklea. European settlement in Boggo was dependent on the requirement for transport between Brisbane and Ipswich, which was the gateway to the graziers of the west.

In 1843, John Williams, the first trader in Brisbane, sunk a shaft for coal in Fairfield, but the mine was unsuccessful. George Grimes established a dairy called 'Fairfield' by 1857, and later cotton, sugar and arrowroot were grown. With his brother Samuel, George Grimes owned most of the Fairfield area.

In the 1880s and 1890s, the spread of the rail and tram network led to increasing urbanization in the area. The large houses and estates of the wealthy dominated the riverside sections. However, the 1893 flood led to a loss of confidence in the lower lying areas of Fairfield and there was reduced housing development until more modest houses on estates such as the Fairfield Park Estate developed. In the interwar period, industrialisation overtook farming, and in the 1940s the remaining farmland was developed for industry or housing.

Notable residents

Russell Wilkins was born at Westbury in England, in 1836 and migrated to Australia in 1893. He worked in a variety of places before he settled at 'Irvinebank' on Fairfield Road in 1892. He established the Red Arcade, selling toys and fancy goods, complete with 'a novel cash tramway…worked by electric motor carrying documents for scrutiny or change to customers'. They also had many toys and large realistic animals that made noises. ‘Irvinebank' had extensive grounds, which Wilkins (and his gardeners) converted into beautiful gardens. There was a lake, complete with black swans and carp, and peacocks strutted on the sweeping lawns. The hedges were clipped into the shapes of animals and there were cages with real animal and birds, including kangaroos and monkeys. Every year on his birthday, Wilkins would give a garden party for all the children in the district, and this would be followed by a fireworks display in an adjoining paddock. Richard Wilkins died in 1905 at age 69 and the house was later divided into two.

The Grimes family arrived in Brisbane on the 'Chasely' one of Dr Lang’s boats, in 1849. They came with their families from Warwickshire in England. William Grimes began as an assistant in the drapery department of Richardson’s store until it became Grimes and Petty and moved to Queen Street. Other family members bought a ridge in Dutton Park to grow potatoes and maize. They were experienced farmers and by 1857 George Grimes had started an arrowroot farm called 'Fairfield'.

At one time the Grimes family owned most of Fairfield as farms and a dairy. George and Samuel Grimes owned three farms in the Yeerongpilly/Tennyson area. In 1862 they were experimenting with arrowroot production there and by 1863 they had an arrowroot mill and drying kiln. They grew sugar and had a sugar mill, Coongoon, until it burnt down in 1876. In 1878, George and Samuel bought 9 acres at Yeronga, which were transferred to William in 1885. Here they built 'Kadumba' which was designed by prominent architect Richard Gailey. The family were staunch Baptists. In 1862 they gave land for a Mission Hall, which was built in 1865, and later became the Fairfield Baptist Church. William Grimes was the first to hold services there. Samuel went on to become a member of the Legislative Assembly and George was the second chairman of Stephens Shire. William Grimes died in 1896 and George Grimes died in 1910.

Landmarks

South Brisbane Cemetery forms the northern boundary of Fairfield. The first burial took place there in 1870. This was of Jane Hocking, who lived in Montague Road.

The Brisbane River rises in the Brisbane Ranges and travels 355 kilometres to the sea. It began to develop its course about ten million years ago when the climate was wetter. Within the last million years, the river has deeply eroded into its sandstone bed. The river mouth was then at Tangalooma. The sea rose again, Moreton and Stradbroke Islands were formed and the present watercourse developed. Early visitors reported on its beauty. John Oxley in 1823 said 'the Scenery was peculiarly beautiful; the country on the banks alternately hilly and level, but not flooded; the Soil of the finest description of Brushwood land, on which grew Timber of great magnitude, and of various Species'. Murray wrote in 1830 of 'a beautiful river, full of graceful windings and lined on each side with trees of luxuriant foliage to the very water’s edge'.

Reference: Mary Howells, BRISbites, 2000

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