Goodna, Queensland

Infobox Australian Place
name = Goodna

---

caption = Goodna Shopping Centre
state = qld
type = suburb
lga = Ipswich City Council
city = Ipswich
est = 1856
postcode = 4300
pop = 7,939 (2006 Census)
pop_footnotes = [Census 2006 AUS|id=SSC31235|name=Goodna (Ipswich City) (State Suburb)|quick=on|accessdate=2008-02-28]
stategov = Bundamba
fedgov = Oxley
near-nw = Redbank
near-n = Moggill
near-ne = Wacol
near-w = Redbank
near-e = Gailes
near-sw = Bellbird Park
near-s = Bellbird Park
near-se = Camira

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 hubFact|date=September 2007 with multi-cultural diversity. [http://www.ipswichtourism.com.au/our-towns.php Ipswich Tourism Goodna Profile] ]

Goodna is only 20 kilometres from the Brisbane CBD, being just outside the Brisbane City Council area. Ideally located as a center 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. [ [http://www.oum.qld.gov.au/ South East Queensland Regional Plan 2005-2026 Queensland Government -Office of Urban Management] ]

Goodna Shopping Centre (Also known as St Ives) is a major shopping centre, an easy walk to the Goodna train station (207 metres direct distance) [ http://pdonline.ipswich.qld.gov.au/pdonline/ Ipswich City Council PDOnline (Use measure function for 2 Smiths Road to train station.) ] .

Geography

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. [ [http://www.skp.com.au/memorials/pages/40017.htm War Memorials in Australia] ] Many of the original central street names in Goodna originated from English Kings, Princes, and Queens such as William, Albert, James and George.

History

Historically Goodna was a farming community, primarily in sugar, cotton, livestock (sheep and cattle), and also had a large local timber industry. Large amounts of timber were taken by bullock teams to the Goodna wharf and shipped to Ipswich and Brisbane. [ http://www.ipswich.qld.gov.au/environment/conservation/waterways/catchment_management/swag.php Ipswich City Council ] As early as 1841 there was a sheep run called Woogaroo Station, H.S.Russell and Dr. Stephen Simpson (the Grenier family of South Brisbane were still in New Zealand in 1841 and did not reach Brisbane til 1845 and while having the Grenier Inn at South Brisbane farmed land know as "The Willows" where Archerfield airfield stands today). 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

Further settlement took place after Goodna was proclaimed a village in 1856. In the following year Joseph and Ellen (nee Thompson) Broad built a store on the site, and sold the store later to Edwin Pitt son of Charles and Mary Pitt. Edwin and his wife Cecilia (nee Thompson sister of Ellen Broad) ran the store as a mixed business and Cecilia was the postmistress (see Aldines). They survived the 1893 flood but a little later built Pitt's Hotel Cecil on the store site. It was later burnt down and the RSL is now on that site. Edwin and Cecilia's daughter Zora Brenda Pitt grew up and learnt to ride in Goodna and she became Royal National Show champion woman rider in the early 1900s, 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. [ [http://www.ipswich.qld.gov.au/documents/heritage/goodna_then_&_now.pdf Goodna then and now -Ipswich City Council] ]

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. [ [http://www.ipswich.qld.gov.au/heritage/place_names/goodna.php Ipswich City Council] ]

Amenities, facilities and services

A wide range of established amenities, facilities, and services are to be found close to the St Ives 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 [http://www.ipswich.qld.gov.au/swim_centres/index.php Goodna Aquatic Centre] , Brisbane River Tce retirement village, Tully Lodge retirement village, Oak Trees retirement village, [http://www.goodnalittleas.com/ Goodna Little Athletics] , [http://goodnaeagles.tripod.com/ 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 [http://goodna.scoutsqld.com.au Goodna Scout Group] and Guide groups and others.

Education

The first school in Goodna was the Goodna State School founded in 1870. There are now five different schools in Goodna which are: Goodna State School, [http://www.stfrancisxavier.qld.edu.au/ St Francis Xavier School] , [http://www.wcc.qld.edu.au/ Westside Christian College] (Separate Primary and High Schools) and the [http://www.goodnass.qld.edu.au/ Goodna State Special School] . Additionally there is The Bremer Institute of TAFE campus.

Events

Goodna Jacaranda Festival

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. The festival is held in Evan Marginson Park an easy walk from the Goodna train station.

[http://www.goodnarsljacfest.gil.com.au/ 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 50 km and passing through 27 western Brisbane and Ipswich suburbs.

It delivers a message of continued cooperation and goodwill between the Brisbane and Ipswich Lord Mayors and raises much needed funds for the Ipswich Hospital Foundation and the Royal Children's Hospital Foundation. [ [http://www.bernieripoll.com.au/mall2mall 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 City of Ipswich area. He was the youngest 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. [ [http://ipswich.qld.gov.au/division2/index.php Ipswich City Council Paul Tully Division 2 Profile] ] He lives in Goodna himself and is the Chairman of the Planning and Development Committee for the City of Ipswich.

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

External links

* [http://goodna.scoutsqld.com.au Goodna Scouts]