Chermside’s history is steeped in stories, with names that connect the community to its early settlers. Between the 1930s and 1950s, the area adopted names that tell tales of family, community, and a rapidly growing suburb.
Carrs Hill, located at the busy intersection of Kirby Road and Gympie Road in Aspley, was named for the Carr family, long-standing residents of the area. The Lord Mayor named Charlotte Street in Chermside in the 1930s after a member of the influential Hamilton family, who also left their mark on Hall Street and Kingsmill Street. Hall Street commemorates Joan Hamilton’s great-grandmother, whose maiden name was Hall, while Kingsmill Street, once known as Margaret Street, honours another daughter of the Hamilton family. These street names serve as testaments to the Hamilton’s prominent role in Chermside’s early development.
Neighborhoods of Camaraderie and Folklore
Just off Maundrell Terrace near John Goss Park, Chummy Town was home to five close-knit English families – the Mills, Woolleys, Watts, Stylers, and Freemans – who emigrated from the UK and supported each other in their new community. This affectionate nickname reflects the camaraderie among the families who built new lives side by side.
One of the area’s more intriguingly named sites, Dead Man’s Gully, was a creek that ran under Gympie Road near the intersection of what is now Kuran Street. In the past, Kuran Street was known as Duff Street, but it was renamed by Lord Mayor Jones to reduce duplicate street names in Brisbane, as well as to avoid any unwanted connotations associated with “Duff”. Joan Hamilton’s family, who once lived nearby, often referred to this gully in family diaries, keeping its memory alive.
Early’s Paddock once spanned from the intersection of Gympie and Hamilton Roads all the way to the present Kedron-Wavell RSL on Hamilton Road. This expansive paddock, located where part of the Westfield shopping centre now stands, hosted Sunday school picnics and even had a cricket pitch. Near this area, Early’s Hill marked the intersection of Gympie Road and Banfield Street, grounding another historical feature in today’s modern landscape.
Through these names, Chermside’s past lives on, offering glimpses into the community spirit and family legacies that helped shape this northern Brisbane suburb.
Read more stories from the Chermside Guide’s print magazine here:
- Crafting Christmas Cheer at All Saints Church
- Local Athlete Chases World Championship Dream
- Make Some Noise at New Northside Recording Studio
- Bush Poet’s 600 Flag Tribute Remembers Fallen Soldiers
- Celebrate the Season at Chermside Christmas Festival
- Expert Tips for Going Green with Solar
- Thunder Rolls Down Under for Girls Night Outback
