'Goodna' is a
suburb on the eastern edge of the city of
Ipswich in
Queensland,
Australia.
It is bounded to the north by the
Brisbane River. Founded in
1856 when the area was still part of New South Wales, it celebrated its 150 year anniversary in 2006. Its beginnings can be traced back further to 1823 when it was originally visited by an exploration party led by
John Oxley. It is now known as a financial and medical commercial hub embracing multi-cultural diversity.
Goodna is only 20 kilometres from the
Brisbane CBD, being just outside the
Brisbane City Council area. Ideally located as a centre point between Brisbane and Ipswich, it has been designated by the Queensland Government in the
SEQ Plan as 1) A Major Activity Centre 2) Transport Oriented Development Centre and 3) an Economic Activity Centre.
[1]
Goodna Shopping Centre (Also known as St Ives) is a major shopping centre, an easy walk to the
Goodna train station.
Geography
View of Brisbane River from Richardson Park in Goodna.
The
Brisbane River runs to the north of Goodna. Goodna Boat Ramp is one of the only boat ramps on the
Brisbane River and is part of the Brisbane River Canoe Trail. There are extensive old
Jacaranda,
Poinciana,
Hoop Pine and Mango Trees throughout the area. Parks are widespread with over 14 individual parks to be found and free electric BBQ facilities at the major ones. Names of some of the major parks include: Evan Marginson Sportsground, Richardson Park, Leslie Park, Kippen Park, Norma Mulvihill Park, Baines Meaney and Seymour Park. Fifty percent of The Pan Pacific Peace Gardens is also situated within Goodna. Wildlife is restricted with ongoing development, however
Possums and on a rare occasion
Koalas have also been spotted.
The Diggers Rest on the corner of Queen and Church Streets is the Goodna War Memorial. This was dedicated in September 1921.
[2] Many of the original central street names in Goodna originated from
English Kings, Princes, and Queens such as William, Albert, James and George.
History
"Penhelyg" Queenslander in William St Goodna built in 1896.
Historically Goodna was a farming community, primarily in sugar, cotton, livestock (sheep and cattle), and also had a large local timber industry.
[3] Large amounts of timber were taken by bullock teams to the Goodna wharf and shipped to
Ipswich and
Brisbane.
[4] As early as 1841 there was a sheep run called Woogaroo Station, which was owned by the Grenier family of South Brisbane. This name, which referred to a waterhole in the creek was superseded from 1865 onwards by the name Goodna.
By the early 1840s Dr Stephen Simpson, the lands commissioner and magistrate for the Moreton Bay district, was living in a slab hut and farming on the riverbank near the mouth of Woogaroo Creek. As the main road intersected with the track from
Coopers Plains and the river, this was then a strategic location for Simpson. In 1851-1852 he purchased 2000 acres of land, including 640 acres on Wolston Creek. Other well known pioneers settled or purchased land in the Goodna area: James Holmes arrived in 1851 and established himself as a grazier; Charles Pitt settled in 1855 and grew cotton and maize; Harriet Holmes bought 33 acres in 1860; and Joshua Jeays, later Mayor of Brisbane, bought 40 acres in the next year.
Ready for the hunt ca. 1892 Goodna Royal Mail Hotel.
Further settlement took place after Goodna was proclaimed a village in 1856. In the following year Joseph Broad built a store on the site, which is now occupied by the Hotel Cecil (Now known as Falvey’s Irish Heart), and the cemetery opened in 1859. By 1863 there was a small run to Holmes Inn, where Harriet Holmes was postmistress and the Congregational Church which was also opened in 1863. There was one acting police sergeant and a constable by 1868. W. Law established himself as a blacksmith in
1870, the year in which the
Goodna State School opened.
On the
30 January 1873 the ceremony of "turning the sod" for the first rail link between Ipswich and Brisbane took place at Goodna. Two thousand people attended the event, most arriving by paddle steamer. To officially start the work, the Governor (the Marquis of Normanby) used a solid silver spade to dig a small piece of earth and place it in a wheelbarrow.
Cobb and Co coaches stopped at Goodna on their way to and from Brisbane (their only other stops were Oxley and Rocklea). This ended after the railway link was completed in 1875.
[5] 
Apiary at Goodna ca. 1913.
Daniel Jones built the first sawmill in 1884, which was located below the Catholic Church/School grounds in the paddock that reached from Mill Street to Alice Street (known by locals as 'the mill paddock'). In the smaller paddock immediately behind the Presbyterian Church and Manse stood the wooden 'Honey Shed' used by Daniel's brother Harry in conjunction with his apiary. By the Second World War this use had been discontinued and the site was used by a group of CWA ladies who made camouflage nets for the war effort. The site was also used at one time by the Goodna Scout Group.
By 1888 the population of Goodna was 500, and there were three friendly societies, the
Oddfellows, Loyal Rose of Denmark and
Good Templars. The foundation stone of St Francis Xavier Catholic Church (formerly St Patrick's) had been laid in 1880 by Bishop James Quinn and opened in the following year. The Catholic school was opened in 1910 and the Sisters of Mercy Convent in 1911. Goodna today retains significant elements of its heritage.
[6]
Suburb Amenities, Facilities and Services
A wide range of established amenities, facilities, and services are to be found close to the
Goodna Shopping Centre and the
Goodna train station. An extensive list of
Other Stores/Businesses in Goodna can be found on the
Goodna Shopping Centre page. Amongst these are a range of government services, large range of medical services, large range of financial services,
Goodna Neighbourhood House, diverse range of sporting clubs, the
Goodna Aquatic Centre, Brisbane River Tce retirement village, Tully Lodge retirement village, Oak Trees retirement village,
Goodna Little Athletics,
Goodna Rugby League Football Club,
Western Spirit Football Club, Goodna Lawn Bowls Club, Goodna Netball Association, Goodna Cultural and Arts Centre, Jacaranda 2000 Toastmasters Club (Goodna), as well as local
Goodna Scout Group and Guide groups and others.
Goodna State School in 1923.
Education
The first school in Goodna was the
Goodna State School founded in
1870. There are now five different schools in Goodna, these are:
Goodna State School,
St Francis Xavier School,
Westside Christian College(Separate Primary and High School’s) and the
Goodna State Special School. Additionally there is
The Bremer Institute of TAFE campus.
Events
Goodna Jacaranda Festival
Goodna Jacaranda Festival Sign
Goodna is renowned for its yearly Jacaranda Festival held towards the end of October. This is held when the
Jacaranda trees are flowering. In excess of 10,000 people attend the Jacaranda Festival annually, which has been run every year since 1968.
[3] The festival is held in Evan Marginson Park an easy walk from the
Goodna train station.
Goodna Jacaranda Festival
Mall 2 Mall Bike Ride
This is an integral part of the annual Ipswich Festival which is held each April. Attracting 1,000 riders it was started in 2002. It was initiated by
Bernie Ripoll, the local federal member (Federal Member for
Oxley) who has his office in Goodna. Goodna is the major rest point for this event and it is possible to join the event here. This event starts in the Brisbane Mall and finishes in the heart of
Ipswich, covering more than 50km and passing through 27 western
Brisbane and
Ipswich suburbs.
It delivers a message of continued cooperation and goodwill between the Brisbane and Ipswich Lord Mayor's and raises much needed funds for the Ipswich Hospital Foundation and the Royal Children's Hospital Foundation.
[8]
Mall 2 Mall Bike Ride
Transport
The
Goodna train station was opened in 1875 and has parking in excess of 243 parking bays. The train is easily accessible with a modern lift installed for less abled passengers.
Feeder bus services are operated by the
Westside Bus Company which carry commuters from surrounding suburbs to and from the
Goodna train station.
Politics
Paul Tully is the local member for Goodna which is contained within Division 2 in the
Ipswich City Council area. He was the youngest ever local member for this electorate, first elected on the 31st of March 1979 and is the longest serving councillor in the region's history. At the last local election he was returned with 80% of the vote.
[11] He lives in Goodna himself and is the Chairman of the Planning and Development Committee for the
Ipswich City Council.
Goodna is located within the federal
electorate of
Oxley.
Bernie Ripoll represents the electorate of
Oxley in the
House of Representatives. On a state basis it is in the
State Electoral District of
Bundamba and is represented by
Jo-Ann Miller.
Paul Tully,
Jo-Ann Miller, and
Bernie Ripoll all have their offices in Goodna and they are generally considered safe
Labor seats. Polling place statistics are shown to the right for the ''Goodna'' polling place in last federal and state elections.
Gallery
References
1. South East Queensland Regional Plan 2005-2026 Queensland Government -Office of Urban Management
2. War Memorials in Australia
3. Ipswich Tourism Goodna Profile
4. http://www.ipswich.qld.gov.au/environment/conservation/waterways/catchment_management/swag.php Ipswich City Council
5. Goodna then and now -Ipswich City Council
6. Ipswich City Council
7. Ipswich Tourism Goodna Profile
8. Mall 2 Mall Bike Ride
9. ECQ State Election 2006
10. AEC Federal Election 2004
11. Ipswich City Council Paul Tully Division 2 Profile
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External links
Goodna Scouts
★
Census data - Goodna
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