Nundah

History of Brisbane's Nundah

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

Aboriginal history

The area has a rich indigenous history. Evidence of Aboriginal occupation can be found in a bora ring at Nudgee Waterhole and in sites of special importance at Dinah Island, near Boondall Wetlands.

Urban development

Lutheran missionaries arrived at Nundah in 1838 with the purpose of ministering to the Aborigines. They were granted 259 hectares of land. The missionaries named their settlement Zion and the stream dividing the property Kidron. The area was later known as Zion Hill (now the Walkers Way area at Toombul) and Kedron Brook.

The first mail service passed through the suburbs of Banyo, Northgate, Nundah (German Station) and Nudgee to Sandgate by coach in 1858. In 1862-63 a bridge over Zillman’s Waterholes at Nundah was constructed. The railway to Sandgate, stopping at Nundah was opened on 10 May 1882. The area developed once the train line was in place.

Notable residents

Anna Frederika Bage (1883 – 1970), better known as Freda Bage, has given her name to Bage Street, Nundah. Anna started her teaching life as a junior demonstrator in biology after gaining a Bachelor of Science in 1904. She later taught at the University of Melbourne in 1907-09. She became a lecturer in charge of biology at the University of Queensland from 1913 and Principal of the Women's College 1914-46.

She is commemorated at the Women's College by the Freda Bage room. She loved cars and was a well-known driver; she was also President of the Queensland Women’s Hockey Club for 6 years. She was awarded an OBE in 1941.

Landmarks

Toombul Shire Hall at Nundah was constructed in 1891 for the Toombul Divisional Board. Following the introduction of the Local Government Act of 1902 the Board became the Toombul Shire Council in 1903. The Hall consisted of Shires Offices and community meeting space until Toombul Shire was absorbed into Brisbane City Council following the creation of Greater Brisbane in 1925.

In 1838 The First Free Settlers Monument was erected to commemorate the arrival of the German Immigrant Missionaries who were the first free settlers within the area of Moreton Bay, later to become Queensland. In 1988 a German Australian Friendship Plaque was unveiled during the German Australian Pioneer Week (QLD) to mark the 150 years since their arrival.

Reference: BRISbites, 2000

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