Inala is a south-western suburb in the City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.[3] In the 2021 census, Inala had a population of 15,273 people.[4]

Inala
BrisbaneQueensland
Suburb sign at Tamarind Street, Inala
Inala is located in Queensland
Inala
Inala
Coordinates27°35′24″S 152°58′14″E / 27.59°S 152.9705°E / -27.59; 152.9705 (Inala (centre of suburb))
Population15,273 (SAL 2021)[1]
Established1946
Postcode(s)4077
Area6.3 km2 (2.4 sq mi)
Time zoneAEST (UTC+10:00)
Location22.1 km (14 mi) SW of Brisbane CBD
LGA(s)City of Brisbane
(Forest Lake Ward)[2]
State electorate(s)Inala
Federal division(s)Oxley
Suburbs around Inala:
Darra Oxley Durack
Richlands Inala Durack
Forest Lake Forest Lake Doolandella

Geography

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Inala is 22.1 kilometres (13.7 mi) by road south-west of the Brisbane GPO.[5]

Inala Avenue/Poinsettia Street is the main roadway east–west and Serviceston Avenue/Rosemary Street and Blunder Road are the main roads stretching north–south.

History

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The suburb was named Inala by the Queensland Surveyor-General on 10 January 1952, using a Bundjalung word meaning resting time or night time. It was previously known as Boylands Pocket.[3]

Following World War II there was a shortage of 250,000 houses across Australia. In Queensland alone over 4,000 families were living in makeshift dwellings of tin, calico and canvas. The Queensland and Australian Governments responded by making housing a priority.[citation needed]

The history of Inala started as the suburb of Serviceton, established following a meeting held in a Brisbane RSL Hall in May 1946. A group of ex-servicemen, led by Harold (Hock) Davis, were seeking affordable accommodation for their families during the post-war housing shortage. The Serviceton Co-operative Society was formed and they purchased 480 hectares of flood-safe land, which was then divided amongst the shareholders, giving them 800 square metres each. At that stage, Inala was planned as a satellite town set on a broad, high, gently sloping ridge.[citation needed]

In 1949–1950 the Queensland Housing Commission purchased Serviceton, comprising approximately 850 acres (3.4 km2) of land, from the faltering Serviceton Housing Co-operative. The Housing Commission subsequently annexed another 200 acres (0.8 km2) to the suburb and changed its name to Inala in 1953 to avoid postal confusion with another Serviceton in Victoria.[citation needed]

 
Inala State School, 1956

Inala State School opened on 1 July 1955. In September 1974, it was expanded to include a pre-school.[6]

Inala Methodist Church opened in 1957, becoming Inala Uniting Church in 1977 when the Methodist Church amalgamated into the Uniting Church in Australia.[7]

Inala West State School opened on 2 January 1960 at 2 Deodor Street (end of Biota Street, 27°35′16″S 152°58′03″E / 27.5879°S 152.9675°E / -27.5879; 152.9675 (Inala West State School (former))).[8] It closed on 31 December 2009.[9][10] The school's website was archived.[11]

Serviceton South State School opened on 2 September 1963 and celebrated its 50th anniversary on 2 September 2013.[9][12]

Samoa Methodist Church Inala was established circa 1965.[13]

Richlands East State School opened on 23 January 1967 in Poinsettia Street (27°35′51″S 152°58′04″E / 27.5976°S 152.9679°E / -27.5976; 152.9679 (Richlands East State School)).[14][15] It is now within the boundaries of Inala.[6]

Inala Special School opened on 26 August 1968. On 1 January 2007 it was renamed Western Suburbs State Special School.[6]

Inala State High School opened on 30 January 1962. It closed on 15 December 1995 to amalgamate with Richlands State High School to create Glenala State High School on the Inala State High School site.[16][6] Despite the name, Inala State High School was in neighbouring Durack on the north-east corner of Glenala Road and Hampton Street.[17]

Demographics

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In the 2016 census, Inala had a population of 14,849 people, 48.5% male and 51.5% female. The median age of the Inala population was 34 years, 3 years below the Australian median. 45.9% of people living in Inala were born in Australia, compared to the national average of 66.7%; the next most common countries of birth were 19.4% Vietnam, 3.1% New Zealand, 2.0% Samoa and 1.9% England. 39.8% of people spoke only English at home. Inala had the largest Buddhist community (2,055 people; 13.8%) and the largest Vietnamese Australian community (4,446 people; 30.0%) of any suburb in Queensland.[18][19]

In the 2016 census, Inala had a population of 14,849 people.[18]

In the 2021 census, Inala had a population of 15,273 people.[4]

Education

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TAFE college, Inala, 2008

Inala State School is a government primary (Preparatory to Year 6) school for boys and girls at Rosemary Street (27°35′12″S 152°58′36″E / 27.5868°S 152.9768°E / -27.5868; 152.9768 (Inala State School)).[20][21] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 539 students with 40 teachers (37 full-time equivalent) and 39 non-teaching staff (26 full-time equivalent).[22] It includes a special education program.[20]

Serviceton South State School is a government primary (Preparatory to Year 6) school for boys and girls at 59 Lorikeet Street (27°36′21″S 152°58′37″E / 27.6058°S 152.9769°E / -27.6058; 152.9769 (Serviceton South State School)).[20][23] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 364 students with 34 teachers (27 full-time equivalent) and 29 non-teaching staff (16 full-time equivalent).[22] It includes a special education program.[20]

Richlands East State School is a government primary (Preparatory to Year 6) school for boys and girls at 99 Poinsettia Street (27°35′50″S 152°58′01″E / 27.5971°S 152.9670°E / -27.5971; 152.9670 (Richlands East State School)).[20][24] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 555 students with 43 teachers (37 full-time equivalent) and 35 non-teaching staff (22 full-time equivalent).[22] It includes a special education program.[20]

St Mark's School is a Catholic primary (Preparatory to Year 6) school for boys and girls at 92 Lilac Street (27°35′39″S 152°58′06″E / 27.5941°S 152.9684°E / -27.5941; 152.9684 (St Mark's School)).[20][25] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 487 students with 38 teachers (32 full-time equivalent) and 21 non-teaching staff (13 full-time equivalent).[22]

Inala Flexible Learning Centre is a Catholic secondary (7–12) school for boys and girls at 79 Poinsettia Street (27°35′52″S 152°57′59″E / 27.5978°S 152.9665°E / -27.5978; 152.9665 (Inala Flexible Learning Centre)).[20][26] It is operated by Edmund Rice Education Australia and provides individual educational programs for children who do not engage effectively with mainstream education for a variety of reasons.[27] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 70 students with 11 teachers (8 full-time equivalent) and 13 non-teaching staff (8 full-time equivalent).[22]

Western Suburbs State Special School is a primary and secondary (Preparatory to Year 12) school providing special education for boys and girls at Glenala Road (27°35′12″S 152°58′39″E / 27.5868°S 152.9776°E / -27.5868; 152.9776 (Western Suburbs State Special School)).[20][28] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 175 students with 48 teachers (43 full-time equivalent) and 65 non-teaching staff (39 full-time equivalent).[22]

There is no secondary school in Inala. The nearest government secondary schools are Glenala State High School in neighbouring Durack to the east and Forest Lake State High School in neighbouring Forest Lake to the south.[29]

Inala also has a campus of the TAFE Queensland at 54 Thrush Street (27°36′10″S 152°58′35″E / 27.6028°S 152.9764°E / -27.6028; 152.9764 (Inala TAFE)).[30]

Amenities

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Market at Inala Civic
 
Biota Street Village shopping precinct, Inala

Shopping

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There are several shopping precincts within Inala. The joined Inala Plaza–Civic Centre complex located on the corner of Kittyhawk and Inala Avenues is the largest precinct in Inala. It offers two major supermarkets, Vietnamese markets, restaurants, and a wide variety of independent shops. Other shops and restaurants exist on Biota Street located to the north, on Skylark Street to the east, and on the junction of Lavender and Lilac Streets.[citation needed]

Services

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Inala has two post offices, numerous medical centres and services, many of which are bulk billing.[citation needed]

Most government services are located within the Inala Plaza precinct and its surrounds. These include a Brisbane City Council Library,[31] Department of Communities, Housing and Digital Economy, Department of Corrective Services and a Medicare and Centrelink office.[citation needed]

Culture

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There are two community halls and a community art gallery.[citation needed]

The Inala Library opened in 1963 with a major refurbishment in 1994 and a smaller renovation in 2011.[32]

Community groups

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The Richlands, Inala and Suburbs History Group is dedicated to the research of local history and diverse cultural heritage, historical presentations and book publications on the topics of local history, community and culture.[33]

There are a large number of government funded and non-government non-profit community organisations and programs located in Inala, some of these include Inala Community Centre, Hub Neighbourhood Centre, Inala Community House, Skylarkers Healthy Ageing, Western Districts Out of Home Care, Inala Youth Service, Western Districts Family Steps, Childcare Access, Equity Resource Support Unit.[citation needed]

Parks

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Kev Hooper park, Inala

Inala has a high ratio of green areas and parks,[34] most of which are named after prominent people who helped establish the suburb or contributed to the community. The parks and the large numbers of grown native trees through the suburb maintain the ecosystem of Inala, quiet environment and clean air.[35]

Special pedestrian walkways between residential houses facilitate residents' access to bus stops, schools, shops and recreational areas. Inala has four dog parks with fenced off-leash areas, shelters, benches and water taps, located at Kev Hooper Park on Lavender Street, at Richlands Depot Park on Government Road, on the corner of Inala Avenue and Sycamore Street, and on Kimberley Street near C.J. Greenfield Park.[citation needed]

Places of worship

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In 2016 Census, 31.3% of Inala residents stated no religious affiliation, followed by Inala's two major religious affiliations: Catholic (21.2%) and Buddhism (13.8%).[18]

Inala Uniting Church is at 29 Berrigan Street.[36] It is part of the Bremer Brisbane Presbytery of the Uniting Church in Australia.[37]

Samoa Methodist Church Inala is at 472 Archerfield Road (27°35′40″S 152°57′36″E / 27.5945°S 152.9600°E / -27.5945; 152.9600 (23 October 2021)).[13][38]

Inala Samoan Church conduct their services at the Old Inala Hall on the corner of Abelia Street and Rosemary Street (27°35′24″S 152°58′35″E / 27.5901°S 152.9765°E / -27.5901; 152.9765 (Inala Samoan Church)); it is part of the Wesleyan Methodist Church.[39]

Inala Tongan Church conduct their services at the Seventh Day Adventist Church at 124 Crocus Street (27°35′17″S 152°58′30″E / 27.5881°S 152.9750°E / -27.5881; 152.9750 (Inala Tongan Church)); it is part of the Wesleyan Methodist Church.[39]

Forest Lake Samoan Church conduct their services on the corner of Corsair Avenue and Inala Avenue (approx 27°35′51″S 152°58′32″E / 27.5976°S 152.9756°E / -27.5976; 152.9756 (Forest Lake Samoan Church)); it is part of the Wesleyan Methodist Church.[39]

Other churches and religious places in the suburb include:

Sports

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Sport and recreation facilities include a Police Citizens Youth Club gym and fitness centre, a number of Brisbane City Council parks and recreation areas, sport ovals and facilities, and the Inala Skate Park (D.J. Sherrington Park).[citation needed]

Other sporting clubs include:[citation needed]

  • Blue Fin Fishing Club
  • Brisbane Lions Soccer Club
  • West Inala Panthers Rugby League Football Club
  • West Inala Panthers Junior Rugby League Football Club

Transport

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Bus station at Inala Plaza

Buses conduct services from Inala bus station near the Inala Plaza shopping centre through the Inala suburb, to railway stations nearest to Inala: Richlands, Darra, Oxley, to Forest Lake Village Shopping Centre, Mount Ommaney Shopping Centre, Garden City Shopping Centre, Princess Alexandra Hospital and QEII Hospital. Richlands railway station opened in 2011 and is now Inala's closest rail link, approximately 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) from central Inala. Paths for easy pedestrian and bike access from Inala to Richlands station are set in the area development plan.[41] Inala also has bus connections to Salisbury, Moorooka and Coopers Plains railway stations, and to Woolloongabba busway station, South Bank and the Brisbane City via the frequent express bus route 100 that operates from early morning until late night.[citation needed]

Inala has a very good access to Ipswich Motorway, Centenary Motorway and Logan Motorway, and further to Warrego Highway and Cunningham Highway.[citation needed]

Political representation

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Les Bryant, former ALP Richlands Ward Councillor, represented Inala in the Brisbane City Council for 17 years, 1991–2008.[42] The Bryant family moved onto Blunder Road late 1946, when there was nothing but bushland where Inala now stands. They saw Inala grow from early beginnings to what it is today, a mature, successful multi cultural local community. Les and his wife Margaret still live in the Inala district today in retirement, in sister suburb Durack. Les was succeeded by Milton Dick (Australian Labor Party) in 2008, who moved into Federal politics winning the Federal Division of Oxley in 2016. Charles Strunk (ALP) won the renamed old Ward of Richlands, now Forest Lake Ward, in 2016, to become the new Brisbane City Councillor for Forest Lake Ward.[43][44] Annastacia Palaszczuk (ALP) is the Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Inala; she became Premier of Queensland in 2015.[citation needed]

Architecture

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The development of Inala coincided with the emergence of architectural modernism in Australia. The innovative designs of young southern architects such as Robin Boyd, Roy Grounds and Harry Seidler featured the efficient use of space with minimal ornamentation, utilisation of new materials and techniques, and above all design simplicity, while striving to build solid houses that would require little maintenance. Inala was designed and built in Modernist Revival style with elements of Art Deco. It was both aesthetically successful and a practical architectural solution.[citation needed]

The post-war worldwide shortage of building materials coupled with huge demands created the impetus for exploring and using new materials and techniques in Inala. The choice to use reinforced concrete in the construction of Inala houses was made because of its strength, reliability and flexibility. Inala also had the advantage of good access to the local cement and concrete made from washed river sand and lime from Moreton Bay coral shipped up the river by barge and processed at Darra. Concrete was an ideal material for the fashionable Modernist style. Inala houses were built on raised concrete foundations, framed with hardwood timber, floored with hard-wearing brushbox, with silky oak used for window frames. The outer walls were constructed of poured concrete approximately 18 cm thick, internal walls and ceilings – with rendered wire lath. These robust construction techniques also served to minimise maintenance costs and achieve a long life span of the houses.[citation needed]

Notable residents

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Former Inala resident, Joanna Lindgren was an LNP Australian Senator for Queensland in 2015 and 2016; the niece of Neville Bonner AO, Joanna is the first Aboriginal female Senator for Queensland.[45]

References

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  1. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Inala (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
  2. ^ "Forest Lake Ward". Brisbane City Council. Archived from the original on 12 March 2017. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
  3. ^ a b "Inala – suburb in City of Brisbane (entry 43379)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  4. ^ a b Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Inala (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.  
  5. ^ "Brisbane GPO to Inala" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  6. ^ a b c d Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
  7. ^ Blake, Thom. "Inala Methodist Church". Queensland religious places database. Archived from the original on 22 October 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  8. ^ "Oxley" (Topographic Map). Queensland Government. 1979. Archived from the original on 22 April 2020. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
  9. ^ a b "Opening and closing dates of Queensland Schools". Queensland Government. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  10. ^ "Queensland state school - centre closures" (PDF). Queensland Government. 20 August 2013. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 March 2022. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  11. ^ "Inala West State School". Inala West State School. 25 October 2009. Archived from the original on 25 October 2009. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  12. ^ "Queensland School Anniversaries". Education Queensland. 19 August 2013. Archived from the original on 30 January 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  13. ^ a b Blake, Thom. "Samoa Methodist Church". Queensland religious places database. Archived from the original on 22 October 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  14. ^ Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
  15. ^ "Inala" (Cadastral map). Queensland Government. 1977. Archived from the original on 22 April 2020. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
  16. ^ "Queensland state school - centre closures" (PDF). Queensland Government. 20 August 2013. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 March 2022. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  17. ^ "9442-58 Oxley" (Map). Queensland Government. 1979. Archived from the original on 22 April 2020. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  18. ^ a b c Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Inala (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.  
  19. ^ "2016Census_G14_QLD_SSC - Census DataPacks - General Community Profile". Australian Bureau of Statistics – Census 2016. Archived from the original on 29 July 2017. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  20. ^ a b c d e f g h i "State and non-state school details". Queensland Government. 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  21. ^ "Inala State School". Archived from the original on 19 April 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  22. ^ a b c d e f "ACARA School Profile 2018". Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority. Archived from the original on 27 August 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  23. ^ "Serviceton South State School". Archived from the original on 20 April 2013. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  24. ^ "Richlands East State School". Archived from the original on 19 April 2013. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  25. ^ "St Mark's School". Archived from the original on 27 July 2013. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  26. ^ "Inala Flexible Learning Centre". Archived from the original on 23 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  27. ^ "What is a Flexible Learning Centre?". EREA Flexible Schools Networks. Archived from the original on 6 March 2021. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  28. ^ "Western Suburbs State Special School". Archived from the original on 12 March 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  29. ^ "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  30. ^ "Inala campus". TAFE Queensland. Archived from the original on 19 May 2021. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  31. ^ "Library opening hours and locations". Brisbane City Council. 3 January 2018. Archived from the original on 30 January 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  32. ^ "Public Libraries Statistical Bulletin 2016-17" (PDF). Public Libraries Connect. State Library of Queensland. November 2017. p. 11. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 January 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  33. ^ "Richlands Inala History Group". Archived from the original on 14 March 2016. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  34. ^ "Inala parks". Brisbane City Council. Archived from the original on 13 April 2016. Retrieved 9 November 2017.
  35. ^ Community Renewal Progress Report January 2002 – June 2003
  36. ^ "Find a Church". Uniting Church in Australia, Queensland Synod. Archived from the original on 24 October 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  37. ^ "Queensland congregations and faith communities" (PDF). Uniting Church in Australia, Queensland Synod. March 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 October 2021. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  38. ^ "Samoa Methodist Church Inala" (Map). Google Maps. July 2018. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  39. ^ a b c "South Queensland". Wesleyan Methodist Church Australia. Archived from the original on 21 August 2021. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  40. ^ "Cộng Đồng Công Giáo Việt Nam Brisbane". Archived from the original on 18 January 2016. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
  41. ^ Richlands Wacol Corridor Neighbourhood Plan, Brisbane City Council
  42. ^ "Richlands". Brisbane City Council elections 2008. Archived from the original on 2 October 2017. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  43. ^ "2016 Brisbane City Council - Councillor Election - Forest Lake - Ward Summary". Electoral Commission of Queensland. 19 April 2016. Archived from the original on 26 May 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
  44. ^ "Brisbane City Council Division Maps". Electoral Commission of Queensland. Archived from the original on 1 April 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
  45. ^ "BIO". Senator Joanna Lindgren. Archived from the original on 10 March 2016. Retrieved 28 May 2016.

Further reading

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