Clayfield is 7.4 kilometres (5 mi) by road from the Brisbane GPO. Clayfield is bordered to the north by Nundah, to the east by Ascot and Hendra, to the west by Wooloowin and to the south by Albion.
Its name derives from the fine white-grey sedimentary clay mined in Albion, between Morgan and Sykes Street, used in the brickworks that once existed between Oriel Road and Reeve Street near Sandgate Road.[3] This industry, once known as "the clay fields", was instrumental in the residential surge of European settlement of inner-north Brisbane.
In 1874 a Baptist Church opened in Hendra/Clayfield.[4][5]
In October 1885, "Sefton Estate" consisting of 254 16 perch allotments were auctioned by John Cameron, Auctioneer.[6][7][8] The land for sale is re-subdivisions of subdivisions 2 to 3 of Portions 78 and 79, Parish of Toombul. A map advertising the auction provides a local sketch of the area.
In January 1886, 392 allotments of land of "Noble Estate", were advertised for auction by R.D. Graham & Son, Auctioneers.[9][10][11] A map advertising the auction states the land is situated on the main Sandgate Road and Kedron Brook.
In February 1888, "Isleton Estate" made up of 236 allotments were auctioned by R. R. Cottell. A map advertising the auction states the Estate was exactly opposite Eagle Junction Railway Station with 30 trains passing a day.[12][13]
In June 1888 "The Eagle Farm and Sandgate Estate", made up of 75 16 perch allotments, was advertised for auction by G.T. Bell, Auctioneer.[14][15] The land for sale is re-subdivisions of subdivisions 13 to 25 of allotment 4 of Portion 5, Parish of Toombul. A map advertising the auction includes a local sketch of the area that shows close proximity to the railway line.
A United Methodist Free Church was built circa 1889 at present-day 221 Bonney Avenue (27°24′59″S153°02′54″E / 27.4163°S 153.0483°E / -27.4163; 153.0483). In 1901, not wishing to be part of the amalgamation of the Methodist denominations into the new Methodist Church of Australasia, the congregation decided to become Eagle Junction Congregational Church. In December, a Sunday School hall was added to the northern side of the church on the corner of Norman Parade.[16][17]
Clayfield State School opened on 8 July 1895. In July 1901 it was renamed Eagle Junction State School.[18]
On October 28, 1899, sixty allotments of land of "Albion Hill Estate", being re-subdivisions 1 to 60, of subdivision of section 3 of portion 162, Parish of Enoggera, were advertised for auction by Isles, Love & Co.[19][20] The advertising map states the estate's proximity to Albion Train Station, with 76 trains daily. The land for sale was situated between Camden St, Albion, and Ford St and Old Sandgate Rd (now Bonney Ave), Clayfield.
A stump-capping ceremony for Wooloowin Methodist Church was held on Saturday 30 November 1901. The site was on Old Sandgate Road at the junction with Bayview Terrace (now 170 Bonney Avenue).[21][22] While the church was being built, it was destroyed by a cyclone in January 1901.[23][24] The church was re-built and opened on Sunday 13 April 1902 by Reverend Robert Stewart, President of the Queensland Methodist Conference.[25] In 1975 Wooloowin Methodist Church amalgamated with Eagle Junction Congregational Church (at 211 Bonney Avenue) to form the Bonney Avenue Cooperative Parish. Following the amalgamation that created the Uniting Church in Australia in 1977, it was renamed Clayfield Uniting Church and decided to operate exclusively from the site of the Wooloowin Methodist Church. The Eagle Junction Congregational Church and its adjacent hall at 5 Norman Parade were sold into private ownership;[26] both buildings still exist and are listed on the Brisbane Heritage Register.[27][16] The foundation stone of the current Clayfield Uniting Church building was laid on Sunday 2 March 1986 by Reverend Leslie Tiplin Vickery and it was opened and dedicated on 5 April 1987 by Reverend Barry Dangerfield.[26]
In February 1920 ,"The Drane Estate", made up of 71/2 allotments plus a substantial residence on 2 1/2 allotments, was advertised for auction by Thorpe & Sharp, Auctioneers.[28][29][30] A map advertising the auction states the estate is overlooking Clayfoeld Station, 6 minutes from Eagle Junction Railway Station and 3 minutes from Clayfield Tram Terminus.
In April 1920, "Insulae Park Estate" made up of 23 allotments was advertised for auction by Thorpe & Son, Auctioneers.[31][32][33] A map advertising the auction states the estate is 5 minute walk to Clayfield Station and Tram.
St Agatha's Catholic Primary School opened on 27 January 1925.[18]
In the 2011 census, Clayfield recorded a population of 10,006 people, 52.6% female and 47.4% male. The median age of the Clayfield population was 34 years of age, 3 years below the Australian median. 70.3% of people living in Clayfield were born in Australia, compared to the national average of 69.8%; the next most common countries of birth were New Zealand 3.7%, England 3.6%, India 2.5%, Philippines 0.8%, and China 0.8%. 81.9% of people spoke only English at home; the next most popular languages were 1% Italian, 1% Mandarin, 0.7% Punjabi, 0.7% Korean, and 0.7% Hindi.[citation needed]
In the 2016 census, Clayfield had a population of 10,555 people.[1]
Heritage listings
Former Clayfield Congregational Church (right) and hall (left), 221 Bonney Avenue, 2020
Clayfield was served by an electric tram line which ran along Sandgate Road until its closure on 13 April 1969. It is now served by bus and train services from the nearby Clayfield railway station and Eagle Junction railway station. Along the capital road (Alexandra Road), a canopy of poinciana and oak trees produce a 'New England' canopy effect.[citation needed]
^"Advertising". Queensland Figaro And Punch. Vol. VI, no. 143. Queensland, Australia. 3 October 1885. p. 10. Archived from the original on 11 September 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Commercial". The Telegraph. No. 4, 076. Queensland, Australia. 5 October 1885. p. 4. Archived from the original on 11 September 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Advertising". The Telegraph. No. 4, 157. Queensland, Australia. 8 January 1886. p. 8. Archived from the original on 11 September 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Commercial". The Telegraph. No. 4, 159. Queensland, Australia. 11 January 1886. p. 4. Archived from the original on 11 September 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Advertising". The Telegraph. No. 4, 781. Queensland, Australia. 4 February 1888. p. 11. Archived from the original on 11 September 2021. Retrieved 25 February 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Classified Advertising". The Brisbane Courier. Vol. XLV, no. 9, 504. Queensland, Australia. 30 June 1888. p. 10. Archived from the original on 11 September 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Advertising". The Telegraph. Queensland, Australia. 20 October 1899. p. 8. Archived from the original on 16 October 2020. Retrieved 3 June 2020 – via Trove.
^"Wooloowin Methodist Church". The Telegraph. No. 9, 057. Queensland, Australia. 29 November 1901. p. 3 (SECOND EDITION). Archived from the original on 11 September 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Eagle Junction Methodists". The Telegraph. No. 9, 059. Queensland, Australia. 2 December 1901. p. 2. Archived from the original on 11 September 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"LUTWYCHE AND WOOLOOWIN". The Telegraph. No. 9, 096. Queensland, Australia. 15 January 1902. p. 5. Archived from the original on 11 September 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"IN AND AROUND BRISBANE". The Brisbane Courier. Vol. LVIII, no. 13, 732. Queensland, Australia. 16 January 1902. p. 6. Archived from the original on 11 September 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Wooloowin Methodists". The Telegraph. No. 9, 172. Queensland, Australia. 14 April 1902. p. 3 (SECOND EDITION). Archived from the original on 11 September 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Advertising". The Brisbane Courier. No. 19, 378. Queensland, Australia. 27 February 1920. p. 8. Archived from the original on 11 September 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Land Sales". The Brisbane Courier. No. 19, 380. Queensland, Australia. 1 March 1920. p. 5. Archived from the original on 11 September 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Advertising". The Brisbane Courier. No. 19, 418. Queensland, Australia. 15 April 1920. p. 10. Archived from the original on 11 September 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^Smithurst, Barry. O'Leary, Timothy Joseph (Tim) (1925–1987). Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
^Hacker, Diane. White, Mary Hyacinthe Petronel (1900–1984). Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. Archived from the original on 26 September 2015. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
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