Kuraby is situated approximately 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) by road south-east of the city of Brisbane.[citation needed]
Beenleigh Road is the main road connecting the suburb to the motorways leading to the city and further parts of Brisbane and beyond. Kuraby is serviced by a fast electric train service to Brisbane city and the Gold Coast, whilst a bus service takes commuters to the large shopping centres of Upper Mount Gravatt and Springwood.[citation needed]
The 1970s saw a Big W store with an adjoining Woolworths supermarket open in this suburb, which is now a part of the Underwood Marketplace.[citation needed]
The climate is sub-tropical with relatively dry winters and hot humid summers.
In practice one could throw a stick of wood into a creek one side of the suburb and eventually it would finish up in the Brisbane River whilst if one throws a stick in the opposite direction it would finish up in the Logan River. Both rivers eventually flow into Moreton Bay.
Because Kuraby is situated between these two rivers it tends to have a somewhat drier landscape than other parts of Brisbane. Rain tends to come up the Logan to the mountains [hills] behind Brisbane then back down the Brisbane River.
The topography ranges from high hills with very poor soil to low, very fertile soil areas.[citation needed]
A number of parks are situated within the area these cater for all types of activities from sporting to leisure.
The local council has reserved large tracts of native bush in the area surrounding many of these parks. This in turn has ensured that many of the wildlife species of the area survives.[citation needed]
History
The name "Kuraby" was officially gazetted on 16 August 1975 and derives from the local railway station name first used by the Railway Department in 1889. Originally the name came from an aboriginal word meaning “a place of many springs.”[citation needed]
The area of Kuraby was once known as Eight Miles Plains. Charles Baker was granted a Publican's Licence on 12 December 1865. The modern Glen Hotel now stands there. This was where Cobb & Co changed horses and the passengers were refreshed before continuing their journey to Beenleigh and further south.[citation needed]
The settlement of Kuraby began in 1860, when the Hollosons and Bakers cleared land and commenced farming. However, it was the opening of the Kuraby rail station on the South Coast railway line in 1885 that the name Kuraby came to be used (in preference to Eight Mile Plains or Spring Creek, the name then used to distinguish the area from Eight Mile Plains).[citation needed] The Spring Creek Township was advertised for sale in 1887 with 151 lots available.[4]
The Duke and Duchess of York opened the new Parliament House, Canberra, in 1927. Four years later they toured Australia, and in the middle of their hectic schedule, one night's rest was arranged. The Royal Train was brought to the passing loop at Kuraby station and kept securely there with its pilot train.[5] The timetable was re-arranged to enable them to have an un-interrupted evening. This event put the name of Kuraby on the map.[citation needed]
Kuraby State School was opened in 1928 and is situated within bushland surrounds.[6]
On 21 September 2001, ten days after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the Kuraby Mosque was the subject of an arson attack, the first mosque in the world to be attacked as a consequence of the terrorist attacks. The mosque was rebuilt.[8][12]
As at 2019, there is little evidence of agriculture as housing estates occupy the former farm land.[13]
Demographics
This section needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (June 2023)
In the 2011 census Kuraby had a population of 7,777.[14] In the 2011 census, Kuraby recorded a population of 7,777 people, 51.4% female and 48.6% male. The median age of the Kuraby population was 33 years of age, 4 years below the Australian median. 50.8% of people living in Kuraby were born in Australia, compared to the national average of 69.8%; the next most common countries of birth were India 4%, New Zealand 3.8%, South Africa 3.5%, China 2.6%, England 2.2%. 54.1% of people spoke only English at home; the next most common languages were 5.3% Mandarin, 5% Arabic, 4.1% Cantonese, 2.3% Hindi, 1.9% Urdu.[14]
In the 2016 census, Kuraby had a population of 8,108 people.[1]
There are no secondary schools in Kuraby. The nearest secondary schools are in neighbouring Runcorn and Rochedale.[13]
Culture
Kuraby has a diverse population mix of old and young. Some of the older residents can trace their families back to the early settlement of the area. A number of the local streets now bear their name.[citation needed]
Young families are attracted to Kuraby as it has many facilities to cater for them.[citation needed] Several doctors and a chemist have set up business in Kuraby to cater for the health needs of the population. Kuraby has its own community centre (the infrastructure is owned by the local council) and is run by a volunteer committee of local people who are responsible for seeing that the building is maintained and improvements are implemented.[citation needed]
^Roberts, Beryl (1991). Stories of the Southside. Archerfield, Queensland: Aussie Books. p. 41. ISBN0-947336-01-X.
^"Kuraby SS". Archived from the original on 4 February 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
^"Closed Churches". Anglican Church of Southern Queensland. Archived from the original on 3 April 2019. Retrieved 24 February 2019.((cite web)): CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
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