Kelvin Grove is approximately from the CBD. This hilly suburb takes its name from Kelvingrove Park in Glasgow, Scotland. It is primarily residential with tree-lined streets and some commercial and light industrial activities along its main thoroughfare, Kelvin Grove Road. La Boite Theatre Company, Queensland's second largest theatre company, operates from the Roundhouse Theatre on the Kelvin Grove campus of the Queensland University of Technology. In common with many inner suburbs of Brisbane, the suburb has a mixture of traditional "Queenslander" homes, some post-war worker's cottages and more modern apartment blocks.
History
Dr Joseph Bancroft built a residence in the area in 1865 which he called Kelvin Grove after a park in Glasgow that he remembered fondly. This is the origin of the suburb's name. Kelvin Grove Road State School opened in 1875. In 1887 it was split into Kelvin Grove Boys State School and Kelvin Grove Girls and Infants State School. On 31 January 1950 there was a merger creating Kelvin Grove State School for the older boys and girls and Kelvin Grove Infants State School for the younger boys and girls. In 1961 the Infants School was absorbed back into Kelvin Grove State School. In January 2002 Kelvin Grove State School and Kelvin Grove State High School merged to become Kelvin Grove State College. Kelvin Grove was part of the Shire of Ithaca before the town was amalgamated into the City of Greater Brisbane in 1925. In 1901 electric trams commenced operations along Kelvin Grove Road, running to the city. The tram service ceased in December 1968 and since that time diesel and more recently compressed natural gas buses operated by the Brisbane City Council have served the suburb. Electric trolley-buses, also operated by the Brisbane City Council connected the suburb with Fortitude Valley, via Herston between 1953 and 1969. In August 1914, 46 subdivided allotments of "Bancroft Park Estate" were advertised to be auctioned by Isles Love & Co. A map advertising the auction states the estate was fronting the Kelvin Grove tram line and easy walking distance of town. This property was situated at the Three Mile Bridge, on the Kelvin Grove tram line and waswell known as the former residence of the late Dr Bancroft. Kelvin Grove State High School opened on 23 January 1961. In January 2002 Kelvin Grove State School and Kelvin Grove State High School merged to become Kelvin Grove State College. Following the closure of the Gona Barracks in 1998, the site was used as the basis of an urban renewal program resulting in the Kelvin Grove Urban Village which integrates the Kelvin Grove campus of Queensland University of Technology with residential and commercial buildings. The Kelvin Grove Urban Village was officially opened by Queensland PremierPeter Beattie on 24 November 2003. Queensland Academy for Creative Industries opened in 2007. In the, Kelvin Grove had a population of 7,927 people.
Heritage listings
Kelvin Grove has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:
In the, Kelvin Grove recorded a population of 6,018 people, 52% female and 48% male. The median age of the Kelvin Grove population was 27 years of age, 10 years below the Australian median. 60.8% of people living in Kelvin Grove were born in Australia, compared to the national average of 69.8%; the next most common countries of birth were China 3.6%, Saudi Arabia 3.4%, England 2.9%, India 2.4%, New Zealand 2.3%. 69.4% of people spoke only English at home; the next most common languages were 4.6% Arabic, 3.7% Mandarin, 1.7% Cantonese, 1.5% Malay, 1.1% Korean.
Education
is a government primary and secondary school for boys and girls at L'Estrange Terrace. In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 2862 students with 218 teachers and 81 non-teaching staff. It includes a special education program. Queensland Academy for Creative Industries is a government secondary school for boys and girls at 61 Musk Avenue. In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 295 students with 40 teachers and 22 non-teaching staff. The suburb is also home to the Kelvin Grove Campus of the Queensland University of Technology.
Cultural and sporting amenities
La Boite Theatre Company performs at the Roundhouse Theatre at Queensland University of Technology
Kelvin Grove parkrun takes place every Saturday at 7 am on Enoggera Creek Bikeway starting 100 metres from the End of Bishop Road.
