Indooroopilly Secrets & River Walk

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[{"address":"SG Specialty Coffee, Clarence Road, Indooroopilly QLD, Australia","location":{"longitudeDelta":0.0421,"latitudeDelta":0.0922,"latitude":-27.5032675,"longitude":152.9772105},"media":[{"metadata":{"width":1000,"height":743},"type":"img","version":1,"content":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FJILfQAsM4aMZzAjwL0ry%2Fstop_0_0.png?alt=media&token=7d4563a1-b243-46ff-bc7e-f058c9378d0a"},{"type":"text","content":"We start our tour in the small group of shops known affectionately to locals as The Ville. Since the 1960s this group of shops has served locals and students from the nearby University of Queensland. The much-loved Pasadena cafe is now gone, but many former students will recall late night runs to \"The Paz\" for a round of toasted cheese sandwiches ($2!) and conversations about life, the universe, and everything. Now you will find usual range of mixed commercial including a small convenience store, a barber shop and a coffee shop. Grab yourself a coffee or cold drink and prepare yourself for this very easy walk along the Brisbane River, where you'll encounter some surprising historical facts that even many locals don't know."},{"metadata":{"width":1000,"height":995},"type":"img","version":1,"content":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FJILfQAsM4aMZzAjwL0ry%2Fstop_0_2.png?alt=media&token=7d450b7d-3cae-4467-a528-b54d96c95321"},{"type":"text","content":"From the Ville, pick up the path which runs parallel to the rail line, through a small park (green line on the above map) and down to the river. On your left you'll see a small group of nondescript buildings. Now Council storage, these are former army buildings and one of the few remaining pieces of physical evidence that this entire area was once part of the mighty American war machine. In World War II this area housed tens of thousands of US servicemen with General Douglas MacArthur's Pacific War HQ based in Queensland."},{"metadata":{"width":293,"height":300},"type":"img","version":1,"content":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FJILfQAsM4aMZzAjwL0ry%2Fstop_0_4.png?alt=media&token=02cba558-9200-4669-9fcb-df1665cdada5"},{"type":"text","content":"These non-descript buildings aren't just barracks. These buildings housed the Combined Services Detailed Interrogation Centre ( also known as Allied Translator and Interpreter Section headquarters or Northern Command Provost Company). Comprising three brick and timber cell blocks and their related former exercise yard, the facility was the only purpose-built World War II interrogation centre for POWs in Australia. "}]},{"address":"Walter Taylor Bridge, Queensland, Australia","location":{"longitudeDelta":0.0421,"latitudeDelta":0.0922,"latitude":-27.5057117,"longitude":152.9736009},"media":[{"metadata":{"width":669,"height":458},"type":"img","version":1,"content":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FJILfQAsM4aMZzAjwL0ry%2Fstop_1_0.png?alt=media&token=ac20e156-58f0-4eea-b1a7-648ffc3f66b9"},{"type":"text","content":"From the park, you will join the Indooroopilly River Walk a seven hundred metre wheelchair and pram friendly path along the river opened in 2021. The walk itself, while comfortable and giving good views of the river and bridges, is controversial because it cost over $650 million to build - almost $1M per metre! On any event, it's built now, so follow it to the river and head west (upstream)."},{"type":"text","content":"As you enter the walk you will notice that there are three bridges that cross the Brisbane River. The oldest is the traffic bridge now called the Walter Taylor Bridge, opened in 1936 and the only habitable bridge in the Southern Hemisphere it was operated as a toll bridge until the 1960s. Note the large white structures at each end of the bridge containing apartments. The one on the north side was occupied until mid 2010 when the last members of the original tollmaster's family moved out. "},{"metadata":{"width":498,"height":616},"type":"img","version":1,"content":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FJILfQAsM4aMZzAjwL0ry%2Fstop_1_3.png?alt=media&token=f6543798-79d5-4d52-a350-f9c574908b06"},{"type":"text","content":"The other two bridges are steel railway bridges. While neither a particularly attractive both are historically important because they are prime examples of the steel structures which can be found throughout the country constructed by mainly northern Italian immigrants. Look up and you will see the hundreds of steel rivets applied hot and by hand."},{"metadata":{"width":669,"height":458},"type":"img","version":1,"content":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FJILfQAsM4aMZzAjwL0ry%2Fstop_1_5.png?alt=media&token=71da10b6-da60-4a39-b34c-b5ea9010d2d0"},{"metadata":{"width":452,"height":273},"type":"img","version":1,"content":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FJILfQAsM4aMZzAjwL0ry%2Fstop_1_6.png?alt=media&token=8bb24dda-ff8a-4962-98a0-2de1c1cc584e"},{"type":"text","content":"Before Europeans came of course, this area was home to the Turrbal people, who fished for catfish and eels in the river and harvested the flowers and plants which grew along its banks. The Turrbal language gives its name to the suburb and it isn't complimentary. Indooroopilly means \"gully of the leeches\". "},{"metadata":{"width":659,"height":446},"type":"img","version":1,"content":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FJILfQAsM4aMZzAjwL0ry%2Fstop_1_8.png?alt=media&token=96e33e50-7a43-4a68-9d97-c56af0430ca9"},{"type":"text","content":"One of the biggest users of the Riverwalk are students from nearby private Catholic boys school, Ambrose Treacy College, as the walk conveniently links the school to the Indooroopilly train station (and fortuitous for young school boys, also the Catholic girls school, Bridgadine). Indeed on hot afternoons, it is not unknown to see boys from the school diving off the river walk into the water, school uniform and all. \n\nUnder the walk, close to the western entrance, you will see the Indooroopilly Canoe Club "}]},{"address":"Ambrose Treacy College, Twigg Street, Indooroopilly QLD, Australia","location":{"longitudeDelta":0.0421,"latitudeDelta":0.0922,"latitude":-27.508251,"longitude":152.9666718},"media":[{"metadata":{"width":640,"height":480},"type":"img","version":1,"content":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FJILfQAsM4aMZzAjwL0ry%2Fstop_2_0.png?alt=media&token=aefbee93-5506-4e62-8211-d90935839510"},{"type":"text","content":"At the Western end of the Riverwalk, it's a 3-minute walk through suburban streets to Ambrose Treacy College. The school itself was founded as an offshoot and primary school for the Christian Brother operated school at Nudgee on the west side of the city. This led to almost 90 years of confusion because Nudgee Junior College was not located in the suburb of Nudgee at all. Public access to the school grounds is not encouraged and this continues to be an operating educational establishment, so please be respectful."},{"metadata":{"width":600,"height":400},"type":"img","version":1,"content":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FJILfQAsM4aMZzAjwL0ry%2Fstop_2_2.png?alt=media&token=f164703d-32e3-47ab-9e51-9de1d6bd442f"},{"type":"text","content":"The school took boys from grade 4 to 7 from foundation in 1938 and boarders up to 1995. From the late 40s until 2014 the boys wore a distinctive Khaki uniform made from army surplus cloth. Renamed Ambrose Treacy College in 2015 and expanded to encompass children from years 4 to 12, the College is now a prime example of Christian brothers operated boys education. With over 1,300 boys, the school pays respects to its roots in the Irish social tradition of educating boys from all walks of life. While most families drawn from nearby well to do suburbs the school still has over 10% Aboriginal and Islander and Scholarship children. The school is named after Brother Patrick Ambrose Treacy, one of the founders of Catholic boys education in Australia. The school also maintains very strong links with the river itself. Up until the 1940s the school had its own boat (unfortunately sunk by partying American servicemen) and to this day maintains a vibrant fishing club and canoeing club."},{"type":"text","content":"During the second World, War, the main building (Now called the Edmund Rice Building after the Irish founder of the Christian Brothers) served as offices for General MacArthur and also as an American field hospital. Legend is that there are still underground bunkers beneath the school and the top floor of the building is home to a ghost of an American serviceman who passed away there."},{"metadata":{"width":330,"height":500},"type":"img","version":1,"content":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FJILfQAsM4aMZzAjwL0ry%2Fstop_2_5.png?alt=media&token=6fe78aab-32fe-4406-9be0-a5033672d8cc"}]},{"address":"Suburban Social Chapel Hill, Moordale Street, Chapel Hill QLD, Australia","location":{"longitudeDelta":0.0421,"latitudeDelta":0.0922,"latitude":-27.5053134,"longitude":152.9602836},"media":[{"metadata":{"width":640,"height":480},"type":"img","version":1,"content":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FJILfQAsM4aMZzAjwL0ry%2Fstop_3_0.png?alt=media&token=f6ade1e4-db2d-4d04-9997-b6539cd86cbe"},{"type":"text","content":"From the school, head north along Whitten Road keeping the schools playing fields on your left. On the weekends, depending on the time of the year, you will see football (Rugby) or cricket played on these fields, and looking round you are likely to see examples of the bird life that live close to Whitton Creek including pluvers and white cockatoos. The creek itself contains fish and yabbies (freshwater crayfish) and during times of heavy rain is known to flood and close the nearby roads. If you're doing this walk during term time and it's about 3:00 p.m. you will see a constant stream of boys heading from the school to the nearby Domino's Pizza shop. It's a school tradition to leave the school at 3:00 p.m, get to the pizza shop for a $5 pizza and eat it on the walk back, in time for rugby or cricket training starting at 3:30 p.m."},{"metadata":{"width":658,"height":448},"type":"img","version":1,"content":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FJILfQAsM4aMZzAjwL0ry%2Fstop_3_2.png?alt=media&token=3605e451-8036-489b-a72d-a9053010288c"},{"type":"text","content":"Finish your walk at the hospitable Suburban Social cafe and bar. Housed in a former shop premises, this vibrant and popular bar is a prime example of the small local bars which have appeared around the suburbs of Brisbane since the liberalisation of liquor laws in the early 2000s. Here you can enjoy a coffee or alcoholic drink and a casual meal. Strike up a conversation with the friendly bar staff or share a table with a local on the sidewalk or in the small back garden area."}]}]