Post Code: 4108 Distance to CBD: 11 km
Archerfield is a Brisbane suburb. It is one of the least populated suburbs in Brisbane as the Archerfield Airport and the industrial establishments that support the airport occupies much of the area. Housing in the suburb consists mainly of single-detached units. The residential housing is very scarce.
From the 1850’s to the 1870’s much of the suburban area were sold as country lots and some of the families that bought the land were the Boyland, Freney, Grenier, Grimes, Moody, Mortimer and Whitfield. By 1862, Thomas Grenier established his settlement here with fences, a cottage with detached structures and stables. In 1927, Captain Lester Brain, a flying instructor for Qantas Airways, flew over to Brisbane looking for a suitable site for an airfield. He landed his DH-61 aircraft in the area. The place was surveyed and the Government acquired 300 acres of the area in 1929. Two light gravel airstrips were built in the area and the airfield started operations. Additional land were later purchased in the 1932, 1936, 1942 and 1946 which resulted in a total area of 825 acres
In the 1930’s Qantas erected its first hangars in the airfield. The Control Tower and the other buildings were erected in 1941. During the Second World War, the airfield became a military base for the Royal Australian Air Force, the United States Air Force and the Royal Netherlands Air Force. In 1955, the Royal Australian Air Force moved to Amberley and the main civilian airport was established in Eagle Farm. Archerfield Airport became a thriving centre for light aircraft services. There are also several flight training schools in the area.
Archerfield Top Attractions
o Brisbane International Speedway
The speedway was formerly known as the Archerfield International Speedway and it was established in 1978. It is the venue of several national racing events for the race categories like motorcycles, midget cars, grand sedans, super sedans, compact speedcars and sprintcars. The speedway is a 400 meter oval-shape race track made up of dirt. The place is very popular and well-patronized. It is also a place for go-karting
Another notable landmark of the suburb is the Archerfield airfield itself, with its historical significance. You can also visit a peculiar cemetery at the entrance of the airfield called God’s Acre. The cemetery was established by the original land owners, the Greniers. One of the descendants died there when he fell from a horse. He was buried on the spot.