Post Code: 4171 Distance to CBD: 4 km
Balmoral is a suburb in Brisbane that lives up to its name as a beautiful residence. The suburb is situated near the Brisbane River on the opposite side of the city proper. Most residences have a great view of the city and the Brisbane River. The suburb houses are mostly large Queenslander homes with a few houses having modern designs.
Balmoral has one high school called the Balmoral State High School.
The name Balmoral came from the Scottish Gaelic words ‘Baile Mhoireil’ which means ‘beautiful residence’ or ‘majestic castle’. It was believed that Mr. John Watson, a builder who became a member of Parliament, named the suburb after his birthplace in Scotland. The original pioneers engaged in farming with cotton and bananas as agricultural products.
Development followed with the construction of the Norman Creek Bridge in 1856 which shortened the route between the suburb and the city. The original Balmoral includes the suburbs Bulimba, Morningside, Cannon Hill, Hemmant, Wynnum West and Norman Park. In the 1920’s Wynnum West was absorbed by the Wynnum Shire and Balmoral was incorporated to Greater Brisbane. Also by the 1920’s the original Balmoral was divided into its current suburbs.
Balmoral Top Landmark
o Balmoral Cemetery
The cemetery is also known as the Bulimba Cemetery and the Morningside Cemetery. This due to the incorporation of the different suburb as there was much confusion between Bulimba and Balmoral. Like the Toowong Cemetery, Balmoral Cemetery is a historical relic. Several prominent people are buried there which includes a Lieutenant Governor, several Mayors, several Members of Parlaiment, pioneers, explorers, and inventors.
Among them is Captain John Mackay, a pioneer and a coastal city was named after him. Other prominent persons burined there include John Baille Henderson and James Stone, a hotelier who built the famous Stone Corner. The cemetery was opened in 1874 through the efforts of Frederick Wecker, who loved the area and had his impressive grave placed at the highest point of the cemetery.
The first burial was held in the same year. It was a 6 year old boy named George Wilson Pointon who drowned at the Norman Creek. He was buried with the remains of his brother who was disinterred from the Brisbane Cemetery. The stone wall perimeter of the cemetery was built during the depression as a part of the work labor program. A well known labor union leader Alex McDonald is said to have been a part of the work gang that built the wall.