THE GAP, QUEENSLAND

'The Gap' is a leafy and hilly suburb of Brisbane, in Queensland, Australia. The suburb is located 12km west of the Brisbane CBD.

Contents

Geography

History

Attractions

Facilities

Schools

Transport

Bus services to The Gap

References

Photos of The Gap, Brisbane

External links

Geography

The Gap derives its name from its geographical location of being on foothills in a valley (i.e. ''the gap between hills''). The suburb, The Gap, is located between Mount Coot-tha and Enoggera Hill (both Mount Coot-tha and Enoggera Hill form part of the Taylor Range) as well as Mt Nebo.

History

First settled by Europeans in 1860, The Gap was originally heavily forested. Timber felling was the first industry in the area, and with the removal of the timber the area was turned over to farming. Following World War One the area was broken up into smaller farms for returned servicemen, many of whom farmed poultry and dairy cattle. Many of these farms were too small to be commercially successful.

Attractions

The district was later subdivided into blocks of land for housing estates, with one of the remnants of The Gap's former rural identity being The Gap Pony Club. The recreational activities of inhabitants of the suburb are well catered for, with many facilities including many sporting clubs (Soccer, Squash, Tennis, Athletics, Swimming and Golf etc) and there are a number of lush green parks.
The Gap is also where the main entrance to the Brisbane Forest Park is located. A major bushland area in Brisbane's west, Brisbane Forest Park has many Australian wildlife species, including marsupials, birds, fish and reptiles. Brisbane Forest Park also has an information and wildlife education centre.

Facilities

The suburb has a large-size shopping centre (which extends from Walton Bridge Reserve to The Gap State High School and Payne Road State School). There are also Churches of many faiths, as well as a local Police Station in the suburb. Ashgrove Fire Brigade, which is at West Ashgrove, is also in close proximity to The Gap.

Schools

The primary and secondary schools in The Gap include:
:The Gap State High School (public state school) — The Gap State School (public state school)
— Hilder Road State School (public state school) — Payne Road State School (public state school)
— St. Peter Chanel Primary School (independent school)

Transport

'By Road', the main arterial road through The Gap is ''Waterworks Road'', which heads east through the suburbs St Johns Wood, Ashgrove and Red Hill and then, as ''Musgrave Road'', it continues to Brisbane city. Waterworks Road was widened, from two lanes to four lanes, along the 8km stretch of road between The Gap and Red Hill between July 1999 and December 2003. Total cost was $50 million.
Due to its geographical location (surrounded by hills), there are few roads leading out of The Gap to neighbouring suburbs, consequently traffic jams are a frequent occurance for residents during peak hours.

Bus services to The Gap

'City bus routes'
'380' and '381'.
:: The two bus services travel along the same route until they diverge at the Payne Road and Waterworks Road intersection
— the '380' bus continues to travel along Waterworks Road to Hilder Road, while the '381' travels along Payne Road.
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'Express, BUZ, and Rocket bus routes'

★ '382' The Gap (Settlement Road) — West Ashgrove, Bardon, Paddington, City, Fortitude Valley

★ '383' The Gap (Payne Road) — West Ashgrove, Bardon, Paddington, City, Fortitude Valley

★ '384' The Gap (Waterworks Road) — West Ashgrove, Ashgrove, Spring Hill, City

★ '385' The Gap (Waterworks Road) — West Ashgrove, Bardon, Paddington, Cultural Centre, City
:::: The '385' bus travels to Brisbane Forest Park hourly during off-peak, when it is the final stop
:::: — at all other times, the Enoggera Reservoir is the final stop.
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For further information about The Gap bus services, please check the official Translink bus timetables

References

1. The Gap Ward
2. Australian Bureau of Statistics

Photos of The Gap, Brisbane

External links

★ ourbrisbane.com website - The Gap section - official Brisbane City Council website

★ Brisbane Forest Park, Mount Nebo Road, The Gap - official website (home page)